Laser Control System

This project includes a Python script and a PyQt5-based GUI for controlling and monitoring a laser system using Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) and serial communication. The system allows for real-time control and monitoring of various laser parameters, providing a comprehensive solution for laser management.

Features

• HAL Integration: Uses HAL to create and manage pins for laser control and monitoring.
• Serial Communication: Communicates with the laser system over a specified serial port.
• PyQt5 GUI: Provides a rich graphical interface for user interaction.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Displays real-time status and parameters of the laser system.
• Control Widgets: Provides widgets for controlling laser parameters such as power, speed, and gas pressures.
• Logging: Logs system actions and statuses for debugging and analysis.
• Error Handling: Manages communication errors and retries commands as necessary.

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Python 3.x
• Required Python packages: PyQt5, qtpyvcp, pyqtgraph, hal, pyserial
• HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) setup on your system

Installation

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/taloot/laser-control-system.git
   cd laser-control-system

2. Install Required Packages: Use pip to install the necessary Python packages:

   pip install PyQt5 qtpyvcp pyqtgraph hal pyserial

3. Configure HAL: Ensure that the HAL component lasercomp is set up and configured correctly on your system.

Usage

Running the Python Script

1. Configure Serial Port: Update the script to specify the correct serial port for your laser system. Modify the comPort variable:

   comPort = sys.argv[1]

2. Run the Script: Execute the script by providing the serial port as an argument:

   python laser_control.py /dev/ttyUSB0

3. Control and Monitor the Laser:

   • The script will automatically set up HAL pins and start monitoring and controlling the laser.
   • Use the connected system to interact with the HAL pins to control the laser and monitor its parameters.

Running the PyQt5 GUI

1. Run the GUI: Execute the main script to start the GUI:

   python main.py

2. Control and Monitor the Laser:

   • Use the GUI to interact with the laser system.
   • Adjust parameters such as laser power, cut speed, gas pressures, etc.
   • Monitor real-time statuses and ensure the system is operating within desired parameters.

Code Overview

Initialization

• HAL Component Setup: Sets up HAL component lasercomp and pins for laser control and monitoring.
• Serial Communication Setup: Initializes the serial port with specified parameters.
• PyQt5 GUI Setup: Initializes and sets up the PyQt5 GUI, including various widgets for control and monitoring.

Main Components

• Python Script: Handles serial communication and parameter management for the laser system.
• MyMainWindow Class: Main window class for the VCP, extends VCPMainWindow.
• Initialization: Sets up connections between HAL pins and the GUI.

HAL Pins

• Input Pins: Pins for receiving data from the laser system (e.g., laserc_velocity_x, laserc_velocity_y).
• Output Pins: Pins for sending commands to the laser system (e.g., laserc_pwm_pwmgen, laserc_start_set).

Control and Monitoring

• Real-Time Updates: Updates the GUI with real-time data from the laser system.
• Command Execution: Sends commands to the laser system based on user input from the GUI.

Example HAL Pins

• laserc_arc_on_bit: Arc on/off status (bit, input).
• laserc_plasmac_status: Plasma cutter status (S32, input).
• laserc_o2_regulator_pwm: O2 regulator PWM (float, output).
• laserc_n2_switch_bit: N2 switch status (bit, output).
• laserc_cut_speed: Cut speed (float, output).

Author

This project is maintained by Taloot.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please open an issue or submit a pull request for any improvements or bug fixes.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

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Feel free to modify this description further to fit your specific needs or preferences. You can copy and paste this directly into your GitHub repository's README file.