User guide

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User Guide

User Manual

PPI

Mode (Drop Down Menu)

The driver uses the word “MODE” because the laser system works similarly to the operation of a pen plotter

output device. A pen plotter physically selects a colored pen that matches the same colored objects in your

graphic, called “color mapping,” and draws the graphic, on paper, in that color. The laser system, however, applies

a Mode, % Power, % Speed and PPI setting, to the individually colored objects in your graphic. Up to eight (8) sets

of user-adjustable parameters, which control laser beam delivery to your application material, can be “mapped” to

the respectively color lled or outlined objects in your graphic.

Available settings are 1 to 1000. The laser beam is always pulsing and never “on” continuously even though it

may appear that way. The PPI setting indicates how many laser pulses, per linear inch, the laser cartridge

will emit. The pulsing of the laser beam is electronically linked to the motion system. These pulses will always

re, equally spaced, from one to the next, regardless of changes in speed.

In raster mode, dot positioning is determined by the driver based on image dark areas. The

print driver has the ability to place dots at any resolution up to 1000 PPI according to the

image composition. For solid lled areas (solid black for example) the machine places dots

at 1000 PPI because all pixels are completely lled with color. For halftones, the print driver

determines laser pulse location based on whether image pixels are black or white (and edge

threshold decisions). For grayscale, the print driver determines laser pulse location and

power based on image pixel color value (and edge threshold decisions).

In vector mode, laser pulsing follows the path of the outline of the object. Imagine the

laser system working like a sewing machine where the stitching always remains

consistent whether you sew fast, slow or around curves. The setting you use will be

application material dependent. Using less than 150 PPI may result in the pulses being

spread so far apart that they may or may not touch one another. Perforated paper has this

characteristic. Higher PPI settings may cause more of a melting or burning eect on the

edges whereas lower PPI settings may reduce the burning, melting or charring, but may result in a serrated

or perforated-looking edge. Increasing or decreasing the PPI setting does not aect engraving speed, only the

frequency of the pulses.

Selecting the appropriate color and clicking the drop down menu button toggles through the following laser beam

delivery modes for the each of the eight respective pen colors.

RAST/VECT (default) raster lls and vector marks or cuts proper outlines.•

RAST rasters all lls AND outlines regardless of outline thickness.•

VECT only vector marks or cuts proper outlines. It will skip all lls and will skip all outlines with line weights •

thicker than a hairline.

SKIP ignores all lls and outlines.•

Laser (Dual laser cartridge system only)

If your laser system comes equipped with more than one laser cartridge, you are given the choice of using either

both laser cartridges or a single laser cartridge (Top or Bottom.) If your laser system has one laser tube, select the

appropriate laser cartridge according to your laser system set-up.

Note: Black and white, grayscale and color bitmaps are all mapped to the black color’s settings.

Z-Axis

This control on the Printer Driver lets you oset the Z-Axis table from the current focal point. When the feature is

turned on and a height is set, the table lowers to the height entered and starts engraving. This feature can be used as

a Material Thickness focusing method.