Re: Laser Engraving - software

Bob, as you know from my e-mail to you, I am interested in the price,
info, and pics.

I thought I would do some homework concerning software for laser
engraving. As I mentioned I have purchased Virtual Sculptor 3D from
Designs Computed. I am just learning it, and have not done anything
with it yet. I found in the "VS3D / VScad3 User's Guide", page 1.7.3
F the following information.

VS3D Machine Mode
1.7.3 Cutting Path continued.
Laser Cutting/Engraving/Etching.
Most laser cutting/engraving/etching devices are controlled via an
HPGL (".hpgl") plotter file, or they behave like a printer. The
depth of a laser cut is usually inconsistent, so they are often
driven only by XY coordinates with a "Speed' and "Power" setting on
the device itself. Some laser devices can modulate the power
(cutting depth) based upon plot colors. VS3D supports this (see
below).
To perform laser work in VS3D, set up the Cutting Protocol using
the "Laser" Machine Type. Set the Cutting Tool parameters to mimic a
laser beam (the tool "D" parameter is the depth of the laser cut at
full power and at the intended speed). The "Maximum Path Depth'
parameter is ignored for lasers, except that the Maximum Path Depth
controls the maximum contouring depth for the Contour Z path type.
Click on the "Make Cuts / Add To Protocol ..." button to apply the
tool path and generate an ".hpgl" file. Or, select "Laser ,,," from
the main File menue to drive the laser device like a printer. ... .

"NUmber of Laser Color (Power) Settings": This controls how many
colors that VS3D will output. The color values are scaled from the
surface heights. Output color values will range from 0 (black-
highest power) to 255 (white-lowest power). This field controls how
many disctete colors to output, and it should be set to match the
number of available power settings on the laser device. ... .

There is much more, but I am late for work. Contact Daniel Carr of
Designs Computed if you have any questions.

Whelen

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Muse" <mtebob1@s...>
wrote:

>
> Hi
>
> Thanks to all those who replied to my post on CO2 lasers. The

response was

> much greater than I had expected. I will need a couple of days to

set up my

> test bench and see what I have left and how much power they are

producing.

> I'm not even sure I will have any good ones left so don't get too

excited.

>
> Somewhere I have a text file with info on these which I will send

along.

> But briefly they are small sealed ceramic tube RF excited units

that are

> removed from laser markers because the power has diminished

somewhat. I

> have the RF power supplies. They are really good for someone who

wants to

> get a little experience with CO2 lasers and see what they can do.

I was

> able to cut 1/8 balsa, thin cardboard, paper, label stock etc

nicely. They

> also mark anodized aluminum and engrave wood very nicely. They

won't cut

> any metal or much thicker material. They are easy to mount on a

cnc "Z"

> axis and fairly simple to get going.
>
> If you would like more info and some pics just reply back to this

email and

> I will send them out. I should have an answer to what's available

and how

> much $$ by Thursday.
>
> Regards,
> Bob
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "whelenremington" <wperun1@r...>
> To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 10:45 AM
> Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Laser Engraving
>
>
> > Bob, thanks for your reply. As you know I e-mailed you for
> > information on pricing. It may be useful for the rest of the

group

> > to repeat some of my questions. I can see how conventional CNC

mills

> > will move the x and y axis so that the laser can "cut" the design.
> > You can see what I mean by design on the web site - (
> > www.epiloglaser.com/applications.htm ). But, what varies the
> > intensity of the laser to "change the contrast" of the design
> > being "cut" by the laser. I am using the software Virtual

Sculptor

> > 3D, ( www.designscomputed.com/vs3d/ ) . VS3D is both CAD and CAM
> > software, and works in both raster and vector space. So it

generares

> > the G-code for the Z-axis heights as a function of image contrast.
> > Now my question is - do I let the Z axis move the laser to achieve
> > the "intensity levels" to achieve the contrasts in the image, -

OR do

> > I need electronics to read only the Z axis G-code from VS-3D and

use

> > the electronics to vary the intensity of the laser?
> >
> > Will a low power CO2 laser yield a "material burn" proportional

to Z

> > axis movement? Does anyone have an idea of how Epilog Laser does
> > this in their machines? Are there various ways to do it?
> >
> > Thanks for your help.
> >
> > Whelen
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Muse" <mtebob1@s...>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Whelen and Skulworks--
> > >
> > > I may have some small CO2 lasers for sale cheap. I had a

number of

> > these
> > > units removed from laser marking machines about a year ago--had

one

> > on my
> > > CNC mill for a while--it would mark anodized alum very nicely

and

> > cut thin
> > > carboard and balsa etc. Sold most of them but there are some
> > left. If you
> > > are interested, email me off-list. mtebob1 at sbcglobal dot net
> > >
> > > Bob
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "whelenremington" <wperun1@r...>
> > > To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> > > Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 2:06 PM
> > > Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Laser Engraving
> > >
> > >
> > > > Skulworks, I am also interested in using a laser to engrave,
> > > > and "burnish" Cap plastic to make designs. The commercial
> > machines
> > > > I've seen have an optical beam focusing system. Can you

provide

> > > > information as to what web sites sell retail to hobbyists, the
> > > > lasers, focusing systems, power supply, and "suport

equipment".

> > > > Roughly what would all this cost? Thanks for your help.
> > > >
> > > > Whelen
> > > >
> > > > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "skullworks"
> > > > <skullworks@y...> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "norclippet"
> > > > <norclippet@w...>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I would like to fit a laser engraver onto my small CNC

mill

> > to do
> > > > > > engraving (marking) on polished stainless steel. Does

anyone

> > > > know of
> > > > > > a reasonably priced laser head which has sufficient power

for

> > > > marking
> > > > > > stainless?
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > For a Constant Wave (non pulsed) 1024nM NdYAg laser you

would

> > need
> > > > > about a 50watt to get a good mark (brown) - That is going to
> > > > require a
> > > > > huge power supply and support equipment.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Addresses:
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wanliker@a...,

> timg@k...
> > Moderator: pentam@c... indigo_red@q... davemucha@j...
> [Moderators]
> > URL to this group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
> >
> > OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
> > If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto:
> aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com to

reach it if

> you have trouble.
> > http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
> >
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider this

to be a

> sister site to the CCED group, as many of the same members are

there, for OT

> subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
> >
> > NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY

POSTING THEM.

> DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS.....NO EXCEPTIONS........
> > bill
> > List Mom
> > List Owner
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>