Hello everyone, I just got a cheap 2.5W laser to put onto my 3D printer. It uses Marlin and I’ve been searching for better software to generate good gcode to engrave images and stuff like that.
I really like LaserWeb but it doesn’t seem to support Marlin right now. I looked on the github page. Any word on updates to including Marlin support?
In the meantime, do you guys have any advice to generate some nice gcode besides the typical raster2gcode inkscape extension. I really like the ability to control the power range that LaserWeb has and I haven’t found anything else that does that for a Marlin type gcode. Thanks.
@Ariel_Yahni_UniKpty Thanks for the response! Do you mean I would have to switch the firmware on my Rambo board to Marlin Kimbra? Or would there be a way to get it to work with the Marlin I currently have.
I looked on the software but I couldn’t find anything that seems like it could export Marlin Kimbra compatible gcode.
Pure Marlin is not supported because it doesn’t allow laser power (S) values in G1 commands, which we need for raser engraving.
MarlinKimbra does accept S values in G1 commands and so we do support it.
I use laser etch for my machine. While it is not free, it’s cheap and works really well for what I do with engraving and it works fine with plain old Marlin. It won’t do grayscale photos. If you are looking to do those you need to use raster2gcode or pic engrave which don’t play with Marlin. Here is the link to laser etch: https://jtechphotonics.com/?product=laser-etch-bw-image-engraving-sw-license
Here’s another resource for you… If you don’t like this guide, instructables is full of them just by searching laser engraving
Check out this awesome Instructable.
@Joe_Walters Thanks for the help Joe. I have had success with JTech Photonics tool as well as the raster2gcode tool. But since I have such little power on my cheap 2.5W laser, I wanted something that will allow me to change the power output and ranges of powers for a certain image. So far, LaserWeb is the best tool I have found and it allows me to change the power limits to, for example, 70 - 90%.
The reason for this is because my laser will barely mark balsa wood below a certain power level. I haven’t tested it yet but I’m guessing it’s around 50-70% where it just doesn’t really do much to the wood. But 100% engraves too deep. So I would like to engrave images between 70-90% or just keep testing and fine tuning the range once I figure out the optimal settings. And that range will change depending on the material I am engraving.
What I am going to do is continue using LaserWeb and come up with some kind of python script to rearrange the gcode file. I edited one manually through Notepad++ where I moved the Sxx.xxx commands to the beginning of the line, added M106 before each S, and added G1 before each line starting with X or Y.
I was able to get a great image with that process. Luckily, Notepad++ has features that let me edit all lines at once so the entire process only takes 3-5 minutes. I’ll still automate it with a python script.
LaserWeb is a great software, but I can’t switch the firmware on my 3D printer just to use the laser. I’ll come back and update on the progress if I can get the python script running successfully. I won’t be able to work on it for a while though.
@cprezzi Thanks for your help. I honestly don’t want to mess with my printer too much. I’ve been looking into Marlin Kimbra but I can’t find the answer that I’m looking for. With Marlin Kimbra, would I still be able to 3D print with my printer and use programs like Slic3r and Cura? It feels like Kimbra is more geared towards lasers. Or is it just a more updated Marlin firmware that supports S values in G1 commands?
@Daniel_Perez laser etch will allow you to set your laser power as well. I have it set up with a low and high power value. When it generates the gcode it also generates code to outline the print area with your laser on at a low power setting(priceless for aligning your engraving).
I typically use mine at 70% power, and adjust it for different types of wood.
@cprezzi Thanks you, Claudio. That sounds awesome. I’ll definitely try that out. I appreciate you going out of your way to help explain that to me. LaserWeb is great software and I’m excited to use it.
@cprezzi I flashed Marlin Kimbra and I couldn’t get LaserWeb to work with it. I think I’d like to upgrade to a Smoothieboard. Do you have any recommendations? Are there any cheaper clones that work similarly?
I would suggest a board from Cohesion3d (good value for the price and very good support).
The chinese smoothieboard clone “MKS SBASE” also works, but they don’t give anything back to the community.
@Daniel_Perez U Can use Grbl firmware 1.1 on your printer Or cant … just asking because i wana do same way … i can put laser with TTL on Ramps board ?! or cant be true ?!
