DSP v Mach 3

[andyslater]

I've been looking at the DSP and am coming to the following conclusions:

That it's advantages over Mach 3 are:

1. That the DSP can work directly with Corel, without the need for intermediate CAM software.

2. That the DSP is easier to use because it's designed for controlling a laser whereas Mach 3 can control and kind of CNC machine and thus has lots of options and parameters on its screens that have no relevance to controlling a laser cutter.

3. That the DSP can do raster engraving


At the same time, I am concluding that the DSP is not for me because:

1. I'm used to drawing using Google SketchUp and Inkscape and am happy with them. So obtaining Corel would incur an additional expense and learning curve with no real advantage.

2. I have a small library of g-code files that I use to create various products and which I could not load into the DSP. Most of those files were created with SheetCAM but in some cases I've modified the g-code directly. So if I switched to using the DSP I'd have to start again from drawings.

3. In addition to controlling my laser cutter, I also use Mach 3 to control my micro mill and have a desire to purchase a CNC lathe and router. So while I could use the DSP to control my laser, I'd still need Mach 3, my CAM software, and my knowledge of them, to control the other machines.

4. I have no need to do raster engraving.


Does that sound like I'm coming to the right conclusions?

[twosoc]

Thats a shame the facility to engrave and cut (I normally "engrave" lines as a lower power cut line) in the same job with no interaction from me is a great help, its allowed me to do things I didn't think possible and I've really only touched on the surface of what it can do, if I had more time to concentrate on the laser I'm sure I'd come up with loads of new ideas and directions.

Is there no easy way to convert the g-code to a usable file format?

[andyslater]

I normally "engrave" lines as a lower power cut line

I don't have the ability to control my laser from software, only via the knob on the laser machine. That's a limitation of how I have the hardware wired up, not a limitation of Mach 3. I'm not sure if it can be done with my hardware but it's never been an issue as I am able to etch and cut in the same job by changing the feed rate i.e. I use the same power setting for both, etch with a fast speed, and slow it down for cut lines.

However, what we are talking about here is etching lines whereas in my initial post I was talking about raster engraving i.e. textures and images from bitmap images.

Is there no easy way to convert the g-code to a usable file format?

G-code files are merely a set of instructions (they're in plain text format so you can read and modify them in a text editor), that tell the machine where to move in terms of co-ordinates, along with instructions to switch things on and off, and set the speed of various things. So it wouldn't be difficult for a program to convert them back into a vector image. Mach 3 does that in order to display the thing that you're going to cut on the screen. I don't know if there's a program out there that could then save them as a .dxf or similar.


Something I've been unable to find an answer to: if you have a sheet containing multiple parts, can you control the cut order with the DSP? And if you're etching and cutting do you have to do the etching on all parts before you start cutting or can you etch and cut a single part before moving on the the next one?

[Toasty]

I'll comment on one thing you mentioned. You don't need CorelDraw to use the DSP. You can use Inkscape or just about any other software you want to make your designs.

I use CorelDraw 10 so I can't use the plugin either. I just export the stuff I want to engrave as a jpg file and the stuff I want to cut as an ai (adobe illustrator) file. I then import it into the stand alone LaserCad software. It's been working great for me so far.

I will say though, I had some of the same questions before I got my dsp kit.

As for cut order. I'm not 100% sure but it looks like as you import files it processes them in that order, well, last to first anyway. I could be wrong but the couple of jobs I've done with multiple imports worked that way for me.

I have a few small cnc machines and now my dsp converted laser. I can't imagine why anyone would want to use g-code with the laser. It seems like an extra step to me. The only advantage I can think of is that the conversion would be less expensive.

[andyslater]

I'm not 100% sure but it looks like as you import files it processes them in that order, well, last to first anyway.

That makes sense but what if you import a drawing that contains more than one part? Can you then specify a cut order for the parts?

Going off what I've read I'm guessing that you can create your drawing such that different lines (or parts) are in different colours and you can then tell the DSP to cut colour A first followed by colour B, C, D, etc. If you'd be willing to try it and let me know, I'd appreciate it... and you may well find it useful too.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to use g-code with the laser. It seems like an extra step to me.

Were I converting from the software and controllers that came with the machine, I would tend to agree. However it's been 3 or 4 years since I converted my laser to use Mach 3 and SheetCAM so I'm used to, and quite happy, working that way. Consequently the DSP's ease of use isn't such a big attraction to me as it would be to somebody who wasn't already familiar with CAM software and g-code. So I'm looking at the DSP and asking "what would be the pros and cons of my using the DSP instead of my existing SheetCAM/Mach 3 setup". I've outlined my thoughts on the in my initial post.

[Toasty]

I see, I didn't catch the part about you already having the mach conversion.

When I'm back in my shop on Monday I'll mess around with the cutting order and let you know what I find.

[andyslater]

When I'm back in my shop on Monday I'll mess around with the cutting order and let you know what I find.

Back on Monday! You must be self-employed.

I look forward to hearing what you find when you get chance to look at it.