I've seen a few of these done.

Lasers
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I’ve seen a few of these done. Is there any software available to us that can take an stl or 3dclip art and slice it to make tool paths for 3d bas relief models?

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http://picengrave.com/

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I have an idea how it would be implimented on some open source software; by incorporating a slicer from 3d printer software and cutting the negative space within a boundary box at really low power to just take off the surface of the wood… It would take some dialing in to get the perspective right

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Well they go it by doing a negative from the image. Look at their forum and you’ll see some impressive samples.

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@Ariel_Yahni_UniKpty has anyone run picengrave with the smoothie setup on the K40. Is this a viable way to get engraving capability on that configuration?

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@donkjr ​ the only way that would work is to manually change the gcode generated by picengrave or to connect laser on from k40 to Fan PWM in smoothie. The later I have no idea if it’s possible. So to answer I believe it has never happened. Now LW can do raster engrave, so why do you feel you need Picengrave?

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Ok? I was under the impression that LW could not engrave. What software is used to create an engraving in Gcode (I assume).

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That’s what LW Is for. It will create you “tool path” for the file you load. Either cut, raster or engrave. So if you load an image then you will get settings for raster. Look at my videos on YouTube to see a few examples

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Quite a lot of that goes on over on the Sawmill Creek Forum. I read several discussions on image converter software for reliefs.
They also have software to convert to those light transmission illusions (forget the name) made from ceramic or Corian. You cut the back, and when light shines through, it makes the flat surface look like a 3d image.
Very cool.

I Guess the lasers are much faster than the routers in cutting them, but not yet quite up to the resolution.

It’s on my list, the 3d reliefs are nice, and I can think of a lot of uses.

Scott

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@Scott_Marshall ​ I believe you’re talking about a lithophane

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@Alex_Krause
That’s it!
My memory is shot. It would have hit me 2 days from now.