Troubleshooting · Troubleshooting

PWM Alarm on Screen: How to Troubleshoot and Fix It

Step-by-step guide to diagnosing and resolving the PWM alarm on Thunder Laser machines by checking fan board and TL Timer connections.

Quick answer: The PWM alarm means the controller's power signal to the fan board (and laser tube) is interrupted. Check that the K-OK/L-ON, K-ON, and shutter connectors on the fan board and TL Timer board are fully seated.

Applies to: All Thunder Laser machines  |  You'll need: Access to the back of the machine (fan board) and left-side door (TL Timer)

The PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal is sent from the controller (DSP) to the fan board, which then tells the laser tube how much power to output. It is a 0–5 V signal corresponding to the min and max power range of the tube (approximately 1–99%).

PWM alarm message on screen

Fan board

Located at the back of the machine, near the laser tube. It is a small green printed circuit board with white connectors and wires. It will have many red indicator LEDs — red is normal and does not indicate a problem.

Fan board location

On the fan board layout: the red-boxed connectors are the K-ON and K-OK/L-ON connectors; the red arrow points to the PWM signal input from the DSP. Indicator LEDs above the connectors show their status.

Fan board layout diagram

TL Timer board

Located on the left-hand side of the machine, behind the door. It is a large green printed circuit board with white connectors and wires. It will also have many red indicator LEDs — red is normal and does not indicate a problem.

TL Timer board location

The K-OK, K-ON, and L-ON wires from the fan board connect to the TL Timer board (highlighted in the red square) at the top right and bottom of the board.

K-OK (In-11) K-ON and L-ON
K-OK connector on TL Timer K-ON and L-ON connectors on TL Timer

Power up the machine and bypass the doors so you can observe the fan control board while the machine is live.

While the door is bypassed, do not operate the laser. See: SAFETY INFO: CO2 Laser Radiation, PPE, & Fire Suppression

To bypass the doors, locate the Door board integrated into the TL Timer and press the button shown:

Door bypass button on TL Timer

  1. Check the K-OK/L-ON and K-ON connectors on the fan board. Confirm they are fully and securely connected.
    K-OK/L-ON and K-ON connectors on fan board
  2. Check the K-OK/IN-11 connector on the TL Timer board. Confirm it is fully and securely connected.
    K-OK/IN-11 connector on TL Timer
  3. Check the two shutter ports on the TL Timer board. Confirm both are fully and securely connected.
    Shutter ports on TL Timer

If all three steps check out, the LEDs on the fan control board should light up as shown below:

Fan board LEDs in correct state

Once finished, undo the door bypass by pressing the Door Bypass Button again:

Door bypass button — press again to re-enable

Option 1: Disable the shutter in Factory Settings

⚠ This option will limit your machine to a Class II machine. If you require a Class I machine, do not use this workaround.
  1. Log in to the Factory Settings option under your Menu using the password CC8888.
    Factory Settings login screen
  2. Scroll down to the Shutter option and select Closed.
    Shutter option in Factory Settings

Option 2: Power-up with door open (Class II machines only)

⚠ This option only works on Class II machines that allow motion with a door open.
  1. Before powering up your machine, open the left-hand side door.
  2. Power up the machine and allow it to complete the homing routine.
  3. Close the door.
Still stuck? If the PWM alarm persists after completing all steps above, contact Thunder Laser USA support for further assistance.

Still stuck?

Fastest response times in the industry from our US-based support team.