Today I finally got schooled on how to use the laser in the model shop.
As mentioned in a previous post, I drew up the graticule for my Tektronix 519 as a DWG for this laser intro.
The basic workflow is:
- make a DWG, using colors to represent different laser attributes (power, speed)
- Power up the laser, and use bed Z control and spacer stick to focus
- open the file in AutoCAD Trueview(?)
- Print to laser driver, which opens up driver app
- load the medium
- assign colors to laser attributes
- drag the print file onto the print area
- a few other things
- hit go
We used 1/8″ clear cast acrylic. I don’t remember what the cutting power was, but the engraving setting was power of 8, speed of 1. Keeping the power the same & halving the speed would result in a deeper cut.
We made two, just for kicks, and they turned out pretty well
Compared to the one from my 551
the 551 graticule stacked on top of the freshly cut 519. Just different enough to be annoying.
Not bad for my first attempt. I’m going to build a solid black aperture plate next.