# CO2 Laser Cutting/Engraving with X-Carve **URL:** \ **Category:** Laser Cutting\ **Created:** [April 24, 2015, 6:29am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280 "2015-04-24T06:29:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DavidBurger](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/davidburger/32/73715_2.png) [@DavidBurger](https://community.inventables.com/u/DavidBurger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/22 "2015-12-30T21:12:43Z")
I found good instructions on the JTech site for focusing so I think I’m set there. ---
**Author:** ![picengravertoo](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/picengravertoo/32/45297_2.png) [@picengravertoo](https://community.inventables.com/u/picengravertoo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/23 "2015-12-30T21:21:12Z")
There is a whole page on adding there laser to the X-Carve here. > **[X Carve Compatible Laser Upgrade by J Tech Photonics, Inc.](https://jtechphotonics.com/?page_id=3565)** > > Are you looking to purchase our X carve compatible laser upgrade? Learn more about the features of our laser bundle by clicking here. You may run into an issue with the J-Tech PWM grbl firmware and it explains on that page how to resolve it. ---
**Author:** ![DavidBurger](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/davidburger/32/73715_2.png) [@DavidBurger](https://community.inventables.com/u/DavidBurger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/24 "2015-12-30T22:00:28Z")
Right…those are the instructions I used the first time and the result was I lost connection to my X-carve. As far as I can tell the Arduino Uno that came with my X-carve is an “official” one so I was confused why I had any issues. However, I’ll give it another try to see if maybe I made a mistake my first time through. ---
**Author:** ![picengravertoo](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/picengravertoo/32/45297_2.png) [@picengravertoo](https://community.inventables.com/u/picengravertoo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 11:15am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/25 "2015-12-31T11:15:29Z")
Here is how you can tell. [https://www.arduino.cc/en/Products/Counterfeit](https://www.arduino.cc/en/Products/Counterfeit) ---
**Author:** ![DavidBurger](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/davidburger/32/73715_2.png) [@DavidBurger](https://community.inventables.com/u/DavidBurger)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/26 "2015-12-31T16:04:56Z")
Excellent, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![DanBrown](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/danbrown/32/44929_2.png) [@DanBrown](https://community.inventables.com/u/DanBrown)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/27 "2016-01-01T02:48:37Z")
That’s a good link, thanks. Hadn’t seen that before. ---
**Author:** ![Hugo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b38774/32.png) [@Hugo](https://community.inventables.com/u/Hugo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/28 "2016-01-01T12:53:45Z")
Hi David. See my topic [SOLVED - Inkscape plugin - problem with laser power and straight line - #17 by Hugo](https://community.inventables.com/t/solved-inkscape-plugin-problem-with-laser-power-and-straight-line/17650/17) and fell free to ask questions 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DavidBurger](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/davidburger/32/73715_2.png) [@DavidBurger](https://community.inventables.com/u/DavidBurger)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 7:05am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/29 "2016-01-04T07:05:48Z")
Hi, Hugo, I see that you solved the problem you faced. I’ve read the link you pointed to and understand what you did except for this part: “Replace move z-axis with laser on with power”. Can you explain exactly what this means? Thanks! I’ve not had any luck solving my issue. As far as I can tell the Arduino Uno that came with my X-Carve is an official one. However, I am not able to control the X-Carve if I upload the .hex file from JTech. When I do I hear the X-Carve clicking every few seconds or so, but can never complete the machine set-up in Easel. The set-up never completes when I select the COM port for the Arduino. ---
**Author:** ![Hugo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b38774/32.png) [@Hugo](https://community.inventables.com/u/Hugo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 10:33am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/30 "2016-01-04T10:33:58Z")
Hi DavidBurger. “Replace move z-axis with laser on with power” its my mistake sorry ☹ i mean Replace z-axis with laser on with power set. Here is good explain what i mean : [Where is the laser engraving category? - #50 by IanWatkins](https://community.inventables.com/t/where-is-the-laser-engraving-category/299/50) post by **IanWatkins** ---
**Author:** ![DavidBurger](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/davidburger/32/73715_2.png) [@DavidBurger](https://community.inventables.com/u/DavidBurger)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/31 "2016-01-04T16:40:41Z")
Well…I’ve had no luck in getting the JTech .hex file to work with my X-Carve. As far as I can tell the Arduino on my X-Carve is an official one (I followed the link recommended earlier in this discussion). I had another Uno so I tried it with no luck either. I tried using a powered USB hub with no luck. I’m running Windows 10 and the Arduino is recognized and gets a COM port when I boot-up. The Arduino IDE sees the Uno as well using the Serial Monitor. Before using XLoader to upload the JTech .hex file I run EEPROM-clear. That works and so does the .hex file upload. I then start Easel and run the machine set-up selecting the COM port established by Windows 10. At that point the X-Carves stepper motors twitch every few seconds, but no communication is ever established. I’ve run out of things to try. Can anyone suggest anything? I’ve also contacted JTech support and am awaiting their reply. I’m seriously considering ordering an “official” Arduino Uno from JTech or, at least, the one they recommend from Mouser. ---
**Author:** ![picengravertoo](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/picengravertoo/32/45297_2.png) [@picengravertoo](https://community.inventables.com/u/picengravertoo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/32 "2016-01-04T17:40:58Z")
You should not be connecting to Easel with the J-Tech grbl 9g flashed to the UNO. You should only be using an offline streamer and you will have to adjust your grbl settings for better performance when using a Laser. Also look to see if the grbl setting $14= is set to 1 and not 0. Easel’s machine setup will change the grbl settings to default for using Easel with grbl 9i or 9j. It’s not compatible with the J-Tech grbl 9g firmware. ---
**Author:** ![DavidBurger](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/davidburger/32/73715_2.png) [@DavidBurger](https://community.inventables.com/u/DavidBurger)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/33 "2016-01-05T01:49:38Z")
I’m slowly catching on here. I created a file in Easel, exported the Gcode, edited it on NotePad++ using Ian Watkins’ editing recommendations from another discussion, saved the edited version and then used UGS to actually make the cut. It all worked and I’m very pleased to have made this much progress. However, I couldn’t have done it without the help of folks like you and Ian. Thanks! I purchased PicLaser and Laser Etch when I purchased my laser. If I understand the upgrade information on the JTech site correctly, in order to use either of those softwares I will need to use JTech’s GRBL Version 0.9g. Assuming that’s the case, I will then have a similar workflow to the one I just learned with Easel. That is, create something using PicLaser or Laser Etch, export the Gcode and send it to the X-Carve using UGS. Am I getting this right? ---
**Author:** ![picengravertoo](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/picengravertoo/32/45297_2.png) [@picengravertoo](https://community.inventables.com/u/picengravertoo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/34 "2016-01-05T14:32:19Z")
I can’t speak for laser etch, but our PicLaser generates very large, fast changing raster gcode files and if you do not use a reliable streamer like our PicSender, the streaming could stop mid file somewhere and ruin your laser photo engraving project. The J-Tech grbl 9g executes the S commands in real time without any dwelling and the PWM frequency is set to 1Khz for the J-Tech’s laser driver to work properly. ---
**Author:** ![DavidBurger](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/davidburger/32/73715_2.png) [@DavidBurger](https://community.inventables.com/u/DavidBurger)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280/35 "2016-01-05T15:33:08Z")
Got it. [Previous page](https://community.inventables.com/t/co2-laser-cutting-engraving-with-x-carve/1280.md?page=1)