Laser Marking Programming Basics: Easy Methods for Drawing Basic Shapes

A quick guide to the basics of graphic design for laser engraving.These cover common graphic drawing techniques, helping users to master the basic operation of laser marking machines, and improve work efficiency.By using examples, students can learn the steps and details of programming in a relaxed manner.

Why should students learn to draw?

If it is your first time programming a laser marking machine, you might find the software interface complex and the parameters numerous, and not know where to begin.If you can master the basics of drawing, you can complete 80 % of daily tasks, such as marking logos, serial numbers, or simple designs.Mastering this area will make it easier to learn the more advanced stuff that follows.

The software interface is easy to use.

Find the toolbar.

When you fire up the laser engraving software, don't be frightened by the multitude of buttons.Most of the software has a clear drawing tool area on the left side or the top, and you can click on the icons for circles, rectangles, or straight lines to use them directly.

Set the most commonly used parameters.

Power, speed, and frequency are the three most important parameters.If you are marking metal, you can raise the power a bit, but if you are marking plastic, you should start with a low power setting to avoid scorching.The speed parameter is generally set between 200 and 500 mm / s, depending on the hardness of the material.

The techniques used to draw the four basic patterns.

Circles and arcs.

Pressing the Shift key while drawing a circle ensures that the circle is perfectly round, and the mouse can be dragged to adjust the size.If you need to draw an arc, first select "arc mode" in the attribute bar, then enter the starting angle and ending angle. For example, 0 ° to 180 ° would draw a half circle.

Rectangular and square.

It supports both right-angle and round-corner modes.Want to draw a perfect square? Just hold down the Ctrl key (or the key combination designated by the software) and drag the mouse.The radius of the rounded corners should be kept within 0.5-2 mm. If they are too large, they will affect the clarity of the corners.

Text and font processing.

After importing text, you must check to see if the font is compatible with vector paths.Some art fonts may become gibberish, so use Song or Hei to be on the safe side.For characters smaller than 3 mm, remember to select "high precision mode" to avoid strokes sticking together.

The polygon and the star.

Stars and hexagons are the most convenient to draw with this tool.If you enter 5, it will create a pentagon. If you select "star shape," you can also adjust the ratio of the inner and outer radii to make the points sharper or more rounded.

Practical applications of composite graphics.

The logo design is nested.

Arranging text in a circle is a common need.First draw a circle, and then select the Chinese text layer. Find the "align to path" function, and drag it to the edge of the circle, and adjust the spacing to achieve the desired wrap-around effect.

Array replication saves time.

When you need to stamp the same pattern repeatedly, don't do it one by one by hand.The "array tool" allows users to set the number of rows and columns, and the spacing between them, so that in just one minute they can create dozens of neatly arranged graphics, which is particularly suited to the processing of product labels.

Pitfall Guide: Common problems for novices.

When first getting started, it's easy to forget about the order of the layers, which can lead to overlapping parts being marked twice.Remember that you can use the right mouse button to adjust the order of layers in the software, and you can also select the "auto-optimize path" function.If you find that the edges are jagged, check the cleanliness of the lens, or try changing the fill mode from single scan to double scan.

Finally, remember to test the effect of the settings on a spare piece of material before you start marking the real thing.After all, there is a big difference in the reflective properties of different materials, and it is better to try things out than to talk about them.