Burn Images into Wood using LaserGRBL

In this tutorial I show how to use a DIY laser Burner/engraver, such as the 3DP Burner to burn an image into wood. The burner/engraver must be a GRBL controlled unit. Two free programs are required for this tutorial. Inkscape, which is used to crop the image and convert to greyscale and the LaserGRBL program, which is used to generate gcode from your image to burn it onto wood. LaserGRBL is a sender program that directly connects to the burner and sends it gcode commands.
Get the programs here. (Just follow page links to downloads)
www.Inkscape.org
www.lasergrbl.com

[@rdavidw3517]

Great video that helps new users (like me) learn how to use GRBL software. It's saved me hours of searching to find answers. Your responses to user questions and comments are also very informative.

[@pauloe8pck830]

Thank you very much for your excellent video Kevin. Helped me a lot with inkscape as well.

[@andrepitre8608]

Thanks for the tips, worked very well for me

[@ricksmith7631]

i had the same issue with jerkiness while burning as it jumped over the white unburned area, i slowed the jog speed way down and kept it close to the burn speed, i noticed the laser didnt jump as much and ran much smoother, it takes a little longer to burn but the results were much cleaner. plus make sure your belt tension is set right with no slop, the belts do stretch a hair after a while and they tell you to trim off the excess when setting up the machine - dont, it gives you something to grip on to re-tension the belt then tuck the free end under the channel so its out of the way, you cant put the end cap on but thats just for looks so leave the cap off on the free end.

[@vandanhbui1411]

Thank you so much, your instruction is very clearly! Finally, i find the solution for my project

[@ashokmujmule]

Thank you for great information

[@kevinbrigadier3325]

No problem.

[@pepeviktor2]

thanks for tutorial

[@Qualitex]

Hey sir, Did you install your TTL wire to Z+ Max éndstop? :) I got some issues with 3dpburner g code, it goes not controle the ttl auto, but only manuel. :( im about to try LaserGBRL software.

[@orlandomosquera4784]

Great, thank you sir.

[@ayasugihada]

Thank you for the tutorial! One thing I am really missing with this software is the option to run focal adjustment for the laser (lower light option) and "show path" option which would show me the maximal burn area for the current project. Are these buried somewhere in the software or are they just missing? Thanks!

[@redhytech]

show path is NOT in the LaserGRBL software. as for low light option you may need to type 'M3' 'S100' to get he laser to turn on may have to take the 'S' to 150 or 200( maybe higher) before the laser will work.

[@b-rad7708]

if you order an ortur laser mster 2 there is a dropbox file they give you and in the files they have some custom button options in there you can import into the laser grbl program. if you have a dropbox just let me know what it is and ill share the file with you and let you can get them from there

[@aliahconcepcion758]

thankyou sir i learn a lot

[@firemanv69]

Thank you so much learing on my own and wish i would have found this sooner so thank you

[@musiconrafa223]

Thanks bro

[@starwars65622]

I have the anet a8 3d printer fitted with a 500mw Chinese laser does lasergrbl work with this firmware?

[@jakubpiatka5765]

Hey, if I use mosfet with 250mw laser and control the gate with PWM, is it good way to burn pictures?

[@cutflower36]

Thanks for the video, can you make you own dimensions, or is is locked

[@johndrew6568]

Kevin Brigadier. Cheers. But I have a question, once you get the print set up correctly. Can you save it, make a copy of the file then remove the original image and add a new image, keeping all the settings, to save time. As you can probably guess I'm very new to this.

[@redhytech]

Laser GRBL will automatically save the settings from the last time you used it. just open a NEW picture in laser grbl and click next, then click create. as long as the image sizes are the same,,50mm x50mm or what ever size you choose could be 100mm x 30mm what ever. but it will save it for the next time you use it as long as you do NOT change anything except the image itself.

[@MakerMark]

I think dithering the image before importing into the app works better

[@agustin-tochimani]

Hi nice video, What laser machine did you use?. Thanks,

[@kevinbrigadier3325]

I used a DIY laser cutter engraver called the 3dp burner. Most parts that can be 3D printed are. You can find the laser cutter here. www.thingiverse.com/thing:610934 You can mount really mount whatever laser you want to these machines. I have a 2 watt 450 nanometer (blue) diode laser. It can cut through paper and thin cardboard, but mostly it's good for engraving wood. My brother actually built the machine himself and later gave it to me. It runs off of an Arduino uno with a CNC shield. I'm currently taking the machine apart and rebuilding all the mechanics. It will be larger and be made from 2020 v-slot aluminum extrusion. The linear motion will happen through v-wheels that ride along the v-slotted aluminum. I'm sure I'll make a video once the project is complete. It's slow going though as I'm machining anything I can myself. I want to get practice using an old lathe and milling machine passed along to me in the family.

[@errolfoster1101]

I haven't tried it yet but i have converted my photo to a pencil drawing to see what sort of picture I get

[@arduinonada3169]

Please I need 3 NC or G CODE format files in size 10 cm * 15 cm Thank you

[@shelby50411]

Thanks..i tried doing custom button for toggle laser on off...it worked for a few reps but then stopped working....the m3 m5 shows up on screen when toggling but laser doesnt turn on

[@kevinbrigadier3325]

I'll see if I can take some footage or screen shots of my set up working this weekend and share what I've got for the laser on and off buttons i made. I'm using toggle style buttons. One to goggle laser on and off at S100 (lower power) the other uses S255 (high power).

[@brunoschoofs3951]

hi sir can you tell me where to find the stl's for that engraver of yours

[@kevinbrigadier3325]

Bruno Schoofs 3dpburner.blogspot.com/p/files.html?m=1

[@dlfabrications]

Can you use GRBL with Creality printers?

[@knutevensen2564]

Hello - How to reset GRBL configurations (My setup for my Sculpfun S9 is wrong)

[@alpscraftshack599]

Very helpful video. Thanks. Looks like it has been a couple of years since you last posted a video. Are you still active.? Hard to find good tutorial type videos.

[@stuartbassett3807]

This is a good tutorial but does'nt seem to work in inkscape. When cropping the image the way you do by selecting the object box, it just draws a solid box over the image you want to crop in whatever colour is selected. How did you get it to be transparent so you could see the childs face through the box?

[@CaldorSD]

Didn't work for me either

[@herbfuhrer495]

Good day - Kevin (THANKS for this btw ! ) presents a ton of info, and does cover this, so if my answer isn't clear, re-watch his clip, it's in there. Once you have the box object ( opaque as it will be initially ), go to Object pull-down menu and select "Fill and Stroke" - OR - "Object Properties" --- either will get you the panel that permits you to edit the Opacity

[@kevinbrigadier3325]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5yWnnaFmapnipo. This video is short and explains exactly how to crop and set the crop shape to transparent.

[@aminshaikh8927]

Can you send me the software download link

[@jwwilson1961]

Your demo on the little girl photo says your job only took 26 minutes. Mine shows 10 hours. What am I doing wrong? I followed all your steps.

[@bahrtzs]

Hi! Which power laser used? Thanks!

[@redhytech]

he said 2 WATT laser. but it will work on other lasers

[@user-ve8kk8vw5x]

Фото без оттенков серого ? У меня не получается с оттенками серого ...

[@redhytech]

there are several problems with LaserGRBL. number 1 : it's A pain in the ass to pause the burning. one of the biggest laser killers is HEAT. it is recommended that you allow your laser to cool off for 5 minutes after each 10 - 15 minutes of burning. even with a HEATSINK your laser will get HOT. the heatsink may feel cool but the laser inside gets super hot. a fan on the laser does help but do you want to buy a new laser all the time? to pause the burning.. click the stop sign icon at the bottom right. to resume click the running figure next to it. remember to allow your laser to cool every once in a while. I usually burn for 5 to 8 minutes and cool down for about 5 minutes. number 2 problem : the GRBL firmware. I see in this video you used grbl0.9 the newest is grbl1.1h. both very similar. but each time i open LaserGRBL and load my machine i must set the firmware to laser mode($32=1). i have downloaded the source code and edited the GRBL firmware and recompiled it so that is no longer the case for me, but others may still have that issue. number 3: the GRBL firmware assumes that all machines are the same...they are NOT. for instance my machine uses 90 steps per mm. i have a mini laser that uses 82 steps per mm. GRBL firmware by default uses 250 steps per mm( I think,,it may be 200 per). to change the steps you must type in $100=XX, and $101=XX (XX=number of steps needed). I forget the formula, but there is a video on youtube that shows you how to calculate the steps per mm. I started with a image of a box with heavy outlines. I made it render at 10mm X 10mm. after it lasered i measured the image, then adjusted the steps to match what was needed per mm. like I said my A-3 machine was 90 steps per mm and my mini laser(made from dvd drives) was 82 steps per mm.( not perfect but it WORKS)

[@mitjapodrebersek8952]

Hello. Is possible to save g code from these programme to notepad ? Greetings

[@redhytech]

yes. go to file and save. it will save it as a .nc file and you can open the .nc file in notepad(or other txt editor)

[@e6530C]

its working but its not allowing the laser power to go to its max. Though I can enter the S code manually and it goes to full power.

[@redhytech]

when you make the g-code for the picture you want on the second window you can set the max power to a higher number. default is 255. try changing it to 1000 or 800 if that's too much. I think 1000 is the max you can set it. but you can go anywhere from 1 to 1000. your 'S' code max is set in the firmware. the 'S' stands for SPEED for the speed of the router but it also works the laser power.

[@scientificallystupid4797]

My engraver won’t connect to the software, please help! I’ve tried all the listed coms

[@redhytech]

you might need the chinese drivers for the machine

[@paulriley5940]

I take it resolution that the picture you are trying to convert and burn has a lot to do with the quality of the burn?

[@kevinbrigadier3325]

It does. The brightness and contrast needs to be dialed in as well. Doing a few test Burns with the same image, just smaller, where you vary the contrast and brightness will save a lot of time. That way when you burn your larger final image there'll be less chance of having to do it again.

[@redhytech]

laserGRBL uses 300pix resolution

[@shelby50411]

When i use laser grbl i dont aee anywhere to reset 0,0 start point.....if i move my laaer to my desired start point how do i Zero it out on laser grbl?

[@redhytech]

the new version of LASER GRBL you need to click on the globe icon at the bottom, to set the 0,0(HOME). and to make the laser go to HOME click on the house icon in the middle of the arrow keys.

[@shelby50411]

Thanks i used m3 m5 using toggle button... It worked fine for few min...now it doesnt work but does show m3 m 5 commands on screen as i toggle

[@redhytech]

try using m3 s100 to turn on the laser. some one told me that would work.

[@shelby50411]

Does anyone know how to reset xy 00 start point in lasergrbl? Only way i have found is to unplug and plug back in which is an unacceptable method

[@redhytech]

click the globe icon at the bottom. or in his version click the house icon at the bottom.

[@shelby50411]

How do you reset 0,0 starting point

[@redhytech]

put the laser where you want to be the 0,0 position and click the set home button. in the newer version of LaserGBRL it's the little globe at the bottom. it you laser head is at the home position the globe will NOT be clickable. it will be dimmed out. move the laser using the arrow keys them click the globe icon. remember that when you click the globe that will be your start position.

[@shelby50411]

Does anyone know how to reset x any y zero start point in laser grbl?....i havent found a way other than moving my laser to 0 0 and then shutdown laser grbl and reopen......if this is the only way to reset 0, 0 the engineers need to change the program to work properly

[@shelby50411]

Also,what version laser grbl you have....mine does not have the line to line option

[@kaitlinlovesfam3]

@@shelby50411 If you do the plug in why dont you just send it with grbl master sender

[@redhytech]

answer the two questions. 1 download the newest version...it's free. number 2: put your laser head where you want to start position, then click on the globe icon at the bottom. if the icon won't allow you to click it move the laser head using the arrow keys then click the globe icon. then you can move the laser head back to where you want it and reclick the globe icon. the version Kevin is using is an OLD version and looks like he had to click the 'house' icon by the lightning bolt icon to reset the 0,0 position. to make your laser return to 'home position' click the house icon in the middle of the arrow icons.

[@user-uv7oe9nj9u]

здравствуйте у меня вопрос . можно ли , g -код от laserGRBL адаптировать под мач 3 включение драйвера оси зет .

[@shelby50411]

And how do u know where your laser point is?...there is no way to turn laser on low to see where your lcation is..via lasergrbl...younhave to guess which is unacceptable method

[@kevinbrigadier3325]

the stock program does not include a button to turn the laser on so you can jog your machine around and see where it is. It is very easy to add custom buttons. You could make a custom bottom to toggle your laser on and off. When on make the laser power low S100 or less. Here are custom buttons people have made and have shared. httpsthub.com/arkypita/LaserGRBL/issues/306

[@redhytech]

ok, the trick i use is to tape a piece of string on the center of the laser's front side and on the center on one of the sides. it helps to have a small weight tied to the end of the strings. let the strings hang down. I placed a GRID down under my laser, then i line up the strings to the grid so the lines on the grid intersect at a point where the laser would hit. that's where I set my HOME position. and where I put the lower left corner of my project.

[@MrJaxparadize]

Wait, so this lasergrbl or whatever can’t draw pics?! You have to have a separate program just for the images?!! Wtf?!!

[@legoyfol3502]

タイトルは日本語、中身英語、わけわからん

[@elve44]

I am not american and you speak too much