3d Engraving - is it worth it? Do you use it?

[Kev Williams]

Just a thought here, but rather than giving separate, mapped contours different power settings, why not just number and color them as to their depths- 1 the deepest, 15 (or so) the shallowest. Color each countour differently, and line them all up in order in the software's color map. Give them ALL the same power and speed settings, which you'll need to determine --

then just do this: engrave color 1... then engrave color 1 + color 2... then engrave 1 + 2 + 3... then 1 + 2 + 3 + 4... etc etc...

I tried this once for 4 colors, MY headache was in separating the 4 colors -- but it worked. Once you get the speed and power dialed in so each cut depth is how you want it, should work...

[Robert Bonenfant]

Like others have said 3d engraving is more of a cool factor, We used it once when we first tested our machines and never used it again. It really just takes to long to complete to make it remotely profitable. If your looking to make 3d engravings than a cnc router would be the way to go - alot faster and the programs out there make it pretty simple to do. My routers will run circles around my lasers when it comes to 3d engraving.

[Joseph Shawa]

Thanks Kev,

What I am trying to do is do max resolution depth engraving of the contours to accurate scale. The details I am getting are great but as you stated, separating the depths is tricky. As for the powers they seem to be non linear so I adjust both the speed and power to get each level to do what I want it to. Also each level is grey scale in order to maintain detail. i.e. it's not just a solid, flat engrave. Right now I am trying to simplify by getting accurate data from USGS because even though the method is working it is Verry time consuming. The reason being that the data is displayed in JPG format or PDF and contour lines that may have been intended to be of one color are condensed and result in darker, which means deeper and aren't accurate. What I do then is color the questionable areas to match the depth adjacent to them.....one after another after another!

So, I will get back to the thread as I simplify it.

[Joseph Shawa]

What kind of detail can you get?

[Bert Kemp]

This is a 3d I did to see how it worked. details ok but could be betterIMG_20170907_185230654 (Copy).jpg

[Bill George]

Looks nice Bert. So what you really need is some sort of program that assigns depth to a shade in a gray scale image.

[Bert Kemp]

Probably right Bill but don't think I'll be doing anymore 3d this is a 12 x 12" and took over 4 hours to do. Just wanted to try it and see what happens, now I know LOL