I am new to laser engraving in general and have signed up to lightburn and have taken out a core membership subscription. Previously I had used LaserGRBL but decided to move to lightburn so I can make use of the camera calibration system. But, I have been trying to connect the laser to lightburn and homing system, but, despite wanting it to centre calibrate it goes up to the back left and sounds like it’s crunching and I’m scared it’s going to destroy the laser module and frankly I don’t know what to do. Considering it worked on LaserGRBL I don’t understand why lightburn won’t find and activate the laser. I am at a loss of what to try now. I am considering uninstalling everything laser related and starting again. I am very new to laser engraving in general as well as lightburn, I will appreciate any help you can provide, however please be patient and relatively basic at least until I’ve gotten up to speed.
There is no such thing as center calibrate. The home position is a corner. On most diode lasers, it’s the front left corner. You cannot change where the manufacturer has designated as home, you can however use a center job origin combined with user origin or current position start from mode. It sounds like your Y axis direction is reversed. Let’s start with a simple test.
Make sure auto home on startup is disabled, that is in the Device Settings menu (Wrench & Screwdriver icon). With that disabled move the laser head slowly to the center of your workspace and turn on the laser. Go th the move window and click on the arrow keys, does the laser move in the desired direction with each arrow click? If not, that needs to be fixed first.
Thank you for your reply. I’ll put your suggestion to work later on today when I’m home again. If the Y axis is reversed which I suspect is the case as suggested (I’ve noted it has been going left back instead of left front) how would I fix that? I’m remembering reading somewhere that I need to swap the Y axis connection cables but I think I need to reread the instruction manual that came with the engraver system. Plus, for whatever reason I can’t get the laser to activate on lightburn but I could with LaserGRBL. Anyway, I will be back here later with an update and hopefully resolved. Once again, thank you for your reply.
Edit Menu> Machine Settings>Make a backup of the current settings first, then click the bottom arrow to expand(I think it’s vendor settings) it will ask if you are sure you want to proceed, say yes. There is an Invert Y axis switch.
Thank you, I will implement that later when home. I appreciate your help and advice, just scared the vibration will screw up the laser module. I’ve even considered going right back to the beginning of it all when I first put it together. It’s been driving me nuts and even my family said “my god, do you have a rocket launch in the room” just shows how loud the problem is. If your suggestions don’t pan out as hoped I am going to go back to the beginning, checking all connections, belts and tensioners, levels, bolt tightening if needed, reconnect everything, then reinstall any and all systems. I’ve been wanting to get the thing up and running for ages now (over a year at this point) but it feels like one issue after another that I’m having to research and solve, so your help and any others help is greatly appreciated. I’ve spent the last year or so building up files for projects for people and one or two are approaching deadline for delivery of the project so it’s now something that i must sort.
It did when I used it with LaserGRBL software which is why I’m a bit at a loss with lightburn. I have downloaded updated files from the engraver manufacturer as well as a few other videos and instructions. I am going to use the settings written in the instructions and see if it will allow me to sort it with manual instructions. I am hoping that it will be okay afterwards but I’m going to try it out when I get a bit of time to actually sit down and work it out step by step.
Well, I went back to laserGRBL and there were absolutely no problems with finding the laser and didn’t crash into the corners and even operated as expected so I really don’t know why lightburn is being so difficult. I think what I’m going to do from now on is to design and trace files in lightburn and import the gcode to laser grbl for engraving use. I’ve attached an example of my only work so far, it’s far from perfect but all I care about right now Is having a system that works well for me and many things can come with practice I guess.
Let’s try this, Please post a screenshot (not a cell phone pic) of your entire Lightburn screen with your project loaded and the Cuts/Layers Panel and Laser Panel visible. Also post a screenshot of the Settings Window (Gears icon) with the Units and Grids tab visible and post a screenshot of the Device Settings Window (Wrench and Screwdriver icon).
Brief update:
I have managed to sort out the X and Y axis issues, and it now works as it should for the most part, I am still having the almost grinding issues, and I’ve decided to order some limit switches and slow down the speed of the homing function just to make sure it’s all good. I’m hoping that they will arrive by Sunday and I have a camera kit coming too so hopefully I will get those bits and install them and then start again with calibration.
