Networking Falcon2 Pro USB connection

Creality Falcon Creality Falcon
1

My Falcon2 Pro arrived. The computer is in my office. The engraver is going in my shop which is beyond the length of a USB connection. Besides I can only add an air vent in my shop. Has anyone tried networking the USB connection on the Falcon2?

They make USB-Ethernet adapters… https://tinyurl.com/5x8pm2hx

They also make USB-Bluetooth adapters…https://tinyurl.com/3rbef9ae

2

Hi @Ken_NJ

I would suggest, if going the nework route to either invest ~50$ in a Raspberry Pi 3b or higher and use OctoPrint with the Laser Engraver pluggin, or go with a comercially available camera made specially for this. I’ve only tried the Mintion camera myself.

Either options will allow you to send my files over to the device and use a web interface on your phone or tablet when are near the laser to control it and start a job.

Please - please - please alway be present at the machine when the laser is on!
If it burns wood, it does burn furniture/desk (which the device may be sitting on), and being in the garage, there is a good chance there are flamable things around. Never run your laser unattended!
My routine is to always press the stop button whenever I leave the laser - it doesn’t prevent using a Pi or the camera, but can prevent accidents.

Remember it’s not a toy - it’s a tool :slight_smile:

Good luck!

3

For now I think I’ll hold off on this. The computer I do the design work on, Win 10 is in my office. I can still do the design work there, then put it on my MacBook and connect that to the Falcon2.

4

Hi @Zolt , thank you for the suggestion.

Dear @Zolt, support team & forum members,

But, when I tried to use Falcon2 with Raspberry Pi Zero 2W:

  • I’m facing difficulty with Power ON sequence of Falcon2 and RaspberryPi
  • This sequence WORKS FINE : Power ON Falcon2 first and then when status LED shows GREEN, then connect USB to Raspberry Pi
  • This sequence DOES NOT WORK : Connect the USB to Raspberry Pi first, and then POWER ON Falcon2 => falcon2 appears frozen and the status LED stays WHITE in color and DOES NOT turn GREEN and machine does not respond to any commands.

Unfortunately, in my case, I need to keep the USB always connected to Raspberry Pi and then turn ON Falcon2 anytime i want. This seems to be an issue.
Is this any defect in the Falcon2 hardware/firmware ? (I’m seeing that Raspberry Pi works fine with Creality10W module)

Thanks and regards,
Rs.

5

Hi @Rr_S

TLDR : It’s not the falcon but the plugin in OctoPrint that causes issues.

My Falcon is in the garage, at the complete other side of the house from my office computer where I design my stuff (using LightBurn).
I had the exact same issues with the Raspberry Pi / OctoPrint - I blame this on the limited integration of the OctoPrint plugin.
I ended up buying a Mintion camera to control my Falcon laser, and that works remarquably well!

Here is what I do:

  1. Generate my gcode and save it on my computer
  2. Connect to the Mintion web page on my LAN and upload the file there
  3. Walk to my Falcon with my Samsung tablet, turn on the Falcon (I always turn it off once I’m done), use the Mintion web page to home the laser, frame my project, and run
  4. Once it’s over, I hit the stop button on the laser and walk away with my project.

I know there is support directly in LightBurn to use the Mintion camera and have direct view of the laser, but I don’t use that since I’m far away, and like I mentioned higher in this thread: Please - please - please alway be present at the machine when the laser is on!

All in all, this Mintion camera is great - I’m sure there are other companies that have similar devices, but I do like this one.

Good luck!