Optinen kaiverrin

General Information

The optical engraver is connected to a Raspberry PI 3 Model B with Raspbian Jessie running version 3.256.0 of LaserWeb3.

multicast address: laserweb.local
IPv4: 192.168.110.176 (not guaranteed to be the same)
LaserWeb is listening on port 8000
LaserWeb: try connecting with /dev/tty/ACM0 + 115200

Control panel buttons

Control panel

BEAM

must be enabled before engraving or cutting
dry run the process using 0 position

Manual test, safety switch

test the beam manually (for material tests etc.)

0-10 dial

set maximum reference power of the beam

Steps to engrave/cut an SVG:

Please note that currently the X axis of the engraver is inverted. This results in mirrored engravings. Flip the SVG horizontally to fix this.

Preparig the Machine

Make sure the power is turned on both in the extension cords and in the machine itself
Install the workpiece and close the lid
Turn the laser on (green button, check that the red led turns on)
Turn on the lights (flip the small metallic switch)
Check that the laser power is set at an appropriate level

Engraving the SVG

Note that only SVG paths can be engraved. Convert text and other objects into paths (e.g. with InkScape).

Browse to http://192.168.110.165:8000 or http://laserweb.local:8000
Click the Open button and select an SVG image or drag-and-drop it
Configure the feedrate, number of passes and depth of each pass
Click the Generate G-Code button
Click the Process button to load the G-Code
Click the run gcode (Play) button to run the G-Code
After the machine is idle, click the home laser button to return the laser home

Engraving pre made gcode

Upload gcode as it was any other source file (such as svg, graphics, etc.). Open gcode file in CAM, then "generate gcode" - it just replicates the code as it is!

The machine operates with these codes:

S0.0 Turn beam off (use 0% of beam power)
S1.0 Turn beam on (100%)

Installing the Workpiece

If possible, use the clamps. The laser focus seems to be good at the depth of the clamp.
The maximum height of an object that fits the clamp is roughly 80mm.
If engraving larger pieces, make sure that they stay still and don't move. Some duct tape or a few drops of superglue should hold them still.

Observations on Cutting Depths

6mm acrylic

Feedrate	Laser Current	Passes	Cut depth observations
20mm	5mA	10	Barely a scratch, might work for engravings
20mm	10mA	5	About the same as 5mW x 10
20mm	15mA	5	Roughly half a millimeter
20mm	20mA	5	Roughly half a millimeter
20mm	20mA	30	Around 2-3mm, acrylic started to melt
40mm	20mA	30	Around 2-3mm, clean cut

4mm acrylic

40mm feedrate with full power (20mA) took about 60 passes to cut through 4mm acrylic.

Stamp rubber

Using full power burns the material black (might not happen during the first pass), which prevents beam engraving the material. Don't use maximum power, reduce if any charring appears. Make multiple passes. Use about 40% power in the dial, see if any charring happens. You can probably lift the power a bit, if the work path does not contain large continuous areas to be removed. Observe.

Debugging

If the engraver doesn't seem to be connected to LaserWeb, try reconnecting the USB cable to the engraver and then reload the web page.