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I have a laser-engraving "head" for one of my 3D printers (a Boxzy, so it's designed for it, not just strapping a random laser onto something), and I'd like to try using it to, well, engrave something. So:

  • Can anyone point me to some control software for this?

The Boxzy came with a license to Fusion360, but I found that nearly impossible to use (or maybe understand), and it wasn't clear how to apply it to engraving anyway (as opposed to milling or regular FDM printing).

I suppose I could just sketch out a thin 3D extrusion of the text or design, and print it in the usual way, setting the layer-height and/or scaling so it only "prints" one or 2 layers. I guess turning the laser on and off counts as turning the extruder motor on and off... But that's clearly a hack. Any "real" software for this sort of thing?

Any other hints are also welcome.

I'm thinking of writing my own software to generate G-code for this, though rasterizing fonts sounds painful in something like OpenScad... Must be a better way...

Trish
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TextGeek
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1 Answers1

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Autodesk must have been reading your mind.

A brand new video just got posted today from Autodesk on how to do this in F360. enter image description here

markshancock
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  • Thanks! Maybe they even have somebody reading this forum. :) Will check it out (though will have to renew my license to use it....) – TextGeek Jun 07 '17 at 16:39
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    Or you could help mentor a First Robotics Team and get to use it for free (non-commercially) – markshancock Jun 07 '17 at 17:13
  • Mind to elaborate on this a little as the link might die in the future, orphaning this answer? – Trish Aug 16 '18 at 09:29