So we got an interesting question the other day:  Can you laser mark circuit boards with your laser kit?  We first thought, well sure, it probably works.  Let’s throw it on the laser-bot and see how GOOD it works!  So we did… It turns out that 1W is plenty of power to remove the FR4 […]

We have been a partner with Vectric on development of the new laser module for a couple of years now and we are happy to say they have released the new version. This new module will allow several new features in Vectric products to make it more compatible with our laser upgrade kits. In the past, we have been using Vectric with our lasers and post processors, but it has never been fully integrated.

There are three main new features in the laser module.

1. Ability to add “laser tools” to the tool database.
2. Addition of the “Laser Cut & FIll” Toolpath
3. Addition of the “Laser Picture” Toolpath

We will cover these in detail, but it is noted that not all machines will be able to do the “Laser Picture” toolpath. You will need to have power control on your machine for this to be able to work. Machines that have GRBL controller (X Carve, Shapeoko3, Millright, ACRO, Openbuilds, etc.) will have the ability to do picture engraving. Others that do not have power control (Axiom, Mach3, Mach4, Laguna, Shopsabre, Camaster, etc.) will not be able to use the Laser Picture toolpath in the laser module. These machine will however be able to use the “laser tools” in the database and also the “Laser Cut & Fill” toolpath.

The GRBL_mm and the GRBL_inch post processors included in 10.5 versions of Aspire, V Carve, and Cut2D will work with GRBL machines with version 1.1f or higher firmware. We will present the new post processors here.

*Note* these are BETA post processors. Please contact [email protected] to report problems.

*Right click “save link as” versus clicking the link *

GRBL 1.1 – No Z Dynamic Laser Mode (X Carve, Shapeoko3, etc)

• DOWNLOAD GRBL INCH VERSION HERE
• DOWNLOAD GRBL MM VERSION HERE

Mach4 – Vector Laser Mode No Z

• DOWNLOAD MACH4 INCH VERSION HERE
• DOWNLOAD MACH4 MM VERSION HERE

3D Printer (Using Fan Control M106/M107) with ARCS

• DOWNLOAD 3D PRINTER INCH ARCS VERSION HERE
• DOWNLOAD 3D PRINTER MM ARCS VERSION HERE

ShopBot (Using OP5 Connection)

• DOWNLOAD SHOPBOT INCH VERSION HERE

Onefinity No Z Option (Default)

• DOWNLOAD ONEFINITY No Z INCH VERSION HERE
• DOWNLOAD ONEFINITY No Z MM VERSION HERE

Onefinity 3D Laser (with Z moves)

• DOWNLOAD ONEFINITY INCH VERSION HERE
• DOWNLOAD ONEFINITY MM VERSION HERE

Onefinity Elite (MASSO)

• DOWNLOAD MASSO INCH VERSION HERE
• DOWNLOAD ONEFINITY MM VERSION HERE

Mach3 – Standard M3

• DOWNLOAD MACH3 INCH VERSION HERE
• DOWNLOAD MACH3 MM VERSION HERE

Mach3 – M10P1/M11P1 Direct Output

• DOWNLOAD MACH3 M10p1/M11p1 INCH VERSION HERE
• DOWNLOAD MACH3 M10p1/M11p1 MM VERSION HERE

Laguna

• DOWNLOAD Laguna mm VERSION HERE
• DOWNLOAD Laguna inch VERSION HERE

WinCNC (Shopsabre, Camaster)

• DOWNLOAD WinCNC inch VERSION HERE

NextWave Shark CNC HD

• DOWNLOAD NextWave Shark HD inch VERSION HERE

Axiom

• DOWNLOAD Axiom mm VERSION HERE
• DOWNLOAD Axiom mm No Z VERSION HERE

UCCNC

• DOWNLOAD UCCNC inch VERSION HERE

Centroid Acorn

• DOWNLOAD Centroid Acorn inch VERSION HERE

How to Set up the Post Processor

1. Download the post processor by right clicking the link above for your machine and save the link.

2. Save the post processor to your computer. We just put it in the download directory.

3. Click on the “install post processor” tab in vectric.

4. Choose the file you just downloaded.

5. Click on “Machine Configuration”.

6. Find your machine configuration. Push the “plus” button to add a new post processor.

7. Choose the post processor you just downloaded. Highlight it and click on “select”.

8. Finish the setup.

Setting up Your Laser Tool in the Database

Here is an example of the laser tool in the database

44W OCTO PRO Database Example

64W OCTO PRO Database Example

Laser Module Toolpaths

The new laser toolpaths are in the toolpath tab.

Here is a video on how to do a carve and laser project.

How do I select my post processor? It is not in the list.

If you don’t see the post processor listed when you calculate your toolpath, then you might need to save it separately.

1. Highlight the toolpath and then click on the “Save toolpath” icon.

2. Your post processors will show up on the list. Click on the laser module post processor you need.