I have LightBurn version Pro 2.0.04 installed, and the machine I have is a 50W CO2 laser from the brand OMTech. When I do the framing, the laser does not appear so I can check if it is aligned. I have watched videos on YouTube, but I cannot find this option in the device settings window to enable the laser fire, so I am asking for help here. Thank you.
C02 lasers do not have a beam that is visible with the naked eye. You need to have a LED pointer installed on your system, either with a beam combiner or mounted to the side of the laser head in order to have something visible for framing.
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OMTech makes a lot of 50W lasers. A link to yours would be nice.
Most of these machines use a dsp type controller such as a Ruida. There is no option to directly drive an led from one of these controllers since it isn’t an option. I don’t think the Polar has an led pointer, but you supposedly can buy one.
Even my so called 50W machine the pointer was hard wired to the 5V supply, so anytime the low voltage power supply was on the led worked.
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My 60 W OMTech came with a red dot pointer as the only 5 V load on the machine’s dual-ouput 24 / 5 V power supply.
When I upgraded the power supply to a 24 V 15 A unit, I moved the red dot pointer to one of the controller’s 5 V outputs where it was just as happy.
The controller’s 5 V power supply had no problem with an additional 20 mA load. 
I have no idea why OMTech went to the expense of a dual supply for one little pointer …
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Simple $$.
I apologize, that is not what I meant. I have a diode laser (10 W Longeray) and when I use LightBurn, the program gives me the option in the machine settings to activate the laser firing when it’s doing the frame before starting the cutting or engraving job, and when I use the program with the Omtech Polaris, I can’t activate that function.
@thelmuth explained why:
- The Polaris is a COâ‚‚ laser
- It has an invisible IR beam
- Turning the beam on while framing would burn a rectangle in the material
- Thus, LightBurn does not enable that option
I cannot tell what controller they use, but if it’s a GRBL clone similar to the K40+, then you may be able to enable that function to burn the rectangle by following these steps:
The machine should have an interlock disabling the laser when the lid is open, so you must peer through the lid window while the laser burns the rectangle.
However, if the machine has the camera mentioned in the description and it’s an ordinary USB device, then you should be able to calibrate it and position the material without drama, but that’s a whole 'nother topic.
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Thank you very much for your help. After your messages, I searched on the Omtech website and found that I need to buy a Laser Alignment Device for CO2 Laser Cutter and Engraver | LAT-1655. Your help was invaluable, thank you very much.
That device is intended for mirror alignment, not framing. It replaces the focus lens / nozzle assembly and shines backwards through the mirrors toward the tube.