EzCad2 Tip : How to Adjust Laser Timing JefferyJ 2019-05-31 | A quick guide to adjusting laser on/off timing. I only had to adjust the 'laser on' time, but you have the option of adjusting the on time, off time, end time (delay at the end of a group of vectors), and polygon delay time (the time at any vertex of a polygon which isn't a start or end point).These options can be saved within ezcad as a default once you find what works.
Adding a Rotary Axis to a Fiber Laser for use with EzCad2 JefferyJ 2020-07-07 | Here's my experience adding a rotary to the fiber laser for use with EzCad2. I ran into one issue where the wiring wasn't what I expected and had to make a change, but seems to be working fine.This is the link to Peter Verdone's website for his documentation of the full process of selecting components and wiring the rotary. It's an easy to follow post with lots of good pictures and diagrams: http://www.peterverdone.com/laser-accessoriesThe wiring diagram photo used in this video which pointed out pins 4 and 5 on the DB15 connector of the JCZ board were internally connected 5V+ pins was posted by Viktor Zsigrai in a fiber laser facebook group.
20W Fiber Laser Cutting Through Steel Shim Stock JefferyJ 2020-02-24 | A few people asked whether it is possible to cut thin material accurately and if warping was an issue. Here's a quick video showing how long it takes to cut a shape out of thin steel shim stock with a 20w fiber laser along with a caliper measurement. Warping is minimal if the cut is relatively quick. This stock is 0.003" thick.
Making a PCB with a Fiber Laser - using Eagle, Illustrator, & EzCad2 JefferyJ 2020-02-22 | First few attempts at using the fiber laser to ablate the copper surface of a single sided PCB. Includes the flow from Eagle to Illustrator to EzCad2. The laser used in this video is a Chinese 20w fiber laser with a 150x150 mm lens.
Building a Pneumatic Press : a DIY Replacement for a Toggle Press JefferyJ 2019-11-22 | After using a manual toggle press to press fit thousands of bearings, I decided it was time to switch to something a little more automated. I put together a pneumatic press with a few aluminum plates, a cylinder, valve, and some hardware and it's working great so far.The original Schmidt toggle press was a model 17R.Here are the parts used in the build:McMaster Carr Part Numbers and Descriptions:91423A220 Fine-Thread Medium-Strength Steel Hex Nut Class 8, M18 x 1.50 mm Thread98861A100 Low-Strength Steel Threaded Rod M12 x 1.75 mm Thread Size, 1 M Long98861A120 Low-Strength Steel Threaded Rod M16 x 2 mm Thread Size, 1 M Long90591A220 Zinc-Plated Steel Hex Nut Medium-Strength, Class 8, M16 x 2 mm Thread91166A310 Zinc-Plated Steel Washer for M16 Screw Size, 17 mm ID, 30 mm ODSpring Return Hand Valve from HQC-Tools.com5/2 Way Hand Pull Valve with Spring Return, 1/4″ NPT 4H210-08SPneumatic Components from AutomationDirect.comPU8MBLU100 NITRA pneumatic tubing, 8mm outside diameterMS516-14N NITRA pneumatic push-to-connect fitting, male, 5/16in (8mm) tube to 1/4in NPTSBC-18N Exhaust Silencers (I used some Festo Silencers I had on hand, not these)UY8M NITRA pneumatic push-to-connect fitting, union Y 5/16(8mm)FVR8M-38G Flow Controls (I used Festo again which are expensive). If you use the meter-out version you only need one of these on the lower port and can use 3/8 BSPP/G quick connect fittings for the upper two ports).Two Stage 100mm bore Cylinder from Aliexpress ( aliexpress.com/item/4000037212696.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.5d344c4dFvXfKs )Model should be SDAT 100x25x0 for $112+.
Top 5 Questions from New Fiber Laser Owners JefferyJ 2019-11-17 | Here are a few questions that I've received multiple times from people who are brand new to Chinese fiber lasers. These are heavily focused on initial setup and use of the laser.
EZCAD2: How to Pull Data from Excel for Laser Marking JefferyJ 2019-11-11 | Here are five tips to successfully pull data from an excel file (and also .txt files) into EzCad2 for marking with a Chinese fiber laser.
EzCad2 Tip: Engraving to a Preset Depth (20W Fiber Laser) JefferyJ 2019-11-05 | Let's take a look at some hatch settings in EzCad that can help us reach target engraved depths with a fiber laser. This file was created and tested on copper and stainless with a Chinese 20w fiber laser with a 150x150 lens. The EzCad file used in this video is available here:http://bit.ly/preset_depth
How much power does a 20W Chinese Fiber Laser Use? JefferyJ 2019-10-27 | I connected a Kill-A-Watt power usage monitor to my 20w Chinese fiber laser to get an idea of what it draws at different power settings. The grid used in this video is available for download here: youtube.com/watch?v=gAhNCu6hHMEIf you want to see colors marked on this same 6al4v titanium, check out this video: youtube.com/watch?v=6AeQdX6tNAU
Marking Colors on Titanium 6AL-4V with a Fiber Laser JefferyJ 2019-10-21 | I created a test grid that works with titanium (6AL-4V). It produces a variety of colors when marked a few millimeters out of focus. The grid is available for download here:http://bit.ly/Titanium_Color_Grid
Add a Damasteel Pattern to a Knife Blade with a Fiber Laser JefferyJ 2019-08-25 | Adding a damasteel bifrost pattern to this inexpensive ganzo firebird knife with a fiber laser. The material is stainless steel (440c) so we're going to mark with very lower power, low speed, and high frequency with a tight hatch pattern (.005mm). This pattern had to be welded and hatched individually in ezcad, but clearly I wasn't careful enough as there's a sizable blotch in the center. Oops.
EZCAD2 - Laser Mark with PowerRuler - Example #2 JefferyJ 2019-08-22 | This shows how to set up a 100 millimeter ruler for laser marking in EzCad2. This example was originally part of the first video on powerruler, but I think it's better presented and easier to understand as a standalone. If you've already watched the first video I made on the topic I quickly detail all the features again and the material is mostly repeated except for the actual example. It should be a little quicker and clearer but might be a little duller as there is no actual marking.
How to Make a Table in CorelDRAW for Fiber Laser Marking in EzCad2 JefferyJ 2019-08-20 | I had to make a reference table which will be marked on an aluminum tag and will attach to the side of a machine. Here are the steps to make this table in CorelDRAW and laser mark it in EzCad2. I've made a bunch of other videos about my laser, it's a 20w Chinese fiber laser. Check out my other videos if you'd like to know more about it.
Power Ruler - Setting Up a Ruler for Fiber Laser Marking in EzCad2 - Example #1 JefferyJ 2019-08-18 | Here's a walkthrough and demo of the PowerRuler feature of EzCad2. It helps set up a ruler with lines, values, and text. For further explantion, check out section 8.4 of the EzCad2 User Manual.
EZCAD2 Tip: MultiFileMark & I/O Controls JefferyJ 2019-08-14 | If you have a substantial quantity of multi sided parts to laser mark, or if you find it necessary to regularly re position the part during marking, this video might save you a little time. There are a few ways to program a pause into a marking routine. The Multifilemark feature applies to me as I mark batches of 50-100 double sided anodized aluminum parts on a fixture (3 at a time). The layout for this marking is held in two separate files. With multifilemark, I'm able to load both EZD files for the front side AND the back side at the same time and mark them in sequence with a single flip rather than having to unload and reload the same parts. In the course of playing with these features, I did notice my foot pedal isn't very good (I haven't ever bothered to use it prior to this point). It's far too sensitive and can trigger marking if it's merely nudged. I'll probably have to replace it for a few dollars on ebay.
EzCad2 Quick Guide: Marking Serial Numbers with a Fiber Laser JefferyJ 2019-08-11 | Here's a quick how-to guide for using the variable text feature in EzCad2 to mark serial numbers with a fiber laser.
EzCad2 Tip : The Wobble Option - Fiber Laser Pen Settings JefferyJ 2019-07-11 | Here's a setting available to be applied to any pen in EzCad2. It's called wobble and it follows a spiral pattern based on user input dimensions.
Making a Fiber Laser Enclosure with Filtration JefferyJ 2019-07-05 | The primary reason for purchasing my fiber laser was to mark batches of anodized aluminum parts. This leaves quite a bit of dust in the air and in the surrounding area. To combat the dust, I've built a small enclosure from aluminum extrusion and polycarbonate to contain the dust. Attached to the enclosure will be a WEN filtration unit to help airflow inside the enclosure and remove some of the dust. Dropbox Links to Files:1) Enclosure Dimensions:http://bit.ly/LaserPanelDrawinginMM2) Wen Boot Dimensions:http://bit.ly/WENReducerINCH
EZCAD2 - Setting Text Height JefferyJ 2019-07-01 | A quick and simple demonstration showing how to ensure the height of text in ezcad2 is the same as the actual marked height.
Attempting to Cut Through 1MM Stainless w 20W Fiber Laser. Results Arent Great. JefferyJ 2019-06-22 | A few weeks ago I was curious to see how long it would take to cut through a piece of 1mm thick material. After doing it, I wasn't going to bother posting the video because the answer was that it takes far too long. The published cutting spec for max material thickness on this laser is 0.3mm. The process may go faster with a different offset distance, different dimension of the circle, or different pen settings, but this didn't work out so well.
Download EzCad Test Grids Here - Links in Description JefferyJ 2019-06-16 | I've made a handful of EzCad test grids in past videos, some for power vs speed and others mainly looking at changes in frequency. The process of setting up 50-100 individual pens and assigning them to little hatch boxes is tedious and time consuming so feel free to download, modify, and use them however you like.Links to Dropbox files here: 1 - Power vs Speed Grid: http://bit.ly/PowerVsSpeedGrid2 - Power vs Freq Grid:http://bit.ly/PowerVsFrequencyGrid3 - Frequency vs Hatch Grid:http://bit.ly/ColorMarkingFrequencyVsHatch4 - Setup Squares for Distortion (PDF):http://bit.ly/SetupSquaresforLaserDistortion5 - EzCad Manual (PDF):http://bit.ly/EZCADMANUAL
EZCAD2 : Laser Marking Field Adjustments - Distortion & Scale JefferyJ 2019-06-12 | I noticed some issues with the edges of my laser field as I was trying to use a fixture I made to mark some parts. I exported the sketch geometry of the fixture from my cad software to DXF format so it could be imported into EZCAD. Upon import, I could line up a portion of the sketch geometry, but the rest of the lines appeared stretched or tapered depending where I looked. This video shows how I remedied the issue.This was done on a 20w fiber laser with a 150mm marking field.
Frequency Settings for Fiber Lasers : EZCAD2 JefferyJ 2019-06-09 | Here's a layman's explanation of the frequency setting in EZCAD2 that might be helpful for anyone just starting out with a fiber laser.
Fiber Marking CLEAR Acrylic JefferyJ 2019-06-08 | I failed to mark clear acrylic the first time, but here's a short video of a second attempt with a different method. I didn't attempt to play with the settings much, just wanted to see if this actually works.
Marking Colors on Stainless Steel with a 20w Fiber Laser JefferyJ 2019-06-06 | Here are some settings on my 20w fiber laser that produce a polished mark with subtle variations in color when marked on stainless steel. The appearance of the marks will shift from very dark to quite colorful depending on the lighting and the angle of viewing.
Laser Marking Fine Details - Settings for Aluminum & Stainless on 20w Fiber JefferyJ 2019-06-02 | This was a guess and check process of marking vector art to maximize the marked detail. The end result was good and seemed true to the original picture. Materials used: anodized aluminum and stainless steel. Laser is a 20w Fiber.
EZCAD2 : Beginners Guide to Hatch Settings JefferyJ 2019-05-29 | An explanation of the settings available in ezcad for adding hatch lines to shapes. This is ezcad version 2.14.10.
Playing with Plastic: Laser Marking HIPS, PLA, Acrylic, & Polycarbonate JefferyJ 2019-05-28 | Attempting to mark a few types of plastic I had available with mixed results. Laser is 20w fiber.
Fiber Laser Marking Powder Coated Aluminum JefferyJ 2019-05-26 | In the past I've regularly powder coated a handful of aluminum items but haven't yet tried to mark anything with the 20w fiber laser. Here's the first attempt along with the settings used.
Engraving Copper for DEPTH with a 20W Fiber Laser JefferyJ 2019-05-22 | Here's an attempt to find some settings on my 20w laser that will engrave deeply in copper. Marking times and settings are included as well as verification of depth with an indicator. Results were pretty good.
Marking Dragons on Stainless Steel with the Fiber Laser JefferyJ 2019-05-22 | Testing a variety of settings on stainless steel by marking a dragon vector image. At the end of the video I mark the power vs speed grid.
Fiber Laser Marking Carbide JefferyJ 2019-05-19 | Using my 20W fiber laser to mark a few carbide thread mills and corner rounding end mills. The goal is to affect the surface as little as possible while still making a legible mark so the specs of these tools will be known and easy to read.
Fiber Laser Engraving for DEPTH JefferyJ 2019-05-12 | Going for depth with the 20w fiber laser in tool steel. Here is the marking along with the settings used as well as the results measured by an indicator.
EzCad2 Tip: How to Adjust Red Light Position on a Fiber Laser JefferyJ 2019-05-10 | Here's a simple how-to guide to adjust the position of your red light prediction to match your actual marking position. I found this setting with a friend as his laser was marking to the left of the red light prediction since the day he received it.
Fiber Laser Marking Plastic - AR15 PMAG JefferyJ 2019-05-03 | My first few attempts at laser marking plastic with a 20W fiber laser. The successful marking with the settings I used is at the end of the video.
30W vs 20W Fiber Laser Marking JefferyJ 2019-04-10 | I marked a grid with my 20w fiber laser in a previous video. I'm now marking the same grid (same settings / same ezcad file) with a friend's 30w fiber laser to see the difference. This 30w laser has a much larger marking area and longer focal length so it's not an apples to apples comparison. I suspect the 30w would be significantly darker at the same settings if it had the same 150x150mm marking area as my 20w laser.
Dark Marking Capability of 20W Fiber Laser on Aluminum JefferyJ 2019-04-09 | The result is that a speed of less than 500 mm/s and a power greater than 40% seems to produce the darkest mark. All marking was done at 25khz one pass (crosshatch). I did test a few marks with text after this grid to see if there was much difference by varying the frequency from 20, 25, 30, and 50 khz but it was nowhere near as severe as changing the speed and power.
EzCad2 Tip: Multiple Part Marking with a Fiber Laser JefferyJ 2019-04-07 | Setting up an array of sketches in EZ Cad 2 to mark on multiple aluminum parts in one cycle.
20W Ebay Fiber Laser Setup & Thoughts After 1 Month of Use JefferyJ 2019-04-05 | My experience setting up and using this Chinese fiber laser engraver from eBay over the last month.
