The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • Laser Cutter: Scanning Offset Adjustment

    Start with the constant-power test pattern:

    Pulse Timing Pattern - 1 mm blocks
    Pulse Timing Pattern – 1 mm blocks

    Set it up on six LightBurn layers:

    LightBurn test pattern layers - layout
    LightBurn test pattern layers – layout

    With useful scanning speeds and powers:

    LightBurn test pattern layers
    LightBurn test pattern layers

    Unleash the laser on a scrap of fluorescent green acrylic:

    Scan Offset uncorrected - 100 to 500 mm-s
    Scan Offset uncorrected – 100 to 500 mm-s

    Measure the distance between successive line ends at each speed, divide by two, then fill in the offset adjustment table:

    LightBurn Scanning Offset table
    LightBurn Scanning Offset table

    Burn another scrap:

    Scan Offset - 100 to 500 mm-s
    Scan Offset – 100 to 500 mm-s

    That looks better …

    Not incidentally, it also provides illustrations for an upcoming Digital Machinist column about small-scale engraving-as-machining and why good scanning compensation matters.