The Kraken.

[tweakie]

Hi Guys,

How is Auggie progressi ng with 8 bit image processin g please ?

Looking at Art’s Kraken in the topic below, I couldn’t help making a copy. Bit cheeky this because it was laser engraved using Art’s software but not Auggie.

Tweakie.

[ArtF]

Hi Tweaky:

  Looks good, the original I made resides on my Brother in Laws boat.

  Auggie does 8 bit images now, it can load them , filter them, and put
them out as engraving files. But it uses grey scales for them so it can
do depth imaging. Binary files are fine to as they come out as on/off files.

 Auggie can divide an image into multiple passes so that weaker lasers
can still engrave to a deep depth. I does this by firing full power on deeper
sections on each pass and using variable power on greys within the
current slice.

   You can specify a single slice for any image and get a pretty decent engraving
as well. All of this though requires your laser be Pokeys 57CNC controlle d
for its PWM capabilit y during cutting or engraving .

  To get fully 3d , you need a grey scale that reflects 3d, typically from
an stl or 3d scene program.

Art
 

[Ya-Nvr-No]

Just to follow up, here is a couple of burns I did while testing grey scales using Auggie.

[ArtF]

those are REAL nice. Amazing what a K40 can do.

Art

[tweakie]

K40 

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the info. it certainly looks promising ( assuming I can understan d how to use Auggie  ).

I think I now have to do some serious reading-up on the 57CNC to see what, if any, hardware changes will have to be made to my existing system.

Currently, my laser is CNC controlle d by just one signal which comprises ON/OFF gated with PWM.

What signals does Auggie output from the 57CNC to control your lasers ?

Do we know if the 57CNC plugin for Mach4 supports the M62/M63 commands ?

Tweakie.

[ArtF]

Hi Tweakie:

   The 57CNC is used in Auggie pretty much the way it is used in M3. Same wiring except the Laser signal is a PWM.
When the PWM is off, the laser is off, and PWM isnt binary, it varies every 1 ms with the waypoints . Im not sure
about M62/M63, you may want to ask Mat at PoKeys.
   The only wire you need to add for the 57 is the PWM control , its about all thats different . I can run my laser motions under Mach3 but cant control the laser properly.

   The problem , once you start using variable power is that the photo or engraving data has to be used
by the plugin or program in real-time. Auggie loads it and uses it in realtime for the power levels. The
M62/M63 is binary and pretty inefficie nt really in compariso n. Its why Auggie was written, because cnc for
lasers just isnt powerful enough yet. Its probably why the Pokeys plugin cant do photo engraving, it would
have to mix cnc with photo processin g. 

  Another advantage that Auggie has is that it can then turn on laser only for G1 motion, so you can turn it on
with M3, and no laser is output until motion starts, and power is then a ratio of desired power at a set feedrate
and the current feedrate. This smooths power over time and distance. Its my favorite feature, no worries about m3/m5 timing. you can leave it m3'd all day.. so long as no G1 occurs.

  Mach3 will never catch up to that, though Mach4 may, but someone would have to write the photo
processin g part of the plugin to vary the power and m4 doesnt have that capabilit y as yet.

 As to using Auggie, its pretty easy when you get into it, it has its bugs, but is pretty stable. Few of us
use it, but for laser its hard to beat. Too few to do proper Docs, but this site has a lot of the questions
on getting running in it. Scripting is a simple C and can even be put in Gcode, so you can kinda force
it to do as you wish if your machine is a weird one.

  Anyway, if you go there, yell, we can guide you through any troubles, other than trouble swapping between mach3 and auggie( you often have to reconfigu re the Pokeys when you go back to Auggie as it doesnt store your
settings, it allows the Pokeys to store them.) its pretty easy to use. The one benefit of only working on one
motion device.

Art

[tweakie]

Thanks Art.

Currently, for my laser fitted machine, I use parallel port for Mach3 operation s and an ESS for Mach4 operation s (Mach4 is only used for experimen tal & testing as all serious work is still done with Mach3… Mach4 will get there one day). I am very pleased with the performan ce of the ESS and don’t need to replace it so I am thinking that USB operation of the 57CNC and Auggie should fit in alongside the existing set-up without any real changes. Auggie’s one wire laser trigger control system sounds just right.

As said, a bit more reading on the 57CNC to do – then order one from the USA.

Tweakie.

[ArtF]

Sounds good Tweaky.. if you do decide to go that route, just yell when you run into trouble. Review the
various laser posts and youll see how we use it.

Art

[tweakie]

57CNC is now on order 

Tweakie.

[ArtF]

Awesome. Let us know how you make out.  I think you'll
find Auggie isnt too bad to set up, but Docs are bad so
questions are never out of line.

Art

[tweakie]

Well, my 57CNC has arrived - now the fun begins 

I am sure I will have lots of questions so I will start a new thread in the Auggie section (once I have found all the necessary connector s, cables, etc. to connect everythin g up).

Tweakie.

[ArtF]

Tweakie:

 Welcome to Auggie, then.

    Have fun, you shouldn't find it too bad, youve been at this a long time.
The secret with Auggie to get the Pokeys running your machine using only
the Pokeys standalon e configura tor first.  You should be able to jog and home etc..

  By selecting periphera ls you can change the PWM channel you intend to use and watch
 it vary its output as you slide the sliders. When all that occurs, Auggie should run
fine with very little config required.

 Yell when confused. .

Art