Not sure which version you’re using but the optimized feature was removed quite some time ago.
Have you provided details about the driver and diode you’re using? If you’re using regular 8 bit engraving then your max value should be 255, not 256 as you mentioned. Like Jason said, try without optimization and with a max value of 255. If you still have problems then do some troubleshooting on your own by downloading a trial version of a commercial software like picengrave pro to see if the issue priests. Troubleshooting is a process of elimination, not guesswork. Need to determine if issue is hardware or software related before you continue.
That looks better. There seems to be some sort of issue with either the optimized or horizontal scanning. I’m fine using diagonal. These were all running 3000mm/m @ 100%, 50% and 35% power with the acceleration changes in the header.
Did you actually get your machine to run at 3000mm/min? I am running rc7 and 1800 looks the same as 3000. Seems somewhere around 1800mm/min is a limitation. Helps running it from sd card but still seems to not allow it to go as fast as it should. Although that being said my big machine (4x4) cutting area is not rigid enough to run that fast anyways… it vibrates like crazy. Never been able to figure out why other then the xy rails are flexing slightly
I doubt it, I am also running RC7. It runs a little rough but I am not going to have a computer in the shop so I’m not going to reflash in between tool changes. RC7 is good enough until they get the kinks ironed out for routing with RC8. Hopefully, by then I will feel comfortable enough with Fusion 360 that I will only have to boot into windows for the raster engraving.
You have to have time to accelerate and then decelerate so a bunch of small moves will never hit max speed.
RC8 is recommended for lasers, but it would require re flashing to go back to another function. I am using the new bugfix branch and so far so good so maybe I can release a new version soon, but a bug fix release is less than ideal.
Sorry if this has already been answered but i am having a little trouble with this program, i am using Mach3, I can manual turn on and off the laser with
M3 S01 low power
M3 S100 Max power
M3 S50 Half power
In the program I set
Min power 0
Max Power 50
The outline is created at 5 power M3 S5 but then the main image is not created because its set as M3 S0
(Generated by 3dpBurner Image2Gcode v1.1)
(@Jan/28/2017 11:56:43)
M5
(Header)
G0 X0 Y0
(Header end)
G90
G21
F1900
G0 Y34.34685; Move to top left corner and begin box
G92 X0 Y34.34685
I allready have Mach3.
In Mach3 you can’t use M03 Sxxx Values to generate PWM for the spindle for laser engraving.
Mach3 always make a delay (0.3 sec) by changing the Sxxx value.
I build a Step/Dir to PWM decoder and use the A Axis.
With Mach3 there is no other way to contolling the Laser PWM.
I also build “my own” I2GC to use it with Mach3.
There are some problems in the other versions, also in v1.1.
Sorry I am a bit of a newbie with the laser setup (i am OK on carving set ups) but I can alter manually the intensity in Mach3 of the laser by using M£ S01, M3 S10 upto M3 S100
Output screen
I have the laser connected on pin 17 set as output 1
In all of the videos I have seen the laser is moving nice and smooth. When I run my program it seems very jerky in the motions. I have tried slow/fast, diagonal/horizantal, with and without the header (listed below). Here are the settings for the attached link.
(Ignore the loud bangs in the video, kids running around upstairs)
B/C/G 0,0,1 (Defaults)
Resolution .1mm
Mode GrayScale 8 bit
Min 0
Max 255 (Probably too dark)
Header (I have tried with and without this)
G0 X0 Y0
M201 X1000 Y1000
M204 P1000 T1000
Feedrate 2000mm/min (I have tried several values lower than this with no change)
Horizontal Scanning (I have tried Diagonal with no change)
I have not updated to the newest firmware as I tend to switch between laser, routing, and cutting foam on a regular basis and it sounds like there are some issues with the latest firmware for applications other than laser code.
I have tried 1000mm/min, 1200mm/min, 1600mm/min, and this was a try at 2000mm/min
All of those speeds showed the same type of jerky movements.
Lots of good info in here. You all have really put some time in. I hate to ask, but has anyone come across a similar raster ability in a Mac native program?
This weekend my buddy and I started to debug why it isn’t possible to use the program with my laser (100w Co2) and using the port P4 (Arduino MKS 1.4)
I’m missing the: G4 Time in ms [P] Dwell / Wait command. Before and after the laser command.
You find this in de code
file_gcode.write(self.options.laseroff + ‘\n’)
First we tried it with the command in front and later with the command behind it. Then we added it before and after the command.
file_gcode.write(‘G4 P0’ + ‘\n’ + self.options.laseroff + ‘\n’ + ‘G4 P0’ + ‘\n’)
First i had an offset, when added it in front the image was inverted. When the commands are in front and after the laser command it solved the problem. I was able to convert a jpg file with the black and white scale (only that) to laser it.
But found out that the MPCNC is to slow to use a 100W Co2 laser to engrave in greyscale
I’m running Repetier (Arduino Due), so don’t know if Marlin has a GCODE to allow this too or not - I found that rather than going through the fan pin, and sending fan commands I get no slowdown if I instead put the laser on a nonprotected pin (one not defined in firmware as in use), then for example if it’s connected on pin 7, use M42 P7 S0 or M42 P7 S255. It seems going through the fan involves more for the firmware to do than a simple M42 ‘change this pin to this value because I said so’ does.
Leo thank you for your continued work. I have a MPCNC set up for 2.8 W laser but took it apart to 3d print parts.
I now need to follow your instructions with help.
How do I get to Marlin firmware and change the fan pin D9 to D44
How do I open it with Word Pad? and save the changes?
I have read that you can use a 12vt signal with the TTL input with
the new driver boards?
Do you have step by step instructions to use the MPCNC for a laser cutter
and recommend the latest software that you like.
Thanks
Rand
I am witing here first time. I assembled MPCNC and added a 2,8W laser. I can draw nice logo with laser and using inkscape however facing problems with images. I use image2code(MPCNC) version 1.0 .
Firmware is RC7 vicious.
Image2 code many times would like to move few meters out of reach, here I delete the X or Y movements and is ok.
However I miss details on picture, gradient. The quality changes even if I try twice the same picture.
I use 0.18 resolution . Sometimes used 0.15. Using 1000mm/min feedrate and 100% power. I get nice black details without gradient.
When tried 1500 fedarte it jitters too much…
Any help would be appreciated.
P.S. On the one picture I got quite good output. While on others is very bad.
The new firmware might really help, rc7 has the stuttering when combined with the LCD. RC8 fixed that but had other issues. I am hoping the new marlin kept the good parts of RC8.
The new bug fixed rollup happened last night so I hope to release the new firmware in the next day or two.
