Adding An Offline Controller To My Omtech POLAR 350 & How Acrylic Engraving Can Destroy The Lens
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- This video is about adding an offline controller to my Polar and shows how I destroyed a lens by not properly maintaining it while engraving a bunch of clear acrylic. The controller is not something required for this laser but I wanted it for error messages, offline file processing, checking mirror alignment and manual focusing using a ramp test of the actual lens. I tried Omtech support for my problem this time and was surprised how fast they responded and solved my problem.
This is the controller I bought and Cloudray will most likely contact you to be sure you lust want the controller. Ships from China so it does take some time to receive amzn.to/40ETa6H
This is the super glue I use amzn.to/3XD56DY
These are Amazon affiliate links that help support my channel.
Omtech Polar 350 links
Discount code 5% off URHC5OFF products on the Omtech website.
This is a link to the product
omtechlaser.co...
It is an affiliate link that helps support my channel.
This is an Amazon affiliate link for those that prefer to buy through Amazon
amzn.to/3H1dRk4
Appreciate the mention and different perspective on the use of the controller. I think this is a awesome upgrade and will help make a ton of lives easier when it comes to functionality.
It definitely is worth adding. Just haven't figured out how to display the switch and flow settings yet. Uploading a new video now and having problems with my lens burning and air assist. Going to have to figure out how to do a full alignment because it came way off. There is no easy way to place tape or align this machine I am finding out. Thanks for the controller info and thanks for watching.
I like your temporary permanent mount. If that was me that's what it would turn out to be. Those Harbor Freight grommet kits, O-ring kits, cotter pin kits, and some other kits they have have saved me a bunch of time by not having to go to some store to buy what I need.
I figure it's easy for anyone to make and no duct tape involved. Found a 3d printed mount for this I plan on trying someday. I just don't know how drilling that glass panel will go to bring the wire through. This Controller really solves all the problems I have encountered with this laser.
I couldn't believe how fast the Omtech support was. I just sent an email asking for a way to buy a new lens and they are replacing it as a warranty claim. I also have 100 of those little Plano boxes filled with hardware from the days when stores were closed on Sunday. Thanks for watching.
@@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023 Ed, I don't know for sure but I am going to guess that is tempered glass in which case you can't drill or bore a hole through it without shattering the glass. What I was reading said you can do it if you have a big enough laser. It might take a while but you could probably do it if you took your time with your 50 watt laser. I highly suggest getting a piece of tempered glass to practice on.
I have small diamond hole saws for glass bottles I almost tried but know spare parts are not available yet so I will wait. I can remove the pins from the connectors and only need a 3/8 hole. I wonder if this is a good excuse to buy a fiber laser 😉 or I could just make an aluminum replacement panel if it goes boom. I originally thought it was plastic and started by taking a step drill to it but I cut that part out.
Hi great video I’m going to get the controller too now. Unfortunately you can not cut through tempered glass it will shatter . I work in the glass industry.
The controller is nice but for some reason I can't read the limit switches and flow switches with it yet or reset the origin. Going to install rd works to see if there are more settings available. Thanks for watching.
The Ruida is always a good upgrade! The job origin is set by the little green origin button.
Thanks. This panel solves all the issues I had with this machine. It would just stop with the light blinking and no feedback. I tried using the green button but it didn't reset it from machine 0,0. I think I found the buried box to enable origins to work now. This has become my favorite laser so far. Thanks for watching.
Any luck with this? I cant set orgin. When i run a file it goes back to the home position.
Regarding the damaged lens, the intake of the air assist airpump is sitting right next to the laser tube and pulls air from within the enclosure. Might be you are pulling smoke in and dumping it right in there with the lens.
I've broken 2 lenses in half a year and am going to try and install an external airpump as air assist, see if that helps my problem
The air assist is definitely a problem. Needs a 2 stage air assist for things like acrylic where you just want enough air to keep the lense clean for engraving and higher flow for cutting. Thanks for watching.
Great video! I installed my controller and it is not powering up. Have you heard of anyone not have the controller turn on when they start the Polar back up? Thank you for your time.
No I have not. Double check that it is properly plugged into the right connector and the connection is fully seated. another thing to check is that the pins in the connector all look straight and seated in their pockets evenly. Check all connections to the machine controller to make sure nothing came loose when moving things around to plug the controller in. I would contact Cloudray if it doesn't come on when powered up and all the connections have been double checked to see what they say because its supposed to be plug and play. Thanks for watching.
great video sir, but I was wondering if the 6445s controller would wire up the exact same as the 6442s controller?
I have no idea. Try contacting Cloudray because it's not listed as working with this control unit. You may have to buy the set and rewire the box. Thanks for watching.
They are possibly plug swap-able. The manuals are virtually identical, but you should have no issue swapping them out... is there any reason for doing this?
The S version has superseded the G version, so documentation, at least wiring should be the same...
Did you or know of anyone who has designed a 3D STL file to hold the controller so we can sit it ontop of the Polar ?
There's one on thingiverse I saw that should work.So far I have been happy with my simple bent bracket so haven't tried printing one. Thanks for watching.
www.thingiverse.com/thing:4887857
Man, if I keep watching your Omtech Polar videos, I'm going to be out of money before my unit even gets here !! So, using your link, I put the Cloudray Ruida 6442S Panel into my Amazon cart. But, while I am waiting for the Omtech to get here, I need to find/make a stand for it. So, if you can spare a moment, what are the outside to outside dimensions of the feet for the Polar - both width & depth? I have a somewhat unused Craftsman "Home Project" work cart with drawers that I could use for while if it feasible. Thanks, Charlie in Central Ohio
Ill check that tomorrow. I have mine on a 26 x 54 box and It's a little
big. Here's the link to the controller size
www.ruidacontroller.com/rdc6442s/
Be sure it's sturdy because the acceleration and deceleration will shake a flimsy stand apart. Thanks for watching.
Approximately 18 x 28 3/4 centers.
@@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023 - thanks, that's a little bigger than the cabinet I have, so I'll be making a new one.
I would recommend one of the toolbox benches to have room to store materials and supplies that will definitely build up over time.
I think i made the same mistake, can you point me to the lens you ordered please.
You have to contact Omtech support because they don't have spare parts for this machine available yet. They only have warranty parts and will probably need pictures of the old one like I had to send to assist you. Air assist seems to be the only way to keep the acrylic vapors off the lense. Thanks for watching.
@@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023 thank you
Did you attempt to connect via Ethernet or you local network with this setup? Ethernet (actually UDP) is much better than usb, no drivers and everything is standardized for communications.
Thanks for the videos... here is an ethernet video from OMTech... th-cam.com/video/zKrT_Z9KWBU/w-d-xo.html
No, I would rather not have this access my network. I am using the thumb drive more so it can just be run from the controller. Thanks for watching.
@@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023 I installed a USB cable like you did, but I can't seem to find it in lightburn. Do you have any ideas what I need to do?