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lightburn_basic_instructions [2025/06/30 22:30] – Moving links, cleanup 8c244b37-0747-c193-0a4e-0967254778ddlightburn_basic_instructions [2025/06/30 22:47] (current) – 8c244b37-0747-c193-0a4e-0967254778dd
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 ### Some General observations ### Some General observations
  
-####Preparing To Cut+### Preparing To Cut
  
-####Coordinate and Job Origin+### Coordinate and Job Origin
  As a beginner you probably want to use absolute coordinates, which is the easiest to work work with and understand.  As a beginner you probably want to use absolute coordinates, which is the easiest to work work with and understand.
  
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-####Cut selected graphics (or not)+###Cut selected graphics (or not)
  
 Sometimes it's helpful to enable “cut selected graphics”. If your project contains multiple objects, choosing “cut selected graphics” will cut only those selected. This gives you an opportunity to verify the cut parameters without processing the entire project. Sometimes it's helpful to enable “cut selected graphics”. If your project contains multiple objects, choosing “cut selected graphics” will cut only those selected. This gives you an opportunity to verify the cut parameters without processing the entire project.
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-#### Verify laser Focus+### Verify laser Focus
  
 See the laser machine specific document for details on how to verify laser focus See the laser machine specific document for details on how to verify laser focus
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 * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfGlZGhh144 | Alternative - Laser Ramp Testing to find best focus distance]] * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfGlZGhh144 | Alternative - Laser Ramp Testing to find best focus distance]]
  
-#### Preview your design+### Preview your design
  
 Previewing will allow you to visually confirm what the final cut/burn will look like once complete. This will help eliminate mistakes and wasted target material. Previewing will allow you to visually confirm what the final cut/burn will look like once complete. This will help eliminate mistakes and wasted target material.
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 * [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/Preview/#using-the-preview-window| Lightburn Preview Window]] * [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/Preview/#using-the-preview-window| Lightburn Preview Window]]
  
-#### Framing+### Framing
  
 It’s always a good idea to “Frame” your cut before executing. While “Framing” shows what your end product will look like, Framing will outline your selected objects letting you verify your project cut/burn falls completely within the target material. It’s always a good idea to “Frame” your cut before executing. While “Framing” shows what your end product will look like, Framing will outline your selected objects letting you verify your project cut/burn falls completely within the target material.
  
 * [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/LaserWindow/#framing|Laser Window - Framing]] * [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/LaserWindow/#framing|Laser Window - Framing]]
- +### Cuts/Layers
-#### Cuts/Layers+
  
 ##### Power/Speed Testing ##### Power/Speed Testing
  
- It may be helpful to create a small test object within your project. One that can be used to verify the  layer’s power/speed settings. Referencing a laser material library that is associated with the target machine may be helpful in selecting power/speed settings.+The depth of the burning and the charing left behind during engraving is highly dependent upon the speed the laser moves as well as the power applied to the laser. 
 +To visualize what a current setting will result in it may be helpful to create a small test object within your project. Then burn/cut that single object. 
 + 
 +Referencing a laser materials library that is associated with the target machine may also prove to provide as starting point when selecting power/speed settings. Refer to the Materials Library section within this document for pointers to that functionality. 
 + 
 +The following links are discussions of setting the power and speed for particular layers.
  
 * [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/CutsLayersWindow/|Cuts/Layers window]] * [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/CutsLayersWindow/|Cuts/Layers window]]
  
 * [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/CutSettingsEditor/|Cut settings editor]] * [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/CutSettingsEditor/|Cut settings editor]]
 +
 +##### Lightburn builtin material test
 +
 +* [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/MaterialTest/|Lightburn Material Test]]
  
 ##### Miscl Cuts/Layers ##### Miscl Cuts/Layers
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 * [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/UI/ColorPalette/#tool-layers|Special Tool Layers]] * [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/UI/ColorPalette/#tool-layers|Special Tool Layers]]
  
-#### Lightburn Materials Library+### Lightburn Materials Library
 A materials library is a compilation of power/speed settings for engraving or cutting various materials of varying thicknesses. It might be generated by the laser manufacturers, software support providers or  via contributions from forum or makerspace members. The compilations, if properly formatted can be loaded into Lightburn so they are available for use within the UI. These are generally starting point settings. Your specific settings will depend on the machine as well as the material being worked with. A materials library is a compilation of power/speed settings for engraving or cutting various materials of varying thicknesses. It might be generated by the laser manufacturers, software support providers or  via contributions from forum or makerspace members. The compilations, if properly formatted can be loaded into Lightburn so they are available for use within the UI. These are generally starting point settings. Your specific settings will depend on the machine as well as the material being worked with.
  
 * [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/MaterialLibrary/|Materials library, adding custom, importing existing]] * [[https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/MaterialLibrary/|Materials library, adding custom, importing existing]]
  
-#### Cut/Engrave your job+### Cut/Engrave your job
  
  If you are satisfied the above suggested observations, go ahead and run your job  If you are satisfied the above suggested observations, go ahead and run your job
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  Don't go far!: You need to keep an eye on the laser during the entire job. When lasers catch things on fire, and at times the do, they tend to do so quickly.  Don't go far!: You need to keep an eye on the laser during the entire job. When lasers catch things on fire, and at times the do, they tend to do so quickly.
  
-#### Emergency shutdown, Fire actions….+## Emergency shutdown, Fire actions….
  
  
-##### Other Learning Videos+### Other Learning Videos
  
 * [[https://www.youtube.com/@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy/videos|Louisiana Hobby Guy]] * [[https://www.youtube.com/@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy/videos|Louisiana Hobby Guy]]
lightburn_basic_instructions.1751322654.txt.gz · Last modified: 2025/06/30 22:30 by 8c244b37-0747-c193-0a4e-0967254778dd
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