Laser module needs Z axis control added

[jjneeb]

The laser module works well, but one important thing missing (that i could do when i used to fake the laser by using a 0.011" endmil) is the ability to change the Z height for any laser tool path. I want to set Z 0 at the material surface for the tightest focal point, and then be able to specify a cut depth relative to that for each cut. It should work with multi pass too so the Z can be dropped for each path. The other need for this is if you are lasering on a multi height surface, each tool path may be on a different level (for example burning around a pocket on the top, and then burning down in a pocket). This really is a must have feature.

A very nice to have feature on Z control would be to allow the user to figure out the Z height vs. focal point width slope and insert it as a tool parameter. Then ad an adjustable kerf width setting in either the tool settings or the tool path settings to set the kerf. Vcarve would then simply Z up higher to achieve wider and wider kerfs.

Please add these two features. Without them, i really wouldn't recommend buying the laser module vs. the old method of just modifying an endmil toolpath to use for laster vectoring cuts/etches.

[TReischl]

OK, not being snarky here. . . .

The real issue is laser power. Without it, all sorts of "techniques" are attempted to compensate.

The idea is to have too much power. It can always be dialed back but it cannot be increased.

[jjneeb]

I'm not sure what power has to do with my request. The laser i have can easily cut through 1/8" plywood in one pass at 20 IPM. For normal engraving on wood I have to back off to 20% or less power. One needs to have Z control to conveniently work at different heights on a multilevel part, or to play with line width. Right now you have to reset your Z for each height, or go edit your Gcode to run it all in one pass.

[TReischl]

I'm not sure what power has to do with my request. The laser i have can easily cut through 1/8" plywood in one pass at 20 IPM. For normal engraving on wood I have to back off to 20% or less power. One needs to have Z control to conveniently work at different heights on a multilevel part, or to play with line width. Right now you have to reset your Z for each height, or go edit your Gcode to run it all in one pass.

May have misread your earlier post, sounded like you were trying to cut through something by making multiple passes.

Interesting though. I put a laser on my machine a few years ago. One of the things I needed to do was disable the Z height changes in the post. That is because I use a vacuum attachment that runs about .25 inches above the surface being engraved. If I do want to laser on different heights then I use the first post. I have a long focal length, about 6 inches. So I just set zero with the laser 6 inches above the work surface and allow the Z to change height. I try to avoid that because of the smoke, etc. Thing to keep in mind about lasers is that the longer you can set the focal length the better. Shorter focal lengths have a much shorter convergence zone which can make them fussy about height changes.

[gregk]

The laser module works well, but one important thing missing (that i could do when i used to fake the laser by using a 0.011" endmil) is the ability to change the Z height for any laser tool path. I want to set Z 0 at the material surface for the tightest focal point, and then be able to specify a cut depth relative to that for each cut. It should work with multi pass too so the Z can be dropped for each path. The other need for this is if you are lasering on a multi height surface, each tool path may be on a different level (for example burning around a pocket on the top, and then burning down in a pocket). This really is a must have feature.

A very nice to have feature on Z control would be to allow the user to figure out the Z height vs. focal point width slope and insert it as a tool parameter. Then ad an adjustable kerf width setting in either the tool settings or the tool path settings to set the kerf. Vcarve would then simply Z up higher to achieve wider and wider kerfs.

Please add these two features. Without them, i really wouldn't recommend buying the laser module vs. the old method of just modifying an endmil toolpath to use for laster vectoring cuts/etches.

The laser module already have Z axis control - please try 'Project toolpath onto 3D model' option. Regarding new features, please contact our support team (support@vectric.com) directly and they will be happy to help.

Greg K

[jjneeb]

I'm not sure what power has to do with my request. The laser i have can easily cut through 1/8" plywood in one pass at 20 IPM. For normal engraving on wood I have to back off to 20% or less power. One needs to have Z control to conveniently work at different heights on a multilevel part, or to play with line width. Right now you have to reset your Z for each height, or go edit your Gcode to run it all in one pass.

May have misread your earlier post, sounded like you were trying to cut through something by making multiple passes.

Interesting though. I put a laser on my machine a few years ago. One of the things I needed to do was disable the Z height changes in the post. That is because I use a vacuum attachment that runs about .25 inches above the surface being engraved. If I do want to laser on different heights then I use the first post. I have a long focal length, about 6 inches. So I just set zero with the laser 6 inches above the work surface and allow the Z to change height. I try to avoid that because of the smoke, etc. Thing to keep in mind about lasers is that the longer you can set the focal length the better. Shorter focal lengths have a much shorter convergence zone which can make them fussy about height changes.

I would love to have a 6 inch focal length. The newer LED lasers with lenses that focus on very small points seem to be much shorter. My new one is ~20mm from the protective housing.
One of the uses for Z control is to drop the laser a little for a multi pass cut, but the main need is for something you've machined that has differing heights that you've milled out with a router (think various pockets at different depths) and you want to burn an image on those different surfaces. The other is to intentionally run out of focus to change the line width.
I also had to disable the Z moves back to a safe height because the laser tool path still thinks its a router and needs to Z up for every rapid move, which is a waste of time for a laser....so i had to do the same thing you did in the pp.

[jjneeb]

The laser module works well, but one important thing missing (that i could do when i used to fake the laser by using a 0.011" endmil) is the ability to change the Z height for any laser tool path. I want to set Z 0 at the material surface for the tightest focal point, and then be able to specify a cut depth relative to that for each cut. It should work with multi pass too so the Z can be dropped for each path. The other need for this is if you are lasering on a multi height surface, each tool path may be on a different level (for example burning around a pocket on the top, and then burning down in a pocket). This really is a must have feature.

A very nice to have feature on Z control would be to allow the user to figure out the Z height vs. focal point width slope and insert it as a tool parameter. Then ad an adjustable kerf width setting in either the tool settings or the tool path settings to set the kerf. Vcarve would then simply Z up higher to achieve wider and wider kerfs.

Please add these two features. Without them, i really wouldn't recommend buying the laser module vs. the old method of just modifying an endmil toolpath to use for laster vectoring cuts/etches.

The laser module already have Z axis control - please try 'Project toolpath onto 3D model' option. Regarding new features, please contact our support team (support@vectric.com) directly and they will be happy to help.

Greg K

Hi Greg,
The "Project toolpath onto 3D model" only works on 3D models. So its really not user control for non-model based toolpaths. I have sent in the Z control requests to the support team though and they have already responded. Now just crossing my fingers.

[jamin35008]

jjneeb,

I have this same need. Much of my lasering will be with non 3D models and just letter engraving which the Z height was controllable with the JTech postP but that doesn't work with the new Vectrics laser module so my Z movemnt is adding a lot of time to each laser burn. This really needs to be addressed to make this product viable for all users IMO.

[parrothead_nj]

Was this ever addressed?

[tbeaulieu]

I watched a video of cutting ply with passes, lowering Z. Can’t do that with Aspire, from I
What I can tell. Since my laser focuses at .25, my assumption is that it would be best to lower it when doing passes, right?

[Mark Jones]

I often jump back and forth between a router bit and a laser on the same vectors. A Rapid Safe Z setting override in the Laser cut and fill toolpath and laser photo toolpath would be a wonderful thing and it would save me many trips back and forth between the cnc and the laptop in my office changing my rapid z between router and laser.

Feature request for sure!

[sharkcutup]

Hi Greg,
The "Project toolpath onto 3D model" only works on 3D models. So its really not user control for non-model based toolpaths. I have sent in the Z control requests to the support team though and they have already responded. Now just crossing my fingers.

"Project Toolpath onto 3D Model" ---- It is NOT for JUST Models ---- I have used the feature many times without A Model!!!

Sharkcutup

[adze_cnc]

I often jump back and forth between a router bit and a laser on the same vectors.

Can you give an example of a workflow where one would need to "jump back and forth"?

Any combination laser/router projects I've ever done (using two separate machines admittedly) always could be arranged as CNC 1st, LASER 2nd or LASER 1st, CNC 2nd rather than CNC > LASER > CNC or variations thereof.

[Mark Jones]

Sure and thanks for the question. For example I am making a 6 sided puzzle box. It has about 8 sheets on it. I think I have 10 layers or more working on it as it has many parts think of a 6 sided box with 4 layers the 1/4" plywood inside box is box jointed on 5 sides. The next layer or sheet is numbers and text are lasered on each of the 6 parts. Then I cut out the keyed cards all different shapes its made out of 1/4" plywood using a 1/8" end mill. One of the layers that holds these key cards is made out of 1/2" plywood and has 3/8" deep pockets and is then lasered with text 1 up, 2 up, 3 bottom and so on as the puzzle pieces go around the 5 sided box. The outer box is made of half inch thick hardwoods sometimes mixing walnut and oak on the same box these are all box jointed and have a hint lasered on them as well.

So most of the time I want to keep the safe Z of .2 as my clamping methods work well with that height..(most of the time). However when I laser using the same sheets and layers as my cutters use just reassign the vectors that I want lasered to be cut using Laser cut and fill toolpath. However I want the Safe Z to be 0 or as the software wants. .00001 (they are looking at this as if you put 0 in there the safe z it defaults to .2)

Having the ability to use the very same vectors and file to add lasered embellishments or labels that fit with my projects is something I often do. I lasered one of the outsides of the Walnut boxes with the James Bond first 6 movie titles... some of those vcarved some very
small text. So I went over that very small text that was nearly unreadable and lasered them using the same vectors but with the laser tool path.

I know I could just keep changing the Rapid Z settings in the material settings but I often find I have saved the toolpath with the wrong Safe Z setting and hence make a trip back into the laptop.

Here is a video on the current project I have been working on over the past 5 days. If you want to see the other parts search for markjonesranger on youtube.

[sharkcutup]

I have an interesting question ---- you have a 20 watt laser that the power level can be changed correct? Why not set the Z height to a satisfatory level for both Router and Laser and then increase power level of the laser to the satisfactory level for laser engraving efficiently. Once setttings are set for satifactory results they would rarely have to bo be changed. Would this work or am I missing something in the mix?

If all else fails attach a Post a Note to laptop --- RAPID Z CHANGED???

Sharkcutup