# More Experiments in Terrain - and Some Success **URL:** \ **Category:** šŸŖ‘ Projects\ **Created:** [October 4, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/more-experiments-in-terrain-and-some-success/27212 "2026-10-04T22:43:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elbarsal](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/elbarsal/32/3345_2.png) [@elbarsal](https://forum.sienci.com/u/elbarsal)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/more-experiments-in-terrain-and-some-success/27212/1 "2026-10-04T22:43:37Z")
I knew my LongMill needed some maintenance, so I replaced all the v-wheels, upgraded to the new zero maintenance anti-backlash nuts, cleaned everything up and installed the closed-loop stepper motor kit. Upgraded my shop vac as well for better dust control. Iā€™m liking the results a lot - turns out I did have some backlash in X, and also turns out the closed loop steppers are really quite nice. I have been experimenting with carving terrain to make souvenirs of ski trips - Iā€™m planning to laser-etch my recorded tracks onto the carved reliefs. Still working out the workflow to do that (just discovered [https://touchterrain.geol.iastate.edu](https://touchterrain.geol.iastate.edu) which makes the first step really a lot easier than what I was doing) and Iā€™m still experimenting with Fusion 360 adaptive clearing to give a bit of a stepped texture to the reliefs to highlight the contours. All that said, here are the results: ![image](https://forum.sienci.com/uploads/default/original/2X/6/6a42d5b2433a6100f9434c0573a53b93508936ad.jpeg) The above is the result of two runs of adaptive clearing - the first with a wider outline than the second, to avoid tool collisions (this is being done with a 1/8 inch flat endmill). ![image](https://forum.sienci.com/uploads/default/original/2X/4/410757ee26e8919b433b0eac5e9858f08a62b034.jpeg) The second is the current ā€œfinalā€ state after an additional pass - but Iā€™m still looking at further refinement possibly using a ball-nosed endmill to get into the narrower features in the valleys. Overall, I am liking how the terrain ends up looking - and really liking how smooth and tight the mill is behaving now that it has been tuned up and the closed loop steppers added. I still need to decide on what wood to actually use - the pine Iā€™m using is just a reclaimed futon frame, and small features sometimes tend to chip away (not that I need that kind of precision). Really looking forward to seeing how tracks lasered onto the terrain looks, too. ---
**Author:** ![Chucky\_ott](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/chucky_ott/32/8692_2.png) [@Chucky\_ott](https://forum.sienci.com/u/Chucky_ott)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/more-experiments-in-terrain-and-some-success/27212/2 "2026-10-04T23:30:23Z")
@elbarsal Nice. Basswood is nice to work with. Itā€™s a soft hardwood frequently used for carving. ---
**Author:** ![\_Michael](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/_michael/32/2962_2.png) [@\_Michael](https://forum.sienci.com/u/_Michael)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 3:34pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/more-experiments-in-terrain-and-some-success/27212/3 "2026-10-05T15:34:16Z")
This kind of project is on my bucket list. Iā€™ve had the thought of mixing a laser in to make roads and/or elevation lines but I havenā€™t gotten around to trying it yet. I look forward to seeing how your project comes out. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![DavidB](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@DavidB](https://forum.sienci.com/u/DavidB)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 2:29am UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/more-experiments-in-terrain-and-some-success/27212/4 "2026-10-06T02:29:37Z")
Iā€™m sort of curious how the laser would work since the little I know about it focus is very important and youā€™d have all those different heights. Do you load the terrain into something like Lightburn and it will figure out the correct height for you to keep it in focus? Does the software also have some ability to avoid collision of the laser head since youā€™d have mountains sticking up that could potentially hit the side of it? ---
**Author:** ![elbarsal](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/elbarsal/32/3345_2.png) [@elbarsal](https://forum.sienci.com/u/elbarsal)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 12:13pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/more-experiments-in-terrain-and-some-success/27212/5 "2026-10-06T12:13:05Z")
@DavidB thatā€™s my next problem to solve šŸ™‚ I was thinking I would use a lens with more tolerance in its focal length, sacrificing a bit of power since Iā€™m only looking to etch not cut. Lightburn can do Z as well - but I have had less than ideal results exporting DXF files from QGIS that include Z height. If I have to write a tool to do so, well, it might take me a bit longer. I think the source KML files do include Z height already, so maybe I can skip the intermediate step of bringing the tracks into QGIS and get them into Lightburn more directly. I do have to admit, sometimes I take on projects like this for the challenges as much as the results. I will definitely share my progress and methods. ---
**Author:** ![\_Michael](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/_michael/32/2962_2.png) [@\_Michael](https://forum.sienci.com/u/_Michael)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/more-experiments-in-terrain-and-some-success/27212/6 "2026-10-06T21:37:29Z")
Iā€™m not sure what software you have but I have Vectric with the laser module so the ā€˜project onto 3D modelā€™ tool path option would work, at least Iā€™m hoping it will, as long as the angles of the mountains arenā€™t steep enough to cause a crash. Reread your OP and I guess your using F360. I wonder if there is a similar option or plugin. I havenā€™t used F360 in so long Iā€™m not even sure if it has plugins. I donā€™t know much about the current crop of laser modules but Iā€™ve seen some that have a short focal length or a housing that is supposed to be 1-2mm above the surface and that wouldnā€™t work for my plan of attack. ---
**Author:** ![elbarsal](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/elbarsal/32/3345_2.png) [@elbarsal](https://forum.sienci.com/u/elbarsal)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 7:03pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/more-experiments-in-terrain-and-some-success/27212/7 "2026-10-07T19:03:01Z")
@_Michael usually for my laser I use LightBurn - but yes, for cutting toolpaths I use Fusion 360. It does look like fusion has a projection operation - but it seems to be intended for engraving, not for laser control, so I would have to fudge the tool. Additionally, Fusion is really very slow with the track data. As far as laser focal length, it looks like the G7 lens that Sienci sells has a longer focal length - 85mm - and a narrower beam overall, so it tolerates being away from focus a bit better. I was thinking about just setting the focus to the middle between lowest and highest terrain and seeing how it comes out with LightBurn, which only runs in a single Z plane. What I might do (and Iā€™m starting to tinker with) is processing the gcode that LightBurn produces - use the heightmap that Iā€™m using to generate my terrain and process the gcode to look up and add a Z value to the 2D code output by LightBurn, effectively turning it into a full 3D toolpath. ---
**Author:** ![Spamming\_Eddie](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/spamming_eddie/32/7296_2.png) [@Spamming\_Eddie](https://forum.sienci.com/u/Spamming_Eddie)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 3:12pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/more-experiments-in-terrain-and-some-success/27212/8 "2026-10-08T15:12:28Z")
Hey Ed, Iā€™ve done some fidlydidly with converting photos to rough 3d carvings to project laser etches onto without z movements. Using the beam with the longer focal length lenses. Though it does work, I found myself isolating patches of the etch to redo, because the quality had shifted towards meh on higher and or deeper parts. Being that I use a paint base for those projects, and they are pictures, there is room to just brush in the etch to cover up differences/lines (when using a base paint, the etch is litterally powdered char that can be easaly brushed before fixating it.) Due to these inconsistant results I have moved away from these projects, eventhough the results are stunning. There simply is no way for me to make two that will look the same. I guess it will be a difficult job to etch lines straight into the wood and keep consistant quality, looking at your carves so far. It seems to me, there is simply a too great a heigt difference to rely purely on focal length. I however am deeply i terested in your results. Your experiments may revive my early experiments with new insights. A variable z in etches would mitigate a lot of problems I had. Please keep us posted.