Hello all.
I am trying to understand what makes a laser system, what motors, controls, software.
So far I have built a little cnc mill with steppers and using Mach3.
I have been reading this side of the forum and cant yet picture the system in my head. Most laser enthusiasts here purchase their equipment from OEM's.
I have fantasied about purchasing a laser and building an XY table for it. Thats about it. I mean I can imagine the hardware part, but I have little understanding on how the machine is run.

I see LaserCut, ULS terms in the posts but what are they?
Recently I am learning that a laser system has its own special details like compensation for laser power on direction change, various levels of laser power.
For a cnc mill its like making a 3d model then generate a toolpath and then feed in into Mach3.
How is the workflow for a laser cutter engraver.
A laser machine is like a printer? One sends a picture to it and it is drawn ?
If one wants to build a machine, I mean a XY table and fit it with stepper of servo, what kind of controller card is needed?

Some of this cuestions might sound silly or outright wrong, please bare with me.
Please explain anything you would like, I have many blank spots that I want to fill up.

Thank you.
Konstantin.

Greetings,

I've found a couple of web links for you that may get you started in your quest to understand laser systems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_engraving

and

http://www.tech-faq.com/laser-engraver.shtml

These should answer many of your questions.

LaserCut is the software that many Chinese lasers use to operate them, and ULS is Universal Laser Systems, a USA manufacturer of Universal Laser brand lasers.

Hope that helps,
Skip