What is the difference between raster and vector when laser cutting/engraving?
Answer
For the purpose of operating the laser engraver Vector lines are any line whose weight falls between .001” and .007”. All other lines/objects are Raster.
- Raster is used for marking or engraving
- Vector is used to make thin line drawings or to make cuts
- Vector lines engrave/cut faster than raster objects
- Fills and shading are raster objects
- Only Vector will work when sending a job from AutoCAD
- Notes on Using Vector
- Objects and text should be unfilled and drawn with the thinnest possible outline (other than zero) A .001 inch (.025mm) line weight is recommended
- Vector objects should be on a separate layer from non-vector objects and that layer should be above layers containing non-vector objects
- For easier job management differentiate between vector lines that are drawn and vector lines that are cut by placing them on separate layers and drawing them in different colors
Full details are found in the file Laser Cutter Training.pdf below.