About this tool
Every material reacts differently to the laser: plywood, leather, anodised aluminium or cardboard need very different combinations of power and speed. Instead of lots of trial and error you run a test grid. Every row has its own power, every column its own speed, and in the end you see at a glance which cell you like.
The generator creates G-code for GRBL controllers in laser mode, as used in most diode lasers. In engrave mode the cells are filled with lines, in cut mode their outline is cut. If you like, the values are engraved next to the grid in a simple stroke font at low power. Everything is calculated in your browser.
How it works
- Choose engrave or cut and set the range for power and speed.
- Adjust cell size, gap and line interval and enter the maximum S value of your controller ($30).
- Check the preview, size and estimated time and download the G-code.
- Set the origin to the bottom-left corner of your material, run the job and pick the best cell.
Frequently asked questions
Which maximum S value do I have?
It is the GRBL setting $30. Many diode lasers use 1000, some 255. If it is wrong, the percentages in the grid are wrong too. You can query it with the $$ command in a G-code sender.
Why M4 instead of M3?
With M4, GRBL in laser mode scales the power down with the actual speed when the machine slows down for acceleration or in corners. That keeps corners and line ends from getting darker than the rest. It requires laser mode with $32=1.
How accurate is the estimated time?
It only divides distance by speed and ignores acceleration. Engravings with many short lines therefore usually take longer, especially at high speeds.
What do I do with the result?
Note down the settings of the best cell for this material. When cutting, measure the kerf with the Kerf Calculator next and use it to build, for example, a box with the Laser Box Generator.