Question about laser engraving raster image

[JohnnyCNC]

Originally Posted by DVE2000

Apparently that’s no longer true. I was speaking to Mike at WinCNC to get my new wireless controller set up (absolutely love it, btw). I’d spoken to him about getting a laser before. They’ve released a post processor that’s meant to work with the Vectric laser option. Obviously, laser and cutting wouldn’t be in the same tap file.

http://www.wincnc.net/webfiles/Post%...NCLaser10.5.pp

Header says:

 +================================================
+                                                
+ WinCNC  -   Vectric machine output configuration file   
+                                                
+================================================
+                                                
+ History                                        
+                                                
+ Who              When               What                         
+ =========== ========== ===========================  
+ Mike/Kelly        2/3/2014  
+ Mike/Stephan  7/29/2020 Converted to work with Vectric Laser Module
+================================================
POST_NAME = "WinCNC Laser 10.5(*.tap)"
FILE_EXTENSION = "tap"
UNITS = "INCHES"
LASER_SUPPORT = "YES"

Hi Gary,


Have you tried the post processor, and if so, did it work well for you?

[JohnnyCNC]

I'm sure you guys realize that if you're doing bitmap engraving, it doesn't require Vectric or Lightburn to do, right?. All it takes is to have laser enabled on your CNC machine and a 1 bit [black and white] image or an 8 bit [grayscale] image in bmp format.

[DVE2000]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCNC

Hi Gary,


Have you tried the post processor, and if so, did it work well for you?

I have not, Johnny. I'd need to upgrade to a laser first. I was looking into it. I may still do it at some time.

[DVE2000]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCNC

I'm sure you guys realize that if you're doing bitmap engraving, it doesn't require Vectric or Lightburn to do, right?. All it takes is to have laser enabled on your CNC machine and a 1 bit [black and white] image or an 8 bit [grayscale] image in bmp format.

Yeah, it's a built in option with WinCNC (if you pay for it). I think the cool thing to do though, would be to be able to do an engraving OVER a 3D carving. They have some videos of how to do this on the Vectric site. So you don't have to make a perfect model, but it gives a kind of depth and look that you just can't get with each option by themselves.