Makers-
BLUF: work origin X0, Y0 seems to be different for the different modules… should it not be the same? Is there something I’ve failed to calibrate?
DETAILS: I am planning to make a bunch of laser-engraved memorial bracelets (like, for KIA/POW). The blanks are anodized aluminum, 0.5” x 7” x 0.05” thick.
First, I used the CNC toolhead to carve out recesses in a piece of MDF that I affixed to the CNC work platform with recessed screws (so the CNC bit didn’t carve the heads off). Worked like a treat and I can attach the jig to the work platform in just a couple of minutes. It holds 54 bracelets and they stop just a few mm from the edge of the 400 x 400 workspace. The X0, Y0 work origin behaves as I would expect it to… if I were to bore down through my jig at the origin, it would knock a hole right in the corner of the grid printed on the CNC platform that came with the Artisan. So far, so good.
Next, I switched to the laser (2W IR at first) and laid out a test pattern… 8mm squares in the far corners of the 400 x 400 work area. Yes, I re-calibrated everything when swapping toolheads. When I test-engraved this pattern on my jig, it didn’t line up, like… at ALL. The 0,0 square only printed a horizontal line. The 0,400 square printed a full square but it was nowhere near the corner of my jig, the 400,400 square printed a vertical line, and the machine didn’t even TRY to print the 400,0 square at all.
I tried the 10W laser next. Same trick of squares in the corners. These printed in their entirety… closer to the CNC work origin but still, aligned with neither the CNC’s idea of 0,0 or the 2W laser’s idea of 0,0.
This is most likely a “user error” thing, I admit. I could use some help from the hive mind to get over this learning curve hump, as it seems to be a pretty fundamental aspect of understanding and operating this incredible tool to its fullest capability. I thank you in advance for your assistance.
-Jon