Cambam / Mach3 Laser Photo and Text Engraving

Here's a quick example of how I did some basic photo and text engraving using Cambam, Mach3, a CNC mill, and a 1W 445nm blue laser. Pause the video to see the settings I used in the software. The laser is powered by 5VDC and controlled by output 1 in Mach3. Its focused beam width is about 0.007", so it's capable of about 30% better resolution at the expense of time and file size.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• cambam
• mach3
• laser
• cnc
• engrave
• engraving
• x2
• mill
• mini
• cncfusion
• 445
• 445nm
• blue
• 1w
• one
• watt
• diy
• photo
• cad
• cam
• gimp
• harbor
• freight
• grizzly
• sieg

[Fredasp]

Very good job!

How is the laser drive? Do you using a transistor to turn on/off ? and how I configure to use laser in mach3 ?

[av8or233]

@Fredasp The driver is cheap, but apparently good enough (contained within the silver housing along with the diode). I am simply using Mach3's undocumented E0P0 and E0P1 commands within the G code to drive parallel output 1 low or high respectively. That output is 5VDC, which is the input voltage for the laser driver, so I don't need any further electronics to control it.

[jeanlucdemarc]

Tx- yes a reed laiter before anwser for DIY.

And do you have any pic for wood engraving? I would realy like to see. Becouse I dont need more than that.

[av8or233]

@jeanlucdemarc This video depicts wood engraving...

[jeanlucdemarc]

Hey did you DIY laser? I'm bilding 5axis first time cnc and thinking ahead for fast nonversion laser engraving.

[av8or233]

@jeanlucdemarc It's all DIY. I bought the laser module on eBay.

[av8or233]

@jeanlucdemarc This laser will burn wood and paper, and it will cut paper and thin vinyl. It will not mark metal or cut anything thicker than card stock.

[jeanlucdemarc]

For wich material can be used? My email: jeanlucdemarc@gmail.com

[Dakota1Rules]

Love this stuff!