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Mach4 General Discussion / Laser Mode i.e. do not stop motion after a G01 G2 or G3 X_ Y_ S_
« on: February 08, 2021, 03:02:28 PM »
I use Mach4 with a Pokeys54CNC in my homemade router. Sometimes I install a 5.5W led laser to make some engraving.
To use the laser, I created a new profile, I turn the laser on/off M3/M5 using one of the relays outputs and use pin 20 for PWM control with the S command.
It works nicely for cutting or black and white engraving, but this works badly when engraving gray scales. The issue is that when you have a set of instructions like the one shown below, the machine stops in each line, the speed is not constant, and instead of engraving, it burns the stock.
The cheap Arduino GRBL controller has an option they call "Laser Mode" in which an S command after G1, G2, or G3 does not stop the motion!
Is there a way to do this with Mach4?
G0 X4 Y2 S0
G1 X3.8 Y2.2 S216
X3.6 Y2.4 S232
X3.4 Y2.6 S241
X3.2 Y2.8 S279
X3 Y3 S260
X2.8 Y3.2 S257
X2.6 Y3.4 S326
X2.4 Y3.6 S304
X2.2 Y3.8 S291
X2 Y4 S250
X1.8 Y4.2 S229
X1.6 Y4.4 S191
G0 X1.2 Y5 S0
To use the laser, I created a new profile, I turn the laser on/off M3/M5 using one of the relays outputs and use pin 20 for PWM control with the S command.
It works nicely for cutting or black and white engraving, but this works badly when engraving gray scales. The issue is that when you have a set of instructions like the one shown below, the machine stops in each line, the speed is not constant, and instead of engraving, it burns the stock.
The cheap Arduino GRBL controller has an option they call "Laser Mode" in which an S command after G1, G2, or G3 does not stop the motion!
Is there a way to do this with Mach4?
G0 X4 Y2 S0
G1 X3.8 Y2.2 S216
X3.6 Y2.4 S232
X3.4 Y2.6 S241
X3.2 Y2.8 S279
X3 Y3 S260
X2.8 Y3.2 S257
X2.6 Y3.4 S326
X2.4 Y3.6 S304
X2.2 Y3.8 S291
X2 Y4 S250
X1.8 Y4.2 S229
X1.6 Y4.4 S191
G0 X1.2 Y5 S0