When the Tab Cut power is set, the tab is cut in a pulsating manner at 100% output. As an optional feature, I would like to add a mode where the tab is cut based on the set laser power percentage. Please refer to the image below for visualization.
When cutting MDF boards with a utility knife, in Pattern A, you make incisions on both sides, while in Pattern B, it is sufficient to make incisions on one side only.
Additionally, in the case of multi-pass cutting, I would like an option to cut only the tab portion in the first pass.
This is a cross-sectional view of a piece of MDF board cut from the side. The area within the white frame represents the cut portion, while the brown color represents the remaining MDF.
I am using Snapmaker 2.0. It is capable of creating gradient effects.So, I thought it would be possible.I’m a beginner when it comes to lasers, so there are some parts that I don’t fully understand.
You can already set the tab pulse width in millimeters through Edit → Device Settings and the tab width and power through the Cut Settings Editor.
Perhaps setting the pulse width to more than the actual tab width and the power to, say, half of the maximum will produce results close to what you want.
Given that it’s a Snapmaker, though, lah-dee-dah lasers are off the table and “tabs” almost certainly means those little uncut perimeter sections that, after I remember to turn them on, keep the pieces out of the chip tray.
I’ve used the overall tab width the layer settings and the power, without changing the pulse width, so I don’t know what the latter does for a living. My tabs tend to be a millimeter or so wide, so the pulse isn’t much smaller than the tab.
Basically, I think you must fiddle around to see what effect those three variables have on your material with your laser for your purposes.
I’m certain that your diode laser will have a much different (and probably better) pulse response than my CO₂ laser, so you may be able to create smaller perforated tabs that break right off if that’s what you need.
So tabs have an overall length set by the layer’s Tab Size and use the layer’s overall power setting. LightBurn modulates that power downward with software PWM using Tab Power as the fraction of the Tab Pulse Width.
The tab will always have at least one software PWM cycle, so Tab Size should always be at least Tab Pulse Width. I tried a few perverse combinations with tabs shorter than the pulse width and LightBurn does pretty much the right thing despite my efforts.
Which means, contrary to what I thought, there is no way to independently vary the actual laser power on the tab.
