Laser Vigotec VG-L7x WiFi LaserGRBL issue

[robywoodwork]

good morning, my name is Roberto. I bought the vigotec laser model VGL x7 with Wi-Fi (which I would not use at all). My question is: I would like to put the firmware of laser GRBL 1.1f but if it does not work, how can I go back? There is a way to extract the machine firmware before I try to change it in order to recover the card. Thanks in advance for the help. a smile, Roberto

[ThayCuongNguyen]

juliusgeeklab, If I want to do the hack, Do I need to remove the register R7/R8 and R37/R38 and do wiring after ward?

[arkypita]

@cuongom Do the changes you can find here: https://github.com/arkypita/Vigotech-VG-L7X/tree/main/Hardware They work, as confirmed by @juliusgeeklab

@lottacustoms

but anyway one of my chinese employees had already contact with them due they are available on a chinese platform. So if you need any information perhaps he can ask them directly.

If you can contact vigotech manifacturer you can tell them to contact me: http://lasergrbl.com/contacts/

[juliusgeeklab]

If I want to do the hack, Do I need to remove the register R7/R8 and R37/R38 and do wiring after ward?

Hi @cuongom Yes, you need to remove all 4 resistor R7/R8 and R37/R38 and connect the CN330H to the Atmel 328 as shown in @arkypita post. I suggest to install 2 in-line resistors (470 Ω ≤ R ≤ 1kΩ) as I did between the CN330H and the Atmel 328 instead connect these directly.

If you want to keep the posibillity to switch between GRBL and VigoWorks modes you can implement the mod as per the diagram I designed for my Vigo controller. "Jumper" version mod suggested since that way you don´t need to buy the 4PDT switch and probably you have some leftover pin-headers and jumpers in your workshop.

Schematic_VG-L7X.switch.mode_20201121_r1.1.pdf

[leroylee13]

Hi all. Having started the work yesterday afternoon I´ve encouraged myself and I´ve done it all at once, and here the result .... !!! IT WORKS !!!.

After set the jumpers in “Vigo” mode and connect the USB cable to verify that the board survived the mod (it means confirm that the USB-Serial CH340 COM3 port pop-ups in “Device Manager” and VigoWorks was fully operative with the board), I turned it OFF, disconnect the USB cable and switched the jumpers to “GRBL” position…..After restart I sighed when saw all was working on first attempt.

To summary, I decided to skip everything and go directly with the ultimate test….”LightBurn”. I decided this because it has the “Find my laser” option to detect the device automatically. I downloaded the Trial version, and after complete the installation the software recognizes the VG-L7X controller board immediately as a GRBL device (GRBL 500mmx 500mm at COM3 115200 baud, G-Code type; see in the pictures). I performed the basic tests like move on X and Y, homing, turn ON the laser and so. All done without problem. Pictures and screencaptures below.

Today I´ll perform tests with LaserGRBL standard version also (no VigoWorks mode) as well as with LightBurn trial and will comment later. I plan to use LaserGRBL as my primary option so prefer to focus to test it in deep.

I want to THANKS to @arkypita for his valuable contribution with the https://github.com/arkypita/Vigotech-VG-L7X compilation of the reverse engineering and tests he did, because at the end this VG-L7X mod has been possible because that information.

Thanks again @arkypita..…Good Job

juliusgeeklab , now that some time has passed, do you have any additional comments or suggestions for using the VG-L7 with Lightburn? I will be receiving my engraver for Christmas and it appears that Lightburn adds a lot of flexibility and functionality that the manufacturer's software does not. I will certainly start out with LaserGRBL since it doesn't require hardware mod.

[Nordhbane]

@arkypita Thanks for your hard work on this. I just read through the thread and will start tinkering with the software over the weekend.

"(by the way ... has anyone really managed to use it via Wifi?)"

To answer the question; Yes. Both using the iphone app and their Wigo Works desktop app on PC. Once I was connected with the USB I could tell it my wifi SSID and Passphrase in the PC app. Or it was when I connected my phone to the machines own wifi network that I could enter the settings in the app. I know I tried both methods, but can't tell which of the two that worked. After that the machine connects perfectly to my wifi. Sometimes on the machine you have to do a long press on the left of the two buttons to make it switch over to wifi mode.

If there are any wifi tests I can give you a hand with, let me know!

[juliusgeeklab]

juliusgeeklab , now that some time has passed, do you have any additional comments or suggestions for using the VG-L7 with Lightburn? I will be receiving my engraver for Christmas and it appears that Lightburn adds a lot of flexibility and functionality that the manufacturer's software does not. I will certainly start out with LaserGRBL since it doesn't require hardware mod.

Hi @leroylee13, I don´t for now since I was unable to continue with deep tests cause a lot of bussiness travels and high workload. Earlier December I just did 3-4 cuting works on 3mm birch plywood with multiple passes using LaserGRBL and 2 poplar plywood cuttings with Lightburn (still trial version, I didn´t buy it yet) to test the "cut order" functionality. Both worked fine. I plan to continue with more tests during Christmas Holidays but first I want to focus on finish an enclosure for the VG-L7X due to safety reasons (eyes protection, fumes extraction, etc...)

[juliusgeeklab]

"(by the way ... has anyone really managed to use it via Wifi?)"

@Nordhbane, I used it at the very begining (one of the reasons I decided to buy this engraver) and it works well, but since then I didn´t use the embeeded WiFi functionality anymore. Instead I decided to connect the VG-L7X to a mimi PC (a MinisForum GN34 8GB RAM DDR4 / 64GB which have all the software like Inkscape, LaserGRBL. Lightburn trial, GIMP, etc) and operates the engraver via RDP, which means I have a fully stand alone laser engraver. No SD card, no hanged via USB to my workstation, just connect via remote desktop....total freedom :-)

[DrMark666]

I'm at the point of trying the hacks above, because although I've had some nice results via wifi, the sizing is a problem. Has anybody managed to work out the rules for how large the thing will be? (Using the android app, here). As an example, I made a mount for magic lantern slides, and got it the right size. I then enlarged it a little in gimp and added folding tabs to make a different 2nd side - which comes out smaller! 5pix/mm, correct nominal size - grrr!

I'm in 2 minds about keeping the original board (in a box) & just adding a new arduino / driver board, vs tackling the SMD traces.

[lottacustoms]

Hi,

in laser GRBL the percentage is from 0-1000. That means if you want to have the same power at 30% like un the Vigo Software you have to set in GRBL 300.

Best regards

Marco

[nntekas]

I´ll try to modify the Vigo controller doing a selector-bypass with a 4PDT switch bypass the ESP32-WROOM on demand and connecting the CH330N chip to the Atmel 328P, and be able to operate in "Vigo" or "GRBL" mode....Let´s see if it works

Good idea. you can follow the "hardware hack" i suggest here: https://github.com/arkypita/Vigotech-VG-L7X/tree/main/Hardware

Please note: this hack was never tested! If you had success (or not) let us know your progress.

it's works! Thanks @arkypita..…Good Job

[arkypita]

quick and simple!

[smoki3]

So I also ordered such a machine.

I also will mod then to have an universal machine. So first great project!

I thought a bit about the firmware situation. If I got it right actually the USB is connected to the ESP32 and then it ESP goes to the Atmel. So would it be possible to flash the ESP32 to have a firmware which pass through the signal?

Like this: https://circuits4you.com/2018/12/31/esp32-hardware-serial2-example/

Or go even further: Could upload the gcodes to the sdcard and send the command from the esp32 to the atmel? This could make machine to an offline machine

As soon my device arrived (hopefully tomorrow) I will start writing a custom firmware. So hopefully we then can use the USB connector directly and maybe also the wifi ;)

[arkypita]

Hi @smoki3

So would it be possible to flash the ESP32 to have a firmware which pass through the signal?

Yes, instead of hacking the hardware you hack the software.

Keep in mind that in order to put the ESP32 into programming mode you have to short circuit a certain pin to ground. Read here: https://github.com/arkypita/Vigotech-VG-L7X/tree/main/Firmware

Could upload the gcodes to the sdcard and send the command from the esp32 to the atmel? This could make machine to an offline machine.

Well: when you hack the software you can do whatever you want, even make it a WiFi bridge to use with LaserGRBL. LaserGRBL is able to connect to a machine in TCP/IP and send receive data as simple telnet protocol, so it handle the machine at 100%.

For this I suggest you start from my Telnet sketch: it is for ESP8266 but should also be fine for ESP32 with eventual PIN changes. https://github.com/arkypita/ESP8266-SerialTelnet

Or you can start from any other sketch you can find online, perhaps that supports WPS for easy connection to the router.

In any case, if you intend to work on these projects, I invite you to share them on the repositories that I created ad-hoc for this engraver. https://github.com/arkypita/Vigotech-VG-L7X

[smoki3]

@arkypita My Laser will hopefully arrive tomorrow. Then I will start the work on a custom firmware. As soon I have something working we can release it on the mentioned project

[smoki3]

@arkypita Just one question:

whats the different between those two projects: https://github.com/arkypita/ESP8266-SerialTelnet/blob/master/telnetserver/telnetserver.ino https://github.com/arkypita/ESP8266-SerialWebSocket/blob/master/websocketserver/websocketserver.ino

The websocket version ist just for LaserWeb?

[arkypita]

whats the different between those two projects:

In telnet when you want to send "G0 X10 Y10" to the engraver you send exactly "G0 X10 Y10", in websocket the message is encapsulated in an http request, as well the response.

The websocket version ist just for LaserWeb?

No, it is not "for laserweb". It is "like laserweb"

Laserweb can talk via wifi to an engraver via WebSocket, so assuming that there are engraver that connect via websocket (of which I have no information) I have developed support for that level of communication in LaserGRBL, as well I develop a sketch for ESP.

[smoki3]

@arkypita So I managed to get a custom firmware working on my test setup.

It combines a USB Serial pass-through and your telnet connection. I customized the telnetserver to run on ESP32. Now the USB connection has priority. As soon there is a serial connection on the USB port wifi is not started.

I pushed the firmware: https://github.com/arkypita/Vigotech-VG-L7X/tree/main/CustomFirmware-VG-L7x

[smoki3]

@arkypita

Hi, Are you able to flash the ESP32?

Is the power supply needed? In your description you wrote about a black power switch? Where do I find it? UPDATE:

Got it :) Its red button and power is needed

[arkypita]

Hello! I haven't been able to test your firmware yet. Remember that I don't have a vigo engraver, but I do tests on an ESP32 development board.

Have you succeeded? Does it works?

[smoki3]

So the first problem is that the printer will not stay in ON state. I assume that I have so set one pin high that it stay on. As soon I released the power button the printer goes off

[arkypita]

So the first problem is that the printer will not stay in ON state. I assume that I have so set one pin high that it stay on. As soon I released the power button the printer goes off

Yeah, i think you are right! The ESP32 does something more on that board other than taliking to arduino. Button and buzzer are managed by him by sure.

[arkypita]

Please continue here: https://github.com/arkypita/Vigotech-VG-L7X/discussions/3