Opt Lasers XT8 Deep Etching on Different Wood Species

In this video I compare deep laser etching on several species of wood with my new Opt Laser XT8, as well as try a couple of methods to shorten the execution time of the engraving.
More information on the Opt XT8 laser can be found here: optlasers.com/...

[@RyanBredemeyer]

Thanks Jim for this info! Clever to run it out of focus intentionally to save time on this powerful laser. And I like/had same thought as matthewsmith's idea to run the perimeter at z 0 enough to then be able to blow thru the rest of the internal cross hatch at higher z and higher speed, without burning the edges. Thanks for what you're doing to make great results so much more available to us who don't have the Jim Neeb brain & experience!!

[@nicolasmathon1249]

I'm really impressed by the quality of those engraving. This laser looks awesome. Thanks for all those feedbacks and tips

[@JNWoodworks]

Sure thing.

[@matthewsmith8573]

How would it work to do the outlines of the letters at the optimal focus (either just the actual outline, or perhaps a couple of beam-width stepovers to keep the out-of-focus passes farther away from the edges of the letters), and then fill them in at Z+.5 with higher power and wider stepover? Can the software handle splitting it up like that? Perhaps 2 sets of files: one for the outlines and one for the fill?

[@JNWoodworks]

I don't know, but that is a good idea to try. You can definitely do two toolpaths like that, one for an outline and one for the fill. The biggest problem there is the Vectric Laser module doesn't allow Z height control. However, I'm optimizing a laser toolpath that just uses the endmil toolpaths, and besides not having to buy the laser module, that does give you Z height control in the software. I hope to have a video out on that in the next couple of weeks if time permits.

[@scottchausee2342]

Im waiting on my XT8 to arrive, I would have liked to see engraving on very small letters say .1 to .3 high.

[@JNWoodworks]

That is easy to do. It's just constant power for flat etching. You would just do the opposite of this.th-cam.com/video/sjGmWgwnIJs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=AQ4YuaAyAsbAcRTu. and etch out the background around the letters. I would start with 60% power, 50ipm, and a crosshatch pattern with 0.010" stepover to start with, and the work up or down from there depending on how deep you want it.

[@scottchausee2342]

@@JNWoodworks I am just curious as to how small of letters we can get from the XT8. I will definitely try your settings tho.. Thanks

[@JNWoodworks]

​@@scottchausee2342 The main limitation with raised letters is they become fragile at small size