LAOS Laser

Following my own post up - powered it all up to test, etc. and went through the suggested tests. I checked the voltages on the µSD card and reckoned the 3.3v and 0v were in the right place to take a µSD card, so plugged one in. However nothing. The test program starts, prints the menu, then nothing. (I can see the LED flicker when I type characters on the keyboard though), the main driver program starts but then sticks in a loop complaining about no SD card.

Re-reading the assembly wiki page, it suggests some SD cards might not work )-:

Anyone have a suggestion for one that does work? And must it be 2GB? All I have are 4 and 8's ...

-Gordon

I think only 2GB cards are supported by the software.

The µSD slot is new on rev 5, I haven't tested it myself yet.

Jaap

Anyone else with a working v5 board? How is your micro SD card holder fitted? Like mine (which is different from the one in the wiki page - that seems an "open" design, mine has a metal covering. This is becoming quite frustrating now )-:

Can anyone confirm that I have soldered it in the right way?

And is there any way to run the software without the SD card?

-Gordon

I just soldered one of these connectors on. It doesn't work for me either. I have a 2GB card in it. Apparently it's the wrong type.

The correct type for MicroSD should be: Molex 502774-0891. However: I didn't test that µSD slot either, so if you want to be on the safe side, using a normal size SD holder (Hirose DM1B-DSF-PEJ) would be best. I can send you one or you can order one from RS or Farnell (that might be faster then shipping from NL).

Jaap

I designed the microSD slot, tested it and it didn't work with the cards I had. So I removed it and placed the regular connector on my board. The idea of a microSD card was a solution designed for situations where you didn't want the card to extend outside of the board.

Can anyone confirm that I have soldered it in the right way?

It looks like your connector accepts a microSD card with the contacts down (the way the card lies in the picture): that's wrong. The Molex 502774-0891 accepts cards with the contacts upwards.

Possible solutions:
- turn the SD card holder 180 degrees (i'm not completely sure if that works).
- get a Molex 502774-0891
- use a normal size SD card holder -> best chance of success.

OK. I'll remove it and order up a full-size card holder for it.

Yea - probably faster if I use Farnell here in the UK.

Actually, I have a dead Pi - might be able to remove the SD holder from that and use it. Won't be able to check until next week though due to other work this weekend now.

Cheers,

-Gordon

Incidentally, the SD card holder that was supplied does not appear to be a Molex 502774-0891. I've no idea what type it is, but the one I was sent bears no resemblance to that part in the photos in the wiki nor the Molex web site.

The connectors on the holder I was sent are definitely designed to have the card facing down - in the way in my photo. The µSD card will not physically fit in any other way.

-Gordon

drogon wrote:

Incidentally, the SD card holder that was supplied does not appear to be a Molex 502774-0891. I've no idea what type it is, but the one I was sent bears no resemblance to that part in the photos in the wiki nor the Molex web site.

The connectors on the holder I was sent are definitely designed to have the card facing down - in the way in my photo. The µSD card will not physically fit in any other way.

-Gordon

Hi,
I can confirm that the Rev 5 board works perfectly with the full size SD card, I have a 1Gb card in mine and it has held ever cutting job that I have done to date.
My laser is a K40 converted to LaOS, I have a DXF file which I created to accommodate the control panel/display and all the original controls (meter, power knob, buttons, power switch etc). I cut it from 3mm MDF, applied a couple of coats of clear lacquer before installing all the parts. looks good and functional. I offered the DXF for anyone to use in an earlier post, let me know if you want the DXF file.
Cheers,
Paul

I am also having problems with correctly installing the µSD card connector. It would be nice if future boards could have the pin numbers printed on them. Until then, if someone would make a photo or drawing showing the pin numbers, that would be most helpful. Meanwhile I am going to install a standard ST card connector
I have ordered from Mouser a Hirose DM1B-DSF-PEJ that is supposed to be correct from the parts list. However comparing the parts blueprint drawing and the Laos board, it does not seem to be the good match of the pints. Hopefully I am wrong.
This has caused me much frustration :-(

I looked into the µSD issue this morning.

• Cut the connections for pin 1,2 and 3 of the µSD
• Connect pin 1 of the SD to pin 2 of the µSD
• Connect pin 2 of the SD to pin 3 of the µSD

I recommend using a full size SD card when you can. If not, the images here should help you to solder the µSD.

Ah, so that's the problem. I remwmber checking the pinout of the sd and microsd but somewhere between that and the drawing of the pcb shape something must have gone wrong. I will fix this and update the pcb layout.