Re: Laser Engraving - software - completed home work

Bob let me finish my "home work". I've edited in the missing
information pertaining tp VS-3D and laser engraving in the text below
which I typed up yesterday. I had to stop because I had to go to
work.

Whelen

> 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. If the

laser device does not support color-power modulation, enter a value
of 1 in this field. VS3D will output the laser controls in the form
of vector moves, with each vector assigned a color based upon the
vector's Z coordinate.

By using color-power modulation, it is possible to perform pseudo-3D
laser engraving.

The laser output can also be sent to a normal printer to check the
results before lasering. To do that, set up the laser path and then
select the main "File-> Laser..." menu. Then just select a normal
printer instead of a laser device.

End of VS-3D Laser Cutting/Engraving/Etching Users Guide.

So that you don't think that VS-3D is only meant for laser work, let
me mention that this capability is only one of many powerful
capabilities to do milling machine or gantry router - sculpting,
engraving, etching, burnishing of metals, wood, or plastic. The
software is a powerful CAD design, and sophisticated CAM tool path
generator which outputs G-code to the interpreter.

Daniel Carr of Designs Computed ( www.designscomputed.com/vs3d/ )
competed in many of the states quarters design competitions, and won
some of them. It is his designs and masters made using VS-3D that
were chosen and used by the US Mint to actually make the quarters.
Daniel Carr wrote the powerful and unique VS-3D software so that he
could design and machine the prototypes. Take a look at his site for
some dramatic examples of what can be done with the software. I
couldn't believe it when I found that he even included a capability
to interface with a laser engraver.

Whelen

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to

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> 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
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> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
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