Short answer
One of the major reasons why UV laser engravings appear flat is that the point cloud lacks the required density and texture definition. Cockpit3D resolved this issue by correctly configuring the point spacing, Z-layer depth and HD settings before engraving. This allows you to generate cinematic-quality and texture-rich 3D point clouds ready to engrave.
Process explained in detail
Cockpit3D is a software that converts any standard 2D image into a laser-ready 3D point cloud file without the need for manual modelling by a 3D artist. For a UV laser user, the process begins with creating an order by uploading the chosen image. Then they have to sync the file to auto-convert it into a depth-mapped 3D structure file.
Default enabled settings like Cinematic HD and Image enhancements are really important as they improve the tonal separation and texture of the image. Insufficient texture leads to an engraved image that’s hard to recognize.
Once conversion is complete, the generated point cloud can be previewed and approved before downloading. At this stage, the file is ready for placement and geometry adjustment inside Cockpit3D.
Guide to optimize point density and texture for UV lasers
Sometimes, laser engravers face the problem of attaining resolution. This can be solved by understanding that quality and detail of your engraving are controlled by the XY point spacing, Z-layer spacing, and their relationship.
Start with the following baseline settings:
- For the XY-spacing and Z-spacing, start with an initial value of 0.06 for UV. or .07Xy and .14Z for Green beam.
- And for theLayers, Z-factor, and diffuse settings they can be set to 8,5, and 2 respectively.
These balanced values give you a dense and clean point cloud with visible texture that is best suited for portrait engravings. You risk losing details when increasing the spacing and cracking or melting when reducing the spacing excessively. If you want to increase burn time perhaps you can try reducing your layers from 8 to 6 which will reduce brightness a bit but will still maintain the resolution.
Understanding the inverse relationship between Z layer point space settings and Zfactor settings.
- As you increase the Z layer space settings, you increase the Zfactor settings
- As you decrease the Z layer space settings, you increase the Zfactor settings
Only a proper balance between the above parameters will ensure a safe engraving with good clarity.
Critical rule: never resize a point cloud after export
Once you have generated and saved your point cloud file, never resize the pointcloud.
When you resize the image in the point cloud file, it changes the optimal spacing between the points.
- If you enlarge the point cloud, it spreads the points too far apart from each other, weakening the image.
- At the same time, if you decide to shrink the image, it would compress the points too tightly. This can increase the risk of internal stress, cracking or melting.
You may notice a grid-like marking during the engraving; this is caused by resizing the file outside of Cockpit3D.
Manage your laser field limitations
Here are some simple adjustments to help you sort out your laser field limitation if your UV laser’s field of view is smaller than the height of the crystal.
- Try adjusting the margins inside the Cockpit3D software
- You can try to trim the point cloud using the margins
- You can use the lightmaps to for non rectangular shapes to create a faded margin along the perimeter.
Following the above steps lets you preserve the point integrity of the engraving. Along with that, it also fits the engraving within the laser's usable area.
Easy to remember checklist for UV laser users
- Enable Cinematic HD and enhancement for texture clarity
- Start with 0.06 XY / 0.06 Z spacing if UV or 0.07 XY / 0.14 Z and adjust gradually
- Keep XY and Z spacing inversely balanced
- Never resize point clouds after export
- Use margins / lightmaps to fit smaller laser fields instead of scaling
- Preview geometry from side views to check for placement
- Export only after final placement and geometry adjustments
Key takeaway
If you aim for a high-quality UV laser engraving, always remember that the quality of engraving depends more on the point cloud configuration rather than the laser machine. With correct point spacing, maintaining file integrity and avoiding resizing after export, Cockpit3D lets UV laser users produce consistent, textured and recognisable 3D Crystal engravings from any image.
Video walkthrough
This workflow and the effect of point spacing adjustments are demonstrated visually in a Cockpit3D UV laser setup walkthrough on the YouTube channel.