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The problem with puzzle games

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Laser
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02-07
Hi everyone i just started to experiment with puzzles on my laser and have seen almost all vids on the topic on Youtube Lots of good information.BUT our “friend” called Kerf is an acurring issue. My experience now is that its two solutions to deal with the kerf. If you are going to engrave your design directly on the puzzle, you can just separate every piece before cutting, and then adjust your kerf accordingly, and then put the puzzle back and then do the engraving. If you are going to use a picture/photo, you are not able to do that, and you just have to live with the fact that the puzzle will be a littlebit loose ( its not fun to sell that product). Well, i havent tried to make a jig on my laserbed, cut the pieces first, assemble them, glue the picture on and cut it again. I would believe that even with a jig it will be difficult hitting the laserbeam exactly on the same track…just a micromillimeter off will destroy the whole puzzle…, is it anyone with experience with this that could share this with me(us) would be very nice. Without too much fuzz, im not talking about just one puzzle. Please inlighten me
C

    • Liam

      02-08
      I see that you have a diode laser. My experience is with a CO2, but here is what I do. I use self adhesive inkjet paper to image my puzzle picture. I adhere that to some matte board for photos. I then use a 1.5" lens on the laser to cut the puzzle. The puzzle has only one line between pieces, and there is so little kerf that the puzzle is not loose.
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        • Andre J

          : i do have a 150w co2 i just havent updated my profile :slightly_smiling_face: Im currently using a f50.8 lense, but i just bough a f38.1, do you think that would be the solution? Do you think it would be any problem penetrating 3mm basswood with that lense? I have tried several generators, also inkscape. As long im able to disconnect the puzzles, its no problem, then they fit perfect, but as soon i cut them directly from the generator ( all connected) they are a littlebit too loose to look proffessional, even if adjust the kerf. But maby changing my lense to f38.1 will help?

        • Liam
          Reply
          @Andre J

          : Try that 38mm lens, it should have a smaller kerf. Be sure you do a ramp test for focus to get the best fine cut. Also, try different wood if that is your preferred material. Different woods burn with a different kerf, if you can get a very light brown tan on the cut edges, it might work better.

        • Keegan
          Reply
          @Liam

          : You will get a smaller spot, I computed these values for my 38.1mm (1.5") lens – spot size 153 microns (0.153mm) and a depth of focus (dof) of 1.54mm For my 50.8mm (2") lens, spot size is 205 microns and dof of 2.75mm. If you want to stay focused, you’d use, at least the 2" lens with a deeper dof. You also have to focus to center of wood. Any of this make sense?

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