Engraving & Plasma Marking

Right-click any contour → Move to Layer to send it to an engrave layer, create a named layer, or send it back to Cut. The Contour Select tool (shortcut C) drag-boxes multiple contours so a whole block of text can move in one step. Outer profiles stay cut geometry so each part keeps its outline.

Most marking arrives already separated by layer in the imported file. During import, layers named engrave, mark, marking, or scribe are suggested as Engrave. Engrave geometry still moves, nests, mirrors, saves, and exports with its part.

Open Cut Parameters → Engrave and set Engrave With:

• External Attachment is the established scribe workflow. Set the feed, layer order, before-all/per-part order, Scribe On / Scribe Off controls, and the scribe/torch tool slots. Existing documents select this method automatically.
• Plasma Marking uses the exact factory marking recipe associated with the selected machine, torch, process, material, and profile. External attachment controls and offsets are not used.

A sheet uses one method for all Engrave geometry. When the selected program includes plasma marks, JetCad3 requires an exact factory marking recipe—it does not substitute another material, process, current, or voltage. Hypertherm cut-only programs do not need a marking recipe.

Cebora ordinary marking uses its MARK dry-contact input while SPOT remains open. On a StrikeCommand setup, the normal torch START relay is P0 and the spare relay is MARK P1. The bundled FluidNC Plasma and JetFlight Plasma posts use the shared marking subroutines to:

1. Make both contacts safe.
2. Select MARK.
3. Perform the normal touch-off and fire through START.
4. Run the factory-height/voltage marking path.
5. Open START before releasing MARK.

Posting is blocked unless START and MARK are different configured digital outputs and the required marking and torch subroutines are installed. Follow the Cebora and StrikeCommand wiring documentation for the physical dry-contact terminals; never apply board voltage to the Cebora inputs.

An optional Cebora PSU connection can preload the cut and marking settings once for the mixed run and verify the source accepted them. Without that connection, relay marking still works and the program prints the required factory setup for the operator.

Plasma marking uses the factory initial height and marking height after touch-off. When Arc Voltage THC is enabled, it applies the marking recipe's target voltage through the same controls as cutting; turning THC off removes those controls without changing the marking relay cycle.

Plasma marks render in purple, external engraving remains orange, and cuts remain green. Simulation labels and follows the marking motion without energizing hardware. Quotes count marking distance with engraving time and count the real plasma torch starts. Each sheet is quoted using its own selected process, with dirty toolpaths regenerated. Nesting uses the part's cut outline even when the selected program marks only.

Feed and reverse edits preserve the marking cycle. Smart Pause uses the marking off routine when a Cebora mark is active. Stale or incompatible toolpaths, including an accidentally mixed Hypertherm mark/cut program, require regeneration before posting.

External Attachment selects the scribe tool before engraving and restores the torch tool before cutting. The machine tool table applies the scribe's X/Y offset at run time, so posted coordinates stay in the part's coordinate system.

Scribe On and Scribe Off can each select a stored machine subroutine or contain controller-specific G-code. This workflow remains available across plasma posts; Cebora plasma marking specifically requires the marking-capable FluidNC or JetFlight bundled post.