User documentation

DOCUMENTATION - LASER #

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Welcome to the Laser Magic tool documentation.

This is an open-source and free software designed to simplify the preparation of files for laser engraving or cutting machines. Primarily oriented towards communication with machines running on the GRBL protocol, it can be easily extended to support other laser controller models. To download the latest version of the software, you can go there

The tool allows vectorized elements to be converted into commands for the machine, whether for cutting or engraving. It also supports advanced options to optimize the quality and precision of laser work.

Main Features

  1. Operation Types Management: Cutting and Engraving
  • Laser Cutting: Converts vectorized objects into cutting paths, with appropriate power and speed management for different materials.
  • Laser Engraving: Converts vectorized or rasterized objects into engraved patterns, with precise control of laser power.
  • Engraving Customization: Power and Speed

You can configure various power levels and different speeds depending on the material’s requirements and the desired outcome (e.g., deep engraving or light engraving).

  1. Engraving Customization: Power and Speed
    You can set different power levels and speeds based on the material requirements and the desired outcome (e.g., deep engraving or light engraving).

  2. Image Rasterization

This software allows the conversion of images into black and white (rasterization) for precise reproduction during laser engraving. Each pixel of the image is converted into a point or line engraved based on the desired intensity and contrast.

  1. Overscanning

Overscanning is a technique that disables the laser just before the engraving head slows down at the edges of the image or path. This prevents excessive burning and overly defined edges, ensuring a cleaner and more uniform result.

  1. Air Assist

The Air Assist feature blows air during engraving or cutting, helping to reduce burns and residue buildup on the material. The directed airflow also removes debris and improves the quality of cutting or engraving, which is especially useful for sensitive materials.

  1. Fill Algorithm Selection

The software offers several fill algorithms to optimize the engraving of solid areas:

  • Printer Fill: Traditional line-by-line filling, similar to the operation of a printer.
  • Flood Fill: A filling method based on a propagation algorithm, useful for irregular areas.
  • Span Fill: Optimizes movement to fill areas more efficiently, reducing engraving times while maintaining uniform quality.
  1. Extensibility to Other Protocols

While the software primarily works with the GRBL protocol, it is designed to be modular and adaptable to other laser machine control systems. This allows for great flexibility and future support for other machine models. To help you get started, we have created a tutorial to assist you in preparing your file and sending it to your preferred machine. All testing has been done on the Sculpfun S9 and S30, but other machines can be used as well.

To help you get started, we have designed a tutorial to guide you in preparing your file and sending it to your preferred machine.
All tests were conducted on a Sculpfun S9 and S30, but other machines can also be used.

There are two ways to use it:

  • As an Inkscape plugin
  • As a command-line utility (for advanced users)

Start by installing LaserMagic