This post follows this post:
Terrain Relief Model - Drawing Paths - #13 by AndyP?
I thought the community would be interested to see that Deskproto has functionality to laser on relief maps: vectors, with bitmaps coming soon.
I may be tempted to splash out on a laser.
I may be tempted to splash out on deskproto 
Vectric has had a laser function for years. It costs about $50 as an add-on. I don’t use mine very often but I have…and it works. No Z movement, the power and speed of the laser is supposedly variable in a hybrid 3d relief job.
Interesting video and process, I need to checkout DeskProto. It’s always good to see another workflow to further understand 2D/3D operations in different mediums.
Thanks for posting that.
Very interesting. Thanks for posting this. I’ll definitely take a look at it as I’ve been trying to incorporate the use of my laser in my projects.
The two points of interest to me is the ability to project the 2D vector data onto the 3D model and the ability of the CNC machine to use the Z data in the GCode for the laser engraving.
The projection of the 2D path is something I have casually tried in Fusion.
I did not get very far ( squirrel ).
Is the capability of the CNC with a laser to use the Z data something you see normally ?
This has been a hmmmm for awhile.
Is that something the Pwncnc laser on a Pro 5 does ?
The z movement seems pretty important. I haven’t done a ton of work with diode lasers but any others I’ve used are very sensitive to focus change.
I assume just moderating speed and power would get ok results but the line width necessarily has to change if Z is fixed, right?
Maybe it doesn’t matter as much in wood 
I need to play with the diode more often
Z height changes in deskproto. So all should be good.
Yeah I was thinking about how the vectric add on might work with no z movement. Seems like it’s most likely for flat engraving and photo stuffs.
I have the Vectric add on and I haven’t seen where changing speeds and power work all that well for a height map project. That being said I haven’t messed around with it very much. I keep an eye on the Vectric forums and haven’t seen any talk regarding it there either. I also have Lightburn that might be able to adjust the Z. But I haven’t really tried it.
I saw that, that’s why I am asking.
This is a capability I have watched from afar.
Inkscape for tracing pixels. Try the centerline option to produce a single pass along the pixels.
You may have to force the image to black and white to get a better trace.
@AndyP Do you know of someone with a Carbide 3D router Shapeoko that has used the output from DeskProto tfor Laser work with Z level adjustments ?
Are you using the RPM field ( Snnnn ) for laser power ?
Sorry I don’t.
The deskproto forum is monitored by the developer and he is quick to respond.
Can you upload a small example gcode file that contains a path that travels with Z axis changes and Laser power values ?
No is fine.
I will look on the weekend, I am travelling at the moment
This topic was automatically closed after 30 days. New replies are no longer allowed.
