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Messages - Administrator

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1
T2 Engraving / Re: Pause a job
« on: April 07, 2018, 05:04:27 PM »
I agree with Ian...it's a work around to try and do your project that way. You either enlarge your work space or make your dxf parts smaller. Don't try and burn a large job in multiple pieces.

2
Trouble Shooting / Re: Incomplete shapes
« on: April 07, 2018, 10:19:28 AM »
The g-code below will burn a small square. Load it into T2 and then send it to your laser machine and see if it burns a complete square. Don't worry about how the lines look, we're just trying to see if it burns 4 lines at all.

G91
G21
G01 Z0000.0000 F100
G01 X0000.0000 Y0000.0000 F500
M03 S128
G01 X0000.0000 Y0010.0000 F500
G01 X0010.0000 Y0000.0000 F500
G01 X0000.0000 Y-0010.0000 F500
G01 X-0010.0000 Y0000.0000 F500 ( pass 1 )
M05 S0
G01 X0012.0000 Y0000.0000 F500
M30

3
Trouble Shooting / Re: Incomplete shapes
« on: April 06, 2018, 10:09:58 PM »
Have you seen this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAFyZZX8RUk&t=0s&index=1&list=PL1ApZWLk0_MpBVWumCXkfenyruySqjw89

4
T2 Engraving / Re: Pause a job
« on: April 06, 2018, 07:24:40 AM »
In BCL, you can insert a Pause into your g-code after each pass of a multi-pass laser job -- or -- insert one Pause at the end of the job (after all passes) have finished.

See attachments.

5
T2 Engraving / Re: Pause a job
« on: April 05, 2018, 04:59:45 PM »
It depends on which software you are using...some can and some can't. Having said that, why do you need to pause a laser job? Generally speaking its a bad idea to pause it. Your burn job should be prepared so you don't have to pause it.

6
T2 Engraving / Re: DXF part disappear
« on: April 03, 2018, 09:36:56 AM »
> If you arent using it I think your assessment of the software is extremely biased and uninformed.

When I was looking for CAM software I looked at Fusion 360. It is a huge app and needs some PC horse power to make it work. I wouldn't want to use it on a tablet or an I3 Intel CPU. It's not bad to use for a dxf file I agree, but for that I personally think it's still over kill. I wasn't looking at it for it's CAD capabilities but rather for it's CAM add-on feature. The steps needed to use it's plug-in CAM feature (a year ago) was complex and didn't work well for me. Thus, I decided to write BCL.

I was writing mainly for the new folks on the forum. My posts tend to be written for them since the experienced folks (like yourself) don't need to be told this or that. If folks like Fusion 360, then that's what they should use. I wasn't trying to force anyone to use QCAD or LibreCAD or NanoCAD, but rather was just trying to make the new folks aware of what's available and they can check them out...if they wish.

As for you using Fusion 360, I still want to call you Capt. Nottingham82 ha!!

7
T2 Engraving / Re: DXF part disappear
« on: April 03, 2018, 08:51:37 AM »
Sorry, no I don't. I use QCAD or LibreCAD or NanoCAD which are all free. Fusion 360 is massive over kill to be using for our little laser machines.

There does appear to be some 'issues' in generating the final output g-code using it. Inkscape certainly has problems doing that conversion also.

Users really need to make it simple: use a CAD program to create your dxf file and then use CAM software to load in the dxf file and generate the g-code. Easy. Simple.

Using Fusion 360 is like trying to learn to fly using a B-747...you can do it but it's over kill.

8
T2 Engraving / Re: DXF part disappear
« on: April 03, 2018, 08:23:51 AM »
Your .dxf file has no units of measurement set. I don't think that is causing your problem but it's the one thing 70% of users fail to set. So no matter what else is happening with your file, set your units of measurement!

9
T2 Engraving / Re: Is T2 likely to stop while multi-tasking
« on: March 27, 2018, 09:47:48 PM »
I would guess only about 10% to 20% of PC users have an I7 CPU. That is the most expensive CPU because it is a Gaming CPU. I have one, but not primarily for gaming. A developer (me and BCL) can also make use of an I7 to compile and link and debug the program under development. Therefore, the majority of users don't have that kind of 'horse power' to play with.

Multi Cores and Hyper Threading is a very complex subject. There are I5 and I3 CPUs with dual cores and multiple threads but it's not as straight forward as that. For example, some an I3 CPUs with hyper threading have two fake threads that are not usable. Go figure. Threads only give you about a 30% increase in performance. Additional cores are far superior to threads. When you have a choice buy cores over threads.

In addition, the exact CPU type may require that the software (T2 or BCL) be written to use those other cores and other threads.

The safest path is to state what I said: When using a laser machine, send your job and then let the job finish before trying to do something else with your PC at the same time.

The other bad thing that can happen is that another program you try to use may malfunction and hang the whole PC (it does happen) so that will also kill your laser job.

10
T2 Engraving / Re: Is T2 likely to stop while multi-tasking
« on: March 27, 2018, 05:33:55 PM »
You should not try to multi-task while using laser software. The most important thing is to make sure the g-code data stream is not only being sent to the laser machine at ALL times, but that the software can also take time out to read any return data coming from the controller board. These two tasks are more important than ANYTHING else going on with your PC.

Let's review what multi-tasking really is on a PC: A PC CANNOT truly multi-task. The CPU can do only one thing at a time. The multi-tasking humans think of is that a PC can run three or four programs at the same time and get work done. Not true at all. What is really happening is called time slicing. One application gets the full attention of the PC and runs some clock cycles on the CPU. Then it pushes a lot of data onto what is called the stack to save the CPU state. Then the that app simply stops working. The next app pulls it's saved data from it's stack and resumes CPU operations for a tiny slice of time. Then it saves it data onto the stack and stops. The next app kicks in and the same thing happens.

All of this happens fast enough for most applications (programs) that nothing bad happens. However, if you're task is time critical, bad things can happen. This means data gets lost because your critical app is starting and stopping so much. The laser controller board however is still working 100% trying to send and receive data from your PC. If you try to do something else while your software is sending data to your laser machine...something may not work correctly.

Laser software is time critical. When you send data to your laser machine you should not do anything else with your PC. Let your software (T2 or BCL or ???) have full access to the CPU by not trying to run any other programs or try to do something else on your PC.

I know it's a pain in the butt to have to work it that way, but if you don't, sooner or later you'll find out why and ruin a job.

11
General Discussion / Re: Where do I start ?
« on: March 27, 2018, 09:13:58 AM »
>3d laser printer

Correction: 3d printer

Generally, you should not have to change the firmware in your controller board like we do with laser machines. All you need to do is find what 3D CAD program you like to use and which Slicing software you like to use.

Check out https://3dprinting.com/software

Under 3D Modeling Software: SketchUP has a free version. I use it and like how simple it is. You finish your 3D drawing and then do an export to a *.dao file. Then, using MeshLab software (free) you check your model for 'leaks', fix if needed using MeshLab and then do an export to an *.stl file which is the final file type that Repetier Host (below) uses.

Under Slicers & 3D Printer Hosts: I recommend Repetier Host (free).

This is the work flow that I used when I was 3D Printing, but there are a lot of other ways to get to the end game which is to get to an *.stl file to load into your 3D Printer software (which ever one you decide to use).

>EDIT I would like the software programs to work in Linux. Does this pose a problem ??

I'm not sure as I'm a Windows 10 geek.

Post here with more questions and you'll get the help you need.

12
BenCutLaser / Re: Filled text with BCL? (OPEN)
« on: March 25, 2018, 08:35:08 AM »
Sorry I made a typo Marcus. BCL does not do Text Fill.

You have to use your CAD program to create an image of the text you want. Then load it into BCL as an image and laser the image. This means you will have to also create a laser tool for burning an image on your specific wood and go through the laser tool image calibration process (you do this only one time). Then you can burn the image.

Let me know if you need more help.

13
BenCutLaser / Re: Filled text with BCL?
« on: March 24, 2018, 08:33:21 PM »
Hi Marcus,

BCL does not do Text Fill. For a non-engraving, the burn time would be very long.

So, yes, your best bet would be to treat the 'text' as an image and do an engraving of it.

14
General Discussion / Re: Could wait to do a photo
« on: March 21, 2018, 07:45:40 AM »
Very nice indeed!

15
BenCutLaser / Re: Need help (OPEN)
« on: March 18, 2018, 05:30:39 PM »
Willy,

I still need steps to recreate your problem. I can't do much more until I get your exact steps to create this bug.

Also, you're still working on all of the drawing objects. We need to reduce this down to the minimum number of drawing objects that still gives us the bug.

George, to answer your question, see attachment. These values Willy may need to change if they are too high. The G-code Text dots per inch are also used for Spline drawing objects. I find 16 works well. Unless you have a lot of PC horse power, you don't need to use more than 16. Larger values produce more g-code, smaller values produce smaller g-code data. I try to match both of these values to 16.


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