Laser not engraving

Hello-

I have a question regarding the setting on my 5.5 diode laser. I am unable to engrave a simple circle. I have verified that $30 is at 255 and matches the software. Additionally $32 is set to 1. I previously was able to use the software by increasing the power fire button to .50 which was a few weeks ago. My trial ran out a few weeks ago and then recently purchased it. After I purchased I am unable to get anything to burn again. I am wondering if there is a setting that I am missing or something that needs to be updated. To say I am frustrated is an understatement because I really want to use Lightburn especially after I purchased. I know it is user error I just don’t know where to look.

Thanks,

Jody

We can help. :slight_smile: Let’s start with a bit more about what you have. Controller/Firmware version? What 'Device Profile" are you using? Post you $$ setting out from the console so we can take a quick review.

And I am going t need a little help with this statement.

What did you do, exactly, to test this and determine these results? Specifics really matter here, so just a bit more will be helpful. If I assume you are talking about using the test fire button found on the lower-right of the ‘Move’ window, do you have theimage button ‘Enabled’ (green) on the ‘Device Settings’ page? If not, flick that ON (green) and restart LightBurn to have it appear in the ‘Move’ window.

image

If you tried testing the output of a job, we will need to collect different information, but let’s start there.

Thank you for trying to help me :slight_smile:

Here are the $$ settings

Grbl 1.1e [’$’ for help]

$$

$0=10

$1=25

$2=0

$3=0

$4=0

$5=0

$6=0

$10=3

$11=0.020

$12=0.020

$13=0

$20=0

$21=0

$22=0

$23=3

$24=100.000

$25=1000.000

$26=250

$27=1.000

$30=255

$31=0

$32=1

$100=80.000

$101=80.000

$102=80.000

$110=5000.000

$111=5000.000

$112=5000.000

$120=800.000

$121=800.000

$122=5000.000

$130=400.000

$131=300.000

$132=200.000

Device profile is GRBL-M3(1.1e or earlier)

Yes, I was talking about the Power on the Move window. and the enable Fire button is turned on.

What did you do, exactly, to test this and determine these results? I honestly have no idea. I was struggling with this issue when I first tried to use Lightburn. When I found the Power on the Move window and raised it from 0 I was able to engrave. In my mind, I thought that was the only thing I changed. So that is why I am at a loss here again.

I really appreciate your help.

Jody

When LightBurn first connects, look to the Console and post back what is reported there. You can force a reconnect by shift-clicking the ‘Devices’ button in the lower-left of the ‘Laser’ window.

If you see something that displays grbl 1.1f or later, you should select the GRBL as the ‘Device Profile’.

When Lightburn connects this is the device it shows:
Grbl 1.1e [’$’ for help]

Do I need to update firmware, If so, where would I do that at?

Thanks,

Jody

I have been trying different things the last couple days and still cannot get a burn. Are there any other suggestions?

The power value for the Fire button in the Move window is only used for focus / framing.

When you say “I’ve been trying different things”, can you be specific? If I told you my car isn’t working, and I’ve been trying different things, but I can’t get it to go, it doesn’t help you diagnose the issue - be as specific as you can about what you’ve done, step by step. We can’t see what you see, or know what you’ve tried, so this helps a great deal.

Your first post says you’re unable to engrave a circle, so we’ll start there. If you draw a shape in LightBurn, you’ll see an entry created in the Cuts window on the right, like this:

image

If you select the entry you’ll see the Speed and Power settings underneath. If you double click it, you’ll see many more settings. The basics, Line mode, with 6000mm/min, and the Power value, are what you’d need to change. If you’re just trying to draw the outline of a circle, set the power to something high, like 75%, and the speed to 5000 mm/min (5000mm/min is about 80mm/sec).

Your settings show that your machine is limited to that speed as its maximum travel rate, so trying to go any faster won’t work, and will reduce the power output.

Do you have any other software that you also use, or have used before? Have you tried using anything else to verify that the machine itself is actually working?

HeIlo-

Thank you for your reply. I tried the settings you indicated above and I was still unable to burn. I did do a circle test in T2laser and was successful. When I tried to run in Lightburn this is the end message [MSG:Pgm End] after trying to to the circle. (not sure if that is helpful or not)

As far as trying different things, I tried finding youtube videos that might assist me, I tried engraving files that I had previously been able to use and I switched the $30 to 1000 and the S value to match and then changed it back to 255.

Here are snips of my settings:

image

image

$0=10

$1=25

$2=0

$3=0

$4=0

$5=0

$6=0

$10=3

$11=0.020

$12=0.020

$13=0

$20=0

$21=0

$22=0

$23=3

$24=100.000

$25=1000.000

$26=250

$27=1.000

$30=255

$31=0

$32=1

$100=80.000

$101=80.000

$102=80.000

$110=5000.000

$111=5000.000

$112=5000.000

$120=800.000

$121=800.000

$122=5000.000

$130=400.000

$131=300.000

$132=200.000

ok

$$

$0=10

$1=25

$2=0

$3=0

$4=0

$5=0

$6=0

$10=3

$11=0.020

$12=0.020

$13=0

$20=0

$21=0

$22=0

$23=3

$24=100.000

$25=1000.000

$26=250

$27=1.000

$30=255

$31=0

$32=1

$100=80.000

$101=80.000

$102=80.000

$110=5000.000

$111=5000.000

$112=5000.000

$120=800.000

$121=800.000

$122=5000.000

$130=400.000

$131=300.000

$132=200.000

ok

Thank you,

Jody

Did the laser fire and just not burn, or did it not fire at all? Did it move? Be as specific as you can.

What settings did you use there? Did you do this today? A week ago? Before or after running LightBurn? I ask because if you tried T2Laser last week and it worked, and tried LightBurn today and it didn’t, a lot can happen in a week. If you tried LightBurn and it didn’t work, then immediately tried T2 and it did, that tells me there’s a configuration problem, not something with your hardware. Again, the specific details are important.

Nothing in either the GRBL settings or LightBurn settings appears to be wrong.

The laser moves as expected and fires but does not burn.

I tested T2laser after receiving your last message to make sure I could still burn with it and after seeing that T2laser worked attempted the circle with Lightburn and had the same results. The laser fires but does not burn. I have always been able to burn with T2laser and am currently still only using the trial version. T2laser was the first software I tried but then found lightburn and liked the functionality of it. I messed with Lightburn for 2 weeks and finally was able to get it to burn (when I first downloaded the software I was having the same issues as I currently am) I honestly have no idea what I did to get it to work I thought it was the fire power but apparently not. I have also tried to unplug the power source and replug the usb connections and ensure all other connections are good.

Thanks,

Jody

If T2 is still working, use it to save the gcode for a simple rectangle, and post the file here (it’s just text). I can look at the output from T2 and look to see if it’s doing something we’re missing here.

Here is a snip of the gcode text box after doing a test square. Sorry for my delay. As with everyone else things have been hectic and am now a childcare provider for my 6 month grandson.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can provide.

Thanks,

Jody

Can you do the same test in LightBurn? Create a square, set the power and speed, then click ‘Save GCode’ and post the file here. (you should be able to just attach the text file to the post).

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