Reducing time for large engravings

[pwoyorkie]

Is it possible to reduce the time it would take to engrave something?

As it stands my laser cutter (k40 upgraded to X7 DSP controller) engraves much like a printer would print. Where it will sweep over the entire object.

Is it possible for the head to simply engrave the image by following the path?

[Tech_Marco]

In general, engraving is through raster format (dot matrix like) so the laser head going back and fro like a dot matrix printer. The cutting, however, is running in vector format (like a continuous line) and the laser head runs in any direction. If you just need to outline an image, you can use "Cutting" mode with lower power can do the job faster. But you must first get the image outline in vector format, though.

If it is not the way you want, then the only solution is to get a higher power laser tube and set higher engraving speed. BTW, how fast were you running the engraving? For K40, the max speed should be 450mm/s. Over than that you may encounter backslash problem. For our XLE XY stage, the max is about 850mmm/s (1000mm/s max, may see a little backslash). Note, this speed is by mean of X axis only. The Y axis is considered a bit of slower like 400mm/s due to the weight and high drag from the gantry. It is more obvious if the rack is the linear guide rather than the 'Y' or 'V' wheel type.


Marco

[Techgraphix]

there is another solution BUT ONLY IF the space between is not lasered ( for instance a line on the left and a one on the right side):
Split up the picture in a left and a right part and let them engrave successively..

Increasing acceleration also speeds up.
High pictures go faster when rotated 90 degrees. (so they become wide..)

Kees