DSP hardware and software features upgrade *wish list*

[Tech_Marco]

Folks:

We're planning to launch an upgrade card. The upgrade will cover both software and hardware. Plus, we will try to work out a better manual by adding more info on features and more examples will be added. A new feature request by Richard long time ago, the display of X,Y coordination on the PHCad is on the list. Improve feature like Auto focus, Z+ Z- and supporting CorelDraw X5 are also on the list

Anything you guys like to have? How about randomly generatd a lottory number (just kidding )
So, please make up your wish list.

By the way, we're working on touch-screen (5.6") and should be ready by the end of year.

Marco

[baccus61]

I will definitely buy one when they are released Marco. I'm still having problems with mine and I want to send it back to you so you can test it and find out if it is my machine or the hardware. I can't do without it at the moment and I need to build another table so another DSP won't go astray. I will keep an eye out for when it's finished. It sounds really good.

What about a feature like "go to". Input a coordinate and press enter to send the laser head to that spot on the table. Would be great for cutting/engraving jobs that have a jig for positioning the material. Obviously it can only be set up when you can do the coordinate system.
I would also like to be able to turn off the soft limits for Z whenever I like so I can just raise or lower the table any time without having to select positive or negative to be able to raise or lower it after a reset.
Rich.

[ltran2000]

What about slow jog and fast jog

[ltran2000]

I also want the head go to xy zero and stop there ( not go to the origin)

[ltran2000]

also send only selected objects to PHCAD from corel, send all if nothing selected,I always have to copy the one to cut to new page
or send all and delete the one I don't want to cut from phcad, I tried to edit the macro but it's password protected,
I think we really need this feature, thanks

[Tech_Marco]

I will definitely buy one when they are released Marco. I'm still having problems with mine and I want to send it back to you so you can test it and find out if it is my machine or the hardware. I can't do without it at the moment and I need to build another table so another DSP won't go astray. I will keep an eye out for when it's finished. It sounds really good.

What about a feature like "go to". Input a coordinate and press enter to send the laser head to that spot on the table. Would be great for cutting/engraving jobs that have a jig for positioning the material. Obviously it can only be set up when you can do the coordinate system.
I would also like to be able to turn off the soft limits for Z whenever I like so I can just raise or lower the table any time without having to select positive or negative to be able to raise or lower it after a reset.
Rich.

Rich:
The displaying of X,Y co-ordination if confirmed that it will be added. Plus, by entering the X,Y location will allow the machine to run to the exact point and stop right there. The disable of Z is already built-in on PHcad. May be your version didn't support it

Marco

[Tech_Marco]

What about slow jog and fast jog

The Tech said it's not able to carry out this feature by this upgrade. Too much trouble to do it. Instead, the X,Y co-ordination will allow you to do the job to some extend

Marco

[Tech_Marco]

I also want the head go to xy zero and stop there ( not go to the origin)

What you need to do is to move the the laser head manually to the true 0,0 and hit Origin on the LCD keypad. That will make the 0,0 as an Origin.

[Tech_Marco]

also send only selected objects to PHCAD from corel, send all if nothing selected,I always have to copy the one to cut to new page
or send all and delete the one I don't want to cut from phcad, I tried to edit the macro but it's password protected,
I think we really need this feature, thanks

You can use the "Layer" to do the work. Just put different image in different layer, by checking the box next to layer you can engrave/cut any layers you want. No need to do "Copy and Pasted"

Marco

[ltran2000]

Layer do not work, because if I have 2 images with red and blue for example , blue on top of page
and red at the bottom, and i want to cut red color first, I uncheck the blue and leave red checked, the laser head will move to bottom to cut the red , so I don't know where to set my material at, if i cut the blue the head will move to top to cut the blue, hope you understand what i say,thanks

[Tech_Marco]

Not exactly understand what your problem was. But can't you put two images over-lap each other. Even though it looks a little odd, but at least both images are on cut in the same location. Did I answer your question?

[ltran2000]

Seem like you don't understand me, I have 2 images to cut, 1 to be cut with red plexiglass, other with blue plexiglass,
both with the same 2mm thickness,from corel drawing board, the red is locate at right side, blue at left, i send them both to phcad, and i want to cut the red first , red is checked, blue is unchecked, the laserhead should start at where i set the origin,
but the head will move to the right to cut red color, because the blue is locate at left even it is unchecked, so i don;t know where to put my material at ,if you press the "box button" it will make a rectangle for both images, no matter the images chech or uncheck, hope you understand me, thanks for your respond.

[baccus61]

Have you set the order of the objects in the list on the PHCad screen. The top one should cut first then the 2nd one etc etc. It works with a bitmap and a vector in the same file but I am not sure if it will work with 2 vectors.

Sometimes I draw a very small line at the bottom left (0,0), and make it either a vector or a bitmap, to pad the screen out so that if I want to cut or engrave 5 inches to the right and 3 inches up I can just place the objects there and because the very small line is there it doesn't get engraved or cut.
You need to zoom in almost all the way and only draw a line about 0.004" long.
You could make it a bitmap to separate the 2 vectors in the order of cut tree on the RH side of the screen. The laser head will only move over to the spot and because the line is too small it won't cut it then it will move back to do the 2nd one.
Hope this makes sense to you.
Rich.

[ltran2000]

Thanks for respond Rich, I am not talking about cutting order, let me try to explain again,
in my design I have different color to cut on different thickness material, if I hit send from corel,
everything will send to PHCAD, usually I have to delete all except the one I want to cut,example: I want to cut
red plexiglass 2mm,the blue will cut on 5mm blue plexiglass.so I have to delete blue,if I use layer check mark to check or uncheck, the laserhead will move move around depend on where the image arrange on designed page,I should cut at upper left instead, It will be more convenient if corel send only the selected one . is there a way I can attach a bitmap to
explain what i mean, thanks

[naPS]

I would love to see something where I can activate a relay at the start of a job, and deactivate it at the end of a job. i.e. I have an external relay that I use to power my exhaust fan and air assist pump, would love to be able to control those via the DSP.

Also, the ability to run g-code would be killer as well.