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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Posts
    6

    Question laser is leaving a trace between letters

    Hi .. my laser is leaving a trace between letters - like joined up writing !!

    ..does anyone know please of an NC generating software that caters for laser machine - or how do I tweek settings in my current ACE converter [DXF to NC code] to generate m-code with "S" command which switches [ so I understand] the laser OFF between letters - thanxx - or does it just "de-focus between burns - and I need to fettle THAT ?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    83

    Re: laser is leaving a trace between letters

    Personally, I'd look into regular expressions - just before you get the lift/rapid command, inject the relevant Mcode to turn off the laser. Do you have a sample piece of annotated Gcode? I'll happily put the regex together for you if you're not confident in doing so.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Posts
    6
    thanks - not sure if this bit involves a new letter but i am thinking laser should be off between every burn anyway..

    G01 Z-0.8
    G01 X68.3 Y21.2 Z-0.8
    G01 X69.0 Y21.6 Z-0.8
    G01 X69.0 Y21.6 Z-0.2
    G01 X69.8 Y22.4 Z-0.2
    G00 Z0.1
    G00 X69.0 Y21.6
    G01 Z-0.5
    G01 X69.0 Y21.6 Z-0.5
    G01 X69.8 Y22.4 Z-0.5
    G00 Z0.1
    G00 X69.0 Y21.6
    G01 Z-0.8
    G01 X69.0 Y21.6 Z-0.8
    G01 X69.8 Y22.4 Z-0.8
    G01 X69.8 Y22.4 Z-0.2
    G01 X70.2 Y23.5 Z-0.2
    G00 Z0.1
    G00 X69.8 Y22.4
    G01 Z-0.5
    G01 X69.8 Y22.4 Z-0.5
    G01 X70.2 Y23.5 Z-0.5
    G00 Z0.1
    G00 X69.8 Y22.4
    G01 Z-0.8
    G01 X69.8 Y22.4 Z-0.8
    G01 X70.2 Y23.5 Z-0.8
    G01 X70.2 Y23.5 Z-0.2
    G01 X70.2 Y24.3 Z-0.2
    G00 Z0.1
    G00 X70.2 Y23.5
    G01 Z-0.5
    G01 X70.2 Y23.5 Z-0.5
    G01 X70.2 Y24.3 Z-0.5
    G00 Z0.1
    G00 X70.2 Y23.5
    G01 Z-0.8
    G01 X70.2 Y23.5 Z-0.8
    G01 X70.2 Y24.3 Z-0.8
    G01 X70.2 Y24.3 Z-0.2
    G01 X69.8 Y25.4 Z-0.2
    G00 Z0.1
    G00 X70.2 Y24.3
    G01 Z-0.5
    G01 X70.2 Y24.3 Z-0.5
    G01 X69.8 Y25.4 Z-0.5
    G00 Z0.1
    G00 X70.2 Y24.3
    G01 Z-0.8
    G01 X70.2 Y24.3 Z-0.8
    G01 X69.8 Y25.4 Z-0.8
    G01 X69.8 Y25.4 Z-0.2
    G01 X69.0 Y26.2 Z-0.2
    G00 Z0.1
    G00 X69.8 Y25.4
    G01 Z-0.5
    G01 X69.8 Y25.4 Z-0.5
    G01 X69.0 Y26.2 Z-0.5
    G00 Z0.1
    G00 X69.8 Y25.4
    G01 Z-0.8
    G01 X69.8 Y25.4 Z-0.8
    G01 X69.0 Y26.2 Z-0.8
    G01 X69.0 Y26.2 Z-0.2
    G01 X68.3 Y26.5 Z-0.2

    thanks

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    83

    Re: laser is leaving a trace between letters

    So, looking at that, you've got absolute positioning, and two different passes for the laser depth, yes? the G01 Z0.1 command is where the laser lifts, and you want the laser to turn off at that point? What's the 'laser off' Mcode that you're using, and the corresponding 'laser on' Mcode?

    :edit:
    OK, so really quick-and-dirty regex search and replace strings here.
    I'd recommend using notepad++ for all your text editing, because it really is second-to-none in windows. In notepad++, go to Search, and click on replace. Make sure you've got the regular expression radio button selected at the bottom of the screen. Put the following text into the relevant boxes:
    Code:
    Find What: G00 Z0.1
    Replace With: M01\r\nG00 Z0.1
    where M01 is to be replaced with whatever the Mcode for turning off the laser is on your machine. Click on the Replace All button to go through the whole document.

    Now, to turn the laser back on once the rapid travels have completed requires you to take note of the Z height you're setting the machine to. In the example file you sent, it was -0.5 and -0.8.
    Code:
    Find What: G01 Z-0.5
    Replace With: G01 Z-0.5\r\nM02
    Again, click on Replace all to change the whole document.
    These are just examples - you'll have to change the MCode value appropriately of course, and don't forget to put in the correct depth values. Don't change any of the spacing in the text strings, because it will affect the outcome of the find/replace operation. If it's not working as expected, feel free to give me a shout.

    Hope that helps.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Posts
    6

    boy that looks exactly what i need thank u so much will try it :]

    boy that looks exactly what i need thank u so much will try it :]

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Posts
    6

    oh ...

    oh dam ...

    perhaps my Grbl software don't like M code ? - hope i havent wasted your time ! ..
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails fred copy.jpg  

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    83

    Re: laser is leaving a trace between letters

    No, not at all. So how does GRBL handle turning the laser on and off?

    :edit: actually -thinking about it, have you taken a look at lightburn for running your laser? It's already got GRBL control support built in.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Posts
    6

    it doesnt

    grbl doesn't switch laser off between letter s but .. at the end it does so ..ah I could find and replace THAT command - gotcha .. i will try download lightburn too thanks ..





    Quote Originally Posted by GerryG View Post
    No, not at all. So how does GRBL handle turning the laser on and off?

    :edit: actually -thinking about it, have you taken a look at lightburn for running your laser? It's already got GRBL control support built in.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Posts
    6
    downloading lightburn as we speak - it helps with image conversion and control of passes etc and .. yess - i hope u hav cracked it for me :]

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