Image Engraving Software

[jeffery926]

Here is an example of a laser engraving using both text and graphics combined. I used PicEngrave Pro 4 Laser Edition to generate the g-code and varied the power to my laser diode. The engraving is 7.38" X 9.66" in size and the smallest text is .032" tall which is still clearly legible.

[jeffery926]

Here is another example using Picengrave Pro Plus Laser to engrave shades of grey on Birch Plywood with an analog modulated 1W 445nm laser diode.

[JamesCordell]

quite manageable...

[jeffery926]

A new function was added to Picengrave Pro 4 Plus Laser where it will ignore pure white areas to cut down on laser engraving time using the analog modulation settings. By doing this, the gcode was not generated in that area thus my CNC laser engraving machine did not have to run in that area to save on engraving time. This engraving took 36 minutes less time to complete then before with the same size image and settings.

The latest laser version can be purchased here.

citrusguy | eBay

[citrusguy]

All,
A new update of PicEngrave Pro is now available via eBay, with many features specifically for laser diode engraving.
citrusguy | eBay

A special thanks to jeffery926 for all his support and advice.

John Champlain

[citrusguy]

This image was laser diode engraved today on Baltic Birch plywood with .006 inch pixel spacing. The gcode genetated by PicEngrave Pro 4 +
Laser Ver. 4.2.3, combines variable laser diode power and variable axis feed rate. Used together, engraving quality has improved significantly.
John Champlain
www.picengrave.com
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?rt=nc&_i...=p3286.c0.m301

[ASTECH_CNCTools]

PicEngrave is not most common used here

[jeffery926]

PicEngrave is not most common used here

As always, USA innovation is at least two steps ahead of the Chinese.

I did this one on white cowhide leather using John's newest version combining analog modulation and variable feedrate with a dual 445nm laser diode setup.

[citrusguy]

Thanks Jeff,
Amazing detail and shading.

Just loaded my shotgun - going out looking for a white cow.
John

[citrusguy]

Here is a link to short video of PicEngrave Pro generated gcode engraving an image. ( )
John Champlain

[jeffery926]

That is very creative how you built that laser diode engraver John.

Here is a video of our dual laser diode engraver build using your excellent image to g-code program.

Jeff

[citrusguy]

Thanks Jeff,
Super neat machine. The vacuum/laser safety shield setup is really neat.
John

[jeffery926]

We are are capable now of spindle engraving a 3D greyscale height map and then paint it with 8bit shades afterwords with our analog modulated 445nm laser diode. Gcodes are generated with Picengrave Pro 4 + Laser separately using two different images for this process. We then combine the X,Y & Z from the spindle gcode (height map) and the A from the analog laser gcode (original photo) together so the Gcode has X,Y,Z & A axis movements on each line to run in Mach 3. This allows the Laser Diodes focal point to follow the contours of the spindle engraving so it will not go out of focus.



Thank you John for your excellent, precise and versatile image to Gcode program!!

[citrusguy]

Thank you Jeff. You are a true artist and inovator, and I am privileged and proud to call you my friend.
John

[jeffery926]

John,

I sure would not have these capabilities without you and PEP my friend.

Did this one today and it sure is hard to tell by the photo of the .125" spindle engraving depth.

Jeff

[citrusguy]

Depth looks like 38D to me.
John

[Zeppelin1007]

Can you guys tell me how i might mill a rounded surface, say, a pistol grip. Then using PicEngrave, follow the contour but etch a greyscale image into it?

I see the 3D machining can be done easily, with pic engrave, or by simply "replacing" the 3D finishing pass with the laser and running it again, but with the Z scaled from 0-255 coming out of the "A" axis.

[jeffery926]

If the surface area has no more then .06" variance in the total contour depth, then it should engrave an image just fine without moving the focal point up or down. This depth tolerance may vary based on your focal distance and lens used.

[jeffery926]

Finished up another analog laser diode engraving machine build using a Shapeoko 2 this time.

[jeffery926]

If anyone is interested on how to add laser diode photo engraving capabilities to a Shapeoko 2, here is instructions how to do it.

Shapeoko 2 + Arduino UNO R3 + grbl 9g = 8bit Laser Diode Photo Engraving