Welcome John,
I'm glad you finally made it here. Now I won't feel like the Lone Diode Ranger.
Jeff
Welcome John,
I'm glad you finally made it here. Now I won't feel like the Lone Diode Ranger.
Jeff
40 Years exp. Master Machinist
The information I received here was of absolutely no value, so I will not be a contributor any longer!!
Re-worked/Re-designed/Modified Servo K2CNC KG-3925
Mini 445nm Laser Diode Engraver
Kubotek KeyCreator/KeyMachinist Ver. 12.0 2D/3D CAD/CAM
Picengrave Pro 4 + Laser Ver. 4.2.6
PicLaser3D V1.0.0 -3925 and the Mini Laser Engraver
Here is an example of a pulsed laser diode engraving that I dithered the original image using Atkinson. The program I'm using not only is an image to gcode program, it also has editing tools built into it with several different dithering algorithms to choose from.
Since this is the type of raster photographic engraving used by everyone here, I just wanted to show that my machine is capable of this process also. I used white wash pickling stain on the Birch Ply. first.
40 Years exp. Master Machinist
The information I received here was of absolutely no value, so I will not be a contributor any longer!!
Re-worked/Re-designed/Modified Servo K2CNC KG-3925
Mini 445nm Laser Diode Engraver
Kubotek KeyCreator/KeyMachinist Ver. 12.0 2D/3D CAD/CAM
Picengrave Pro 4 + Laser Ver. 4.2.6
PicLaser3D V1.0.0 -3925 and the Mini Laser Engraver
John
Welcome to SMC.
Mike Null
St. Louis Laser, Inc.
Trotec Speedy 300, 80 watt
Gravograph IS400
Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
Dye Sublimation
CorelDraw X5, X7
Thank you, Mke.
John
Happy Memorial Day
40 Years exp. Master Machinist
The information I received here was of absolutely no value, so I will not be a contributor any longer!!
Re-worked/Re-designed/Modified Servo K2CNC KG-3925
Mini 445nm Laser Diode Engraver
Kubotek KeyCreator/KeyMachinist Ver. 12.0 2D/3D CAD/CAM
Picengrave Pro 4 + Laser Ver. 4.2.6
PicLaser3D V1.0.0 -3925 and the Mini Laser Engraver
Nicely done Jeff.
My new diode has shipped, so my new build should be up and running soon.
John
Thanks John,
Can't wait to see some of your laser diode engravings.
40 Years exp. Master Machinist
The information I received here was of absolutely no value, so I will not be a contributor any longer!!
Re-worked/Re-designed/Modified Servo K2CNC KG-3925
Mini 445nm Laser Diode Engraver
Kubotek KeyCreator/KeyMachinist Ver. 12.0 2D/3D CAD/CAM
Picengrave Pro 4 + Laser Ver. 4.2.6
PicLaser3D V1.0.0 -3925 and the Mini Laser Engraver
Well, since no one will post a link to an image and engrave it with there CO2 for a comparison, I will get things started. Here is the link to the photo. http://gfx.galawallpapers.net/photo/..._Palicki_0.jpg
I used analog modulation to vary the power of my laser diode and used Birch Ply. for this engraving. The size is 9.4" X 7.056" and I ran it horizontal at 50IPM with a .007" stepover. It took 3 hours 13 minutes to complete. I went back over it with a vertical pass at 60IPM with the same stepover and it took 2 hours 41 minutes. I did this in two passes to enhance the shading and detail.
Time it takes really does not matter to me when I'm creating works of CNC art!!
40 Years exp. Master Machinist
The information I received here was of absolutely no value, so I will not be a contributor any longer!!
Re-worked/Re-designed/Modified Servo K2CNC KG-3925
Mini 445nm Laser Diode Engraver
Kubotek KeyCreator/KeyMachinist Ver. 12.0 2D/3D CAD/CAM
Picengrave Pro 4 + Laser Ver. 4.2.6
PicLaser3D V1.0.0 -3925 and the Mini Laser Engraver
Jeff,
Good job, my friend. I'd give it 5 stars if the forum would let me.
John
Yoga class makes me feel like a total stud, mostly because I'm about as flexible as a 2x4.
"Design"? Possibly. "Intelligent"? Sure doesn't look like it from this angle.
We used to be hunter gatherers. Now we're shopper borrowers.
The three most important words in the English language: "Front Towards Enemy".
The world makes a lot more sense when you remember that Butthead was the smart one.
You can never be too rich, too thin, or have too much ammo.
I still don't get it either. The photo looks decent, but I've seen a lot of amazing work on this forum over the years. I imagine if I spent 6 hours on a 9" x 7" piece, I could yield some of the best results possible on a CO2 laser. However, I don't have 6 hours to work on a piece that size.
I must be missing something. I get the feeling we're supposed to be looking at the most perfectly shaded pieces we've ever seen, and I see nice work, but nothing I consider to be superior to anything else I've seen or done. I've seen some of the most amazing work ever done on a laser by the High Density Optics on a Universal. With a spot size of .0002" or something like that, you'd be hard pressed to see any higher quality in engraving shades and tones, and it doesn't take 6 hours to do a 9" x 7" piece.
Maybe if I was seeing it all in person I'd understand it all better, but at this point, I just don't see the supposed superiority of the engraving. Post the image of the girl and I'm sure some here will take a stab at it.
Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers
Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.
8X8 1/2" squares does not equal 256, only 64, so how would you be able to count them anyway? I was kinda confused what you were talking about when you requested that. It just did not add up to 256 and was not even sure how to do what you were asking. However, I have lasered 16X16 squares on Birch Ply that does equal the 8bit color pallet (256 shades). I scanned it in grey scale so it will be easier to tell the shade differences. Lee, can you count all 256 shades?
Scott, I do have to admit that the last engraving I posted was not the best I have done. Just like doing any engraving, there is editing involved and I just did not get it as good as I wanted to, but I posted it anyway because it was my last piece of Birch Ply I had. Also, I normally do not do them in 2 passes, so the time would be the 3 hours 13 minutes for this size. Here are two of my better 8bit laser engravings I have done so far. I still have not seen anything here I can compare with and I have not seen any gallery in this forum where others have posted there engravings either.
Last edited by Jeff Woodcock; 05-29-2013 at 10:25 PM.
40 Years exp. Master Machinist
The information I received here was of absolutely no value, so I will not be a contributor any longer!!
Re-worked/Re-designed/Modified Servo K2CNC KG-3925
Mini 445nm Laser Diode Engraver
Kubotek KeyCreator/KeyMachinist Ver. 12.0 2D/3D CAD/CAM
Picengrave Pro 4 + Laser Ver. 4.2.6
PicLaser3D V1.0.0 -3925 and the Mini Laser Engraver
Pretty amazing for a piece of plywood. What is the laser diode process-- is it a home-built machine, a cheaper alternative to CO2, or what? All I can find Googling for "laser diode machine" is laser hair removal.
_Aaron_
SawmillCreek Administrator
Thanks Aaron,
here is a video of my machine doing one of these analog modulated laser engravings. In post 13 in this thread there is a pdf file link that explains the process and components we are using.
40 Years exp. Master Machinist
The information I received here was of absolutely no value, so I will not be a contributor any longer!!
Re-worked/Re-designed/Modified Servo K2CNC KG-3925
Mini 445nm Laser Diode Engraver
Kubotek KeyCreator/KeyMachinist Ver. 12.0 2D/3D CAD/CAM
Picengrave Pro 4 + Laser Ver. 4.2.6
PicLaser3D V1.0.0 -3925 and the Mini Laser Engraver
I think that engraving the 256 levels would be more telling if done in order from light to dark...
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Shenhui 1440x850, 130 Watt Reci Z6
Gerber Sabre 408