Vector looking much better. Raster no so much. Starting to wonder if it’s my power supply doing something funky rather than the controller.
I think we have had that since the beginning and its more visible when you have a rapid change in power. Look at @Tiaan_Steyn calibration https://plus.google.com/106465140912283318412/posts/fud8s59WPRh , this is the best i have seen and still you can see a little of that. I think its something on our config
https://plus.google.com/106465140912283318412/posts/fud8s59WPRh
I would also consider trying a proper gradient as a test, since you have solid lines between each % box, might be that the software is adjusting speed for the solid line.
See my calibration test image: https://1drv.ms/i/s!AqT6a-6Vl15NiO59JV1IybxWrh4YSA
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AqT6a-6Vl15NiO59JV1IybxWrh4YSA
+Peter van der Walt I don’t have a setting for laser_module_tickle_power but laser_module_pwm_period is set to 20.
as for the version of firmware, I’m using whatever is flashed on this board when I bought it from @raykholo . How do I query the board to identify this?
Yeah, the new firmware definitely makes a difference on the engraving side of things.
Hang on. He should already be on the September edge firmware (this might be 1 version behind now).
You want him on firmware-CNC.bin?
We’ve only used firmware.bin regular…
@Carl_Fisher Proceed with firmware-cnc.bin. I haven’t used this so tread carefully.
firmware.bin vs firmware-cnc.bin no other changes both run at 300/150 which is where I was getting the best results on the gradient so far. Will go re-run the gradient shortly
Indeed a very good gradient. Maybe tickle power should be up a little to get that second square?
It looks a ton better. I think I still have some tweaking to do as I’m not getting the full shading on the skull image that @Yuusuf_Sallahuddin_Y is getting but it’s definitely a huge step in the right direction. Now I need to go see if my vector engraving on small text issue is still gone or if that’s come back with all of these change
Yeah, I think this all started with Carl saying he couldn’t get any meaningful output under 20% power. I tend not to use that low at all. Time to try a pen? 
Yeah, so on the pens we’re back to the original issue with vector of the dotted line look. I’ll have to work on a raster version for engraving for now I guess. Time to call it for the day and get back to the remodel on the house.
Thanks everyone for the help to this point. That cnc.bin is looking great
I’m running the CNC firmware as of a few nights ago on the mini @raykholo . Working great probably should have let you know that.
All the rastering I’ve done has been text though. And then cutting. Still pretty happy.
@Carl_Fisher The difference between yours & mine could possibly be related to the material we are engraving on. I was on plywood whilst yours looks to be MDF? Alternatively, could be something else in my config settings that is different to yours. Mine is by no means perfect, still a lot of tweaking on my end until I get happy with it. I have done about 50 of that particular skull (I was using it as my reference image) whilst tweaking. Stupidly I didn’t keep records of what I set for all of them. But the firmware-cnc definitely gives a nicer result that previous firmwares.
You guys are awesome. I wouldn’t be anywhere without having all this testing.
+Peter van der Walt yes like dot dash. Never stops cutting but it’s like it pulses power. If that something in configuration I can play with?
@Yuusuf_Sallahuddin_Y yes I’ve been using MDF for more consistent results.