Diode Lasers---Under the Hood 17

Further explanation of trying to photo engrave using grayscale on black anodized aluminuin. Preparing an image for laser engraving removes much of the subtle detail in a photo and effectively reduces the number of grayscale levels. The grayscale method of "printing" with the laser relies on instant power change to "burn" every individual pixel. Is it capable?
Plus
The real explanation of why this diode laser cuts differnent width kerfs in Y and X

[@krisknowlton5935]

Russ, I have watched your videos going on about 6 or 7 years. The popularity of the diode laser has grown exponentially since that time. What I don't understand is why you don't have at least ten thousand views within a day of you posting a video. In the course of watching your videos, I have made better laser engravings. I have done photo replication on cheap black poster board that I bought from Dollar Tree that surprised the heck out of me and several other people. I always give credit to you because you are the one who figured it out.
Here is a question for you... Do you sell the t-shirts that you are wearing in this video, or is it just a one-off?

[@SarbarMultimedia]

Hi Chris
Thanks for the reply. I suggest you cut your teeth on CO2 technology and the complexities thatvare involved with it. Having used RF CO2, Fibre laser of several types and and now diodes, the most useful and flexible is still glass tube technology for many reasons. However, despite my neglecting diodes for many years (what's the point to downgrading ?) I am equally aware of the onrush of these simple devices that are now the enty level machines whereas it used to be K40. The marketing shows all the wonderful things you can do with the technology but fails to explain any of the material limitations of 455nm technology or howmslow it can be. Yes there are many "tricks " that can be used to achieve some sort of results with unsuitable materials but the sort of people buying these machines seem uninterested in how they work, they just want to use Lightburn to fiddle with parameters and earn some pocket money on Etsy etc. I am not making videos for them, instead these videos are just a record of MY learning journey into this technology. It may interest a few serious viewers but I do not monetize so numbers are unimportant to me. Understanding and reverse enginnering is important to me and some of the issues I find are interesting and help to keep my two remaining grey cells exercised.
7 years ago when Cloudray strted as a very small business ,I was approached with a view to selling my designs for a profit share. I declined because my retirementtax affairs were nice and stable and income from China would have unsettled my situation. After some research into the new company and its owner, I made the decision to GIVE any of my designs to them for free.. In that way my products would probably be available to the community after I had been called to fix St Peter's big laser machine!!! I also provide technical help to Cloudray. especially on glass laser tubes. With nothing more tha a friendly gentleman's agreement, if I needed items or equipment for my expeimenta and research ( Cloudray would get in-depth product knowledge from my research) then I only had to ask and it would appear. We have no formal relationship it is personal between me and the owner. On special occasions such as Chistmas or their 7th anniverasry I will recieve a little package of gifts as a token of their thanks. In this anniversay year they sent me 3 T-shits which are nice quality and I wear them a lot off camera. I can suggest that you email [e-mail] to see if it's possible to get one or mre. She is the sales manager
Best wishes

[@krisknowlton5935]

@SarbarMultimedia Hi Russ, I do own a Cloudray 7050 55watt CO2 laser. I love it. It has served me well, except I haven't been able to hook their rotary attachment to it yet and it work correctly. Other than that, I watch your videos and try out some of the things I learn from you. I know you said one time that making videos was another of your hobbies, so I guess I can be grateful for that. Otherwise, we wouldn't be seeing these great videos that keep my two remaining grey cells working together. I, too, am retired and have no interest in making a living playing with lasers. It is purely a hobby that I thoroughly enjoy. I started out on a 5 watt diode and then a 10 watt diode. The only thing I use the diode laser for is engraving names on small velvet bags that we use to place the spent cartridges in at Veterans funerals. We then present them to the family. I won't say I don't do anything for pay because I have been approached to do some engravings where I have to purchase what I will be engraving on. Thanks again for making the videos, I do appreciate it.