LightBurn, as a professional laser engraving software for laser engraving and cutting. While EM-Smart Dual, an excellent tool for hobbyists and small business owners, is 100% compatible with LightBurn.
With a free LightBurn license, sll you need to do is to connect EM-Smart Dual and LightBurn software correctly. This makes laser marking an effective and easy process.
No idea how to connect EM-Smart Dual desktop laser engraver with LightBurn? You could be missing out on powerful features that enhance engraving quality. To help you get the best results, here are five expert tips to set your desktop laser engraver for best effect.
This works well for beginners, as a material testing can help determine optimal laser engraving and cutting settings. Additionally, if you know your laser engraving machine well, so does the laser engraving materials, skip this step. Another situation where this is useful is when you need to calibrate the machine.
Below is the step-by-step guide for material testing.
Click to expand the "Laser tools" bar and find the "Material Test" option. Then modify the sub-layer name into the selected material.
Set an appropriate size of the testing grid by adjusting the number of rows and columns. When doing photo laser engraving and color laser engraving, material testing has its place. Tick parameters you want to test, like power, speed, frequency, interval, and so on.
The material decides the range of the testing number. For example, when testing on wood, you can set the power range between 5% and 35% and the speed between 5,000 and 7,000 mm/s.
Preview the test grid first to ensure its configuration is correct. Then, click "Start" for formal laser marking and pay your attention in this process(wear your laser safety glasses on). Next, the EM-Smart Dual will engrave a testing grid according to the parameters you have set. After laser marking, you may need to analyze the engraving result to find the most appropriate parameter settings.
The "Trace Image" is another powerful tool for laser engraving, which can convert images into vector files. Tracing the picture and adjusting the engraving mode, this can make detailed engraving more precise.
Here are three situations where you may use this function. One common use case is photo laser engraving, where you need to convert complex images into a compatible format.
The next will be image optimization. By adjusting contrast, brightness, and gamma (γ) settings, you can enhance the engraving effect for better results. This function helps adapt images for different materials, such as wood and acrylic, performing better laser marking patterns.
Above are the main uses of the 'Trace Image' function, let's look at the steps involved in using it effectively.
Click the 'File' button in the top left corner of the LightBurn interface, then import the picture you want to laser engrave.
Adjust the size and placement within the work area to make sure the image is aligned with your material size.
To locate the "Trace Image" button, first open the 'Tools' menu in the toolbar. The function you're looking for is in the expanded options.
In fact, you can directly right-click the image, then you'll see the "Trace Image" option. The next step is to modify the threshold and cutoff values to optimize the vector for the best effect. By the way, you can also observe the vector effect in real time using the "Preview" function. When you're satisfied with the result, just click the 'OK' button to get the targeted vector.
Once everything is properly prepared, you'll need to set the right parameters that correspond to your material. No specific standard for parameters, you need to adjust your ideal parameters after several tests. For diode laser cutting on wood, you can set the power to 60%, the speed to 500 mm/s, and choose the '3D Sliced' mode. For laser engraving on wood, 12% power is sufficient, and to avoid blurring, it's better to set the speed to 2000 mm/s.
After setting all the parameters and reviewing the preview, click the 'Frame' button to check the laser engraving path. If everything looks good, you can proceed to start the engraving.
This process is slightly different for image tracing. You may also need to right-click the image you've imported and select the 'Adjust Image' option. Adjusting the contrast and brightness of the image to optimize it and achieve the best effect.
It works by removing surface carbon using low power, usually 10%-20% of the cutting power. It also uses a high scanning speed of 2000-5000 mm/s to avoid heat damage to the base material.
Setting the correct sub-layer cutting orders. For this, you can start by completing the main laser engraving, followed by laser cutting.
While completing the last laser cleaning work, fiber laser is the first choice.
For enhancing the cutting efficiency and quality, the cutting optimization is vital.
In the Laser window of LightBurn, click the "Optimization Settings" button.
Ensure that the "Optimize Cut Path" toggle is turned on.
Choose an appropriate sorting method, such as "Sort by Layer," "Sort by Group," or "Sort by Priority," based on your needs.
Enable specific optimization options according to your requirements.
Use the preview window to check the optimized cutting path and estimated cut time.
Once satisfied with the preview, you can click the "Start" button to begin cutting. Features such as hiding gaps and reducing direction changes are turned on by default.
The best starting point is automatically selected. Overlapping lines are also removed by default. You do not need to turn them on manually.
Mastering these five pro tips will not only save time but also improve your cutting precision. Holding the firm belief that absorbing them into your workflow can make a significant difference in your final results.
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