Hi, i have a stock 3018 CNC Pro with a LaserTree F45 10W (true) diode laser. I’m attempting to cut 4 x 100mm circular shapes that fit nicely in the worksapce in the Lightburn interface but when it comes to cutting them the circles overlap and cut across each other.
I noticed that when the tool got to the far right of the x-axis the stepper did grind for a half a second so it was attempting to go out of bounds, even though the design is all within bounds.
Any ideas greatly appreciated.
You hit the physical limitation of your laser. The actual movement area cannot reach the back of the bed. Even in your picture with the bed all the way forward, your laser is nowhere near the back of the board.
You should make a rectangle along the full outside and figure out what your actual usable area is and work within those parameters.
That suggests the machine is either not homed correctly or, as @Skreelink suggests, the axis sizes do not match the actual physical travel limits.
Those limits are surely smaller than the nominal platform dimensions, due to that hulking laser head. You must set the limits to keep the head from smashing into the sides.
They are right up against the edges, so being off by a few millimeters in the homing position or the axis limits will cause the problems you’re seeing.
Thanks both, the board is 300x200 that’s why the difference looks big but yes i’ll do a frame to see the real limits.
And for anyone else that’s new to this and is using the same 3018 CNC frame the working area is 297 x 177mm, assuming your laser head fits into the stock holder as mine does.
Glad to hear you got it all figured out. 
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