I have successfully run my first test pattern on my Two Trees ts2 10W laser. I set the text at 3800mm/in and the power at 70%.
My question is why the test square that corresponds to that setting cut so much more deeply into the plywood surface than the text did.
Thanks
Tom
The text and the squares use different settings. Notice the text layer settings and material layer settings in the test setup window.
If the box I circled below in red represents 3778mm/min at 70% power then it is almost the same setting of 3800mm /min 70% power that I used for the text, however that box is burned about 1/3 of the way through the plywood. The text is flush with the surface of the plywood.
What else is different between the settings of the test boxes verses the text?
Thanks
The text depth can be very difficult to determine since the line is so narrow, but we’ll assume it is flush.
Line interval will greatly affect engrave depth if the lines overlap. That is, if your interval is set to .1 and your actual beam width is .2, every scan line gets burned twice, so the depth is much deeper. The text in the test is a line “cut” and not affected by interval. It runs the line and that’s it.
I suggest you test and tune line interval and scanning offset before settling into power/speed testing.
It’s difficult to tell from your picture, but you may also want to verify your focus. I would expect to see the text showing a clear burned outline with unburned enclosed/center area. Yours appears to be solidly burned. That’s not inherently wrong, tho. It depends on your laser’s spot size, which can’t really be changed (other than thru focus).
Be warned, as with most machines, changing one thing often affects other things. Changing focus also changes effective interval. Changing speed also changes the power delivered to the workpiece. Etc.
Thank you Chris,
That is very helpful.
Looks like I have some more testing to do!
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