The Adventure Begins: The arrival of the Chinese Laser

From:	sroehlk (ELECTECH1)	16 Mar 2007
To:	Carl (CSEWELL)	47 of 55

6066.47 In reply to 6066.46

As far as I know now there is no way to pause the laser once it starts.
But I will have to double check! Pausing sure would be helpful.

I guess my point to the plastic plate cut to 40mm is so I don't have to engrave something first. I want to be able to place an item on the table and engrave it right the first time.
Right now I will engrave a piece of acrylic first, then place the item on top of that spot. I want to eliminate that step altogether.

The grid would only help if I actually engrave the table with it, is that what your suggesting? Not a bad idea really, except a large part of the table is open. The table is not solid, there is a spring clamping device built in.

Steve

I keep getting errors when I run the spell checker. Please forgive any spelling mistakes!! :)

From:	Carl (CSEWELL)	16 Mar 2007
To:	sroehlk (ELECTECH1)	48 of 55

6066.48 In reply to 6066.47
quote: The grid would only help if I actually engrave the table with it Or tape on the table. I was thinking more along the lines of creating a grid on a plate that you could move around to match where the laser was engraving. Sort of a dynamic frame of reference or coordinate system. There has to be some consistency between runs. Can the laser be easily re-zeroed after each run to improve consistency? Carl Guntersville Laser Engraving Guntersville, AL http://www.GuntersvilleLaser.com

From:	sroehlk (ELECTECH1)	16 Mar 2007
To:	Carl (CSEWELL)	49 of 55

6066.49 In reply to 6066.48

The software page can change with each item. I use a page that is 40mm x 40mm for pet tags. But if I am making something larger then I might make the page 100mm x 100mm. There is no set page size, page size becomes the table. There is no set table size in this software. The software is not just for this laser and not customized for this lasers table.
Now, should I figure out the table size and make that my page size always? Probably! I started to do that, but then the spec's give me a max engraving size that does not match the table size. Plus the larger page size makes it harder to see the object. There does not appear to be a way to zoom up on the small item on the large page.
Also the clamping device sits in the middle of the table, and it does not hold the item centered on the table but closer to the right edge of the table.
I am spending some time this weekend trying to figure out the table and the software. There has to be ways to change and edit stuff.

Steve

From:	Carl (CSEWELL)	16 Mar 2007
To:	sroehlk (ELECTECH1)	50 of 55

6066.50 In reply to 6066.49
When you change the page size, how does that affect the positioning? If you configure your page size to be 8x8, put a circle in the center, and then engrave it, does it end up in the same position if you change the page size to 12x12? If not, which way does the circle move? Can you use this procedure to determine where the page size is referenced? Carl Guntersville Laser Engraving Guntersville, AL http://www.GuntersvilleLaser.com

From:	Dave Jones (DAVERJ)	16 Mar 2007
To:	sroehlk (ELECTECH1)	51 of 55

6066.51 In reply to 6066.49
A wild guess is that the clamping device is to hold some type of frame or template for the stamps that you say this laser was designed for. Perhaps you need to make a plate of some kind that fits into the clamp and covers the work area that you can leave in place. That plate could be left in at all times and could have rulers mounted along the edges that you push your material up against. ...Dave Dave Jones Design

From:	sroehlk (ELECTECH1)	18 Mar 2007
To:	Dave Jones (DAVERJ)	52 of 55

6066.52 In reply to 6066.51

If there is a jig or frame it has not been offered to me.

The clamp is poorly designed, the springs don't even allow the clamping bar to go all the way to the end of the opening. So you only have about 75% of the opening that can be used.

I am going to write the company I bought this from and see if they can answer the general question of how to use this clamp.

But your idea of making a plate that stays clamped in place is something I will give some thought to.

Steve

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	19 Mar 2007
To:	ALL	53 of 55

6066.53

Don't know if it's Chinese, but if so, could this bring their equipment a step closer to gaining widespread credibillity?

A person on Sawmill Creek pointed to this site.

http://a4dableww.com/500short.htm

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

EDITED: 19 Mar 2007 by DGL

From:	ab_laserart	13 Apr 2007
To:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	54 of 55

6066.54 In reply to 6066.53

Hey Dave,

Sorry to beat this old dead horse, but I'm just now getting caught up on the forum. This is a Chinese machine, built by the direct competition of the company I bought from. I checked both of them out before buying. I suppose it is my duty to give you all the in-depth treatment of my machine... I suspect it will be time consuming, but as a thank you to all who have helped me I will do it! I'll start a new tread in the next few days.

Oh, buy the way I have it on good authority that a company from the good ol' US of A is getting ready to enter the laser engraver market -- it sounds like the bridge between cheap Chinese and expensive main stream may be upon us. I don't want to step on any toes, so I'm not saying anything else about it yet.

Ron

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	13 Apr 2007
To:	ab_laserart	55 of 55

6066.55 In reply to 6066.54
quote: I don't want to step on any toes, so I'm not saying anything else about it yet. Ron, We wear steel-toed boots around here. :-) Looking forward to your observations on the Chinese laser equipment. David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri DGL Engraving Port Hueneme, CA