One of the only ways I’ve found for accurate repeatability is to draw an outline of an object say 80mm circle for a coaster to align the workpiece, is there any way to get the laser to home in between layers? Currently, I’m drawing a small circle top right of my work area and then pausing the machine when it goes there to draw, this allows me to place my work piece ready for the etch.
If the XY position doesn’t remain absolutely rock-stable accurate during a single job, then something is wrong. Re-homing might mask the problem, but the position still becomes increasingly wrong during each layer while cutting or engraving, so the final result will be incorrect.
Many “losing position” problems seem to boil down to loose belts, wobbly pulleys, or too-high speeds / accelerations. Start with a mechanical checkup, then reduce the speeds & accelerations. If the position is off in only the X or Y directions, start with that axis.
Good hunting …
sorry maybe I wasn’t clear in my OP, the alignment during an engraving is spot on. I’m talking about aligning the engraving to the workpiece, aka positioning. The “framing” function is generally not accurate enough for me and I have found the most accurate way to align the engraving to the work is to burn an outline of the work to my washboard in a separate layer, then pause the machine, insert the work, then continue the engraving.
I currently have to do this all manually and being able to home to laser in between work layers would be ideal!
A fixture is your friend, as well as absolute coordinates.
Anchor the laser frame to a baseplate, cut a fixture for the thing from a sheet located (screwed down) at a known spot on the plate, then drop the things in the fixture for engraving. Because the fixture doesn’t move relative to the plate and laser coordinates, it has known-good positioning every time.
I think you’re most of the way there already, it’s just a matter of cutting that outline into a sheet to make a fixture, then positioning the fixture at a known spot forever more.
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@ednisley is advising a ‘jig’ (fixture)… This is one of my tile jigs …
I have a steel bed with holes…
Jigs drop into the holes and give me a repeatable locating position.
Good luck
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