Positioning of laser and framing - how to best approach

[madswede (S Nils)]

Does anyone have any tips for positioning the laser over something to be cut and have the framing actually go exactly where you expect the laser to go with respect to it’s position?

I have a Comgrow Z1 with a 10w laser.

I’m still learning but struggling to get something cut out exactly where I put the laser.

I have read, and re-read the docs here:

Coordinates & Origin - LightBurn Software Documentation

But despite my attempts, every time I go to frame, the Y axis either crashes into the X or it moves far away from where the piece is on the table and then frames or crashes into the table ends, then returns home to where the actual piece is.

I could try moving it to where it begins framing but that’s a bit daft. Contemplating getting a camera to possibly alleviate this confusion but I’d really like to learn how to best do this without the extra tech first

I’ve already punched in the size of my unit’s engraving capability under device settings:

Normally I use the arrows under the move window or punch in 100x 100y to get away from the bottom left corner of the table as I’ve had a few stops while cutting and engraving due to this already. From there I position the material to be cut/engraved in close proximity to the laser and frame to ensure that it’s where I am expecting it to cut but for some reason now the laser moves away from where I have initially placed it.

In the image below, there’s a green square indicating my job origin, which I have set to bottom left, center or top left, and each time it still exhibits the same behavior of the laser either crashing into x or not framing on the material placed on the table.

The red dot with cross hairs on it, indicates my actual laser position currently, but again after I click frame, it moves down a bit away from the material placed even though in the image below it is under the piece of art and where it’s supposed to cut.

I am using LightBurn 1.4.05, built Wed 2023-08-02 @ 15:08

[bernd.dk (Bernd)]

Without knowing your machine, I would always recommend absolute coordinates, especially if you have electric endstops. The machine always “knows” where it is and crashing into the gantry is just history.

[madswede (S Nils)]

Apologies, I neglected to add the type of machine.

I have appended my original post. It is a Comgrow Z1 with a 10w laser.

[bernd.dk (Bernd)]

There is no need for an apology, in your profile it says which laser you have.
But, do you have limit switches on your machine? And have you tried to use absolute coordinates?

[misken (Melvin)]

Your screenshot shows user origin as start point. I don’t recommend using that until you have experience to handle that. Use either absolute coordinates or current position. I’d recommend the latter in most cases. Additionally, enable “cut selected graphics”, and “use selection origin”. Then the graphics is output exactly at the position the laser is staying at.
I wrote my preferred method here: Guide to mechanical adjustments and maintenance