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Hello, I'm Geordie and I currently work at ADX Portland running the Laser Cutter and Engraver. My job is to take in customer's projects, set them up and run them on the laser. As a result, I've learned a few tricks for how to set up jobs to get the best results, and in this Instructable I'm going to pass them on to you.
The laser I work with is an Epilog Helix and the program we use to run it is Corel Draw. I'm going to try to write in general terms so you can use what ever laser and program you want to.
Note: For several of these tips it is important to understand the difference between Vector files and Bitmap files. Vector files are mathematical formulas defining lines, circles etc. These are created by programs like Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, AutoCAD and Corel. Bitmap files are collections of individual pixels. This included digital photos, Adobe Photoshop files, JPGs etc. With the Epilog laser (and I'm assuming other ones) you can only cut with a vector file. You can engrave with either vector or bitmap files. For several of my tricks you need your file to be a vector file for the trick to work.
Today we will move away from the popular programs such as Benbox or RIBS and take a closer look at Acan, a less known program for laser engraving. This program is free, runs without installation and has all the necessary functions you need when working with a laser engraver. Section 5 Material Settings Guide This section provides sample driver settings and helpful hints to get started engraving and/or cutting the materials listed. Safety NEVER LEAVE THE LASER SYSTEM RUNNING UNATTENDED FOR ANY REASON. Exposure to the laser beam can cause ignition of combustible materials.