Template Positioning

I created this template to engrave some cork coasters.
Coaster Template Square.lbrn2 (15.6 KB)
I am using absolute coordinates. Here is the process I’m using to align the laser to the template.

  1. Make sure I’m using absolute coordinates
  2. I place the laser head over the target.
  3. I use the location button to place it on the first cross hair target.
    When I click the location button on the cross hair target on the template, the laser head moves to another position. It seems to have a mind of its own. I’m thinking this is not the way it should be. What steps should I be using?
    BTW, I did change the units to mm and got the same result.
    Thanks.

You are telling the laser to move to that location in the Workspace. It will only be on the crosshair of the template if the template is in the right place.

What you have done is to use the laser to tell you where the template should be located.

If you Jog the laser to the center of the crosshairs, using the Fire button at 0.25% power to see where it is located, you can then use the Show Last Position in the Laser window to show where the crosshair in your drawing should be located in the Workspace.

Basically you are moving the template to match the Workspace, or you are moving the drawing in the Workspace to match the template. Pick whichever one works best for you. I do it both ways.

OK, that makes sense using absolute coordinates. I’ll give it a try and report back.

Ok, I got the first target to work. The second target does not return to the place where I set it with the location button. It goes about 1.5 inches to the right.

I would suggest establishing a permanent edge in X and Y at “0” of your work area if your machine/bed is suitable for it. It will save you a lot of adjustment time in the future. In your case, you will be able to set the drawing and the template to “0:0” with the upper left corner and never be in doubt what the laser engraves/cuts.
There are also other options, but this is the easiest.

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I think @bernd.dk is correct. Most of the time, without camera guidance, you need to secure the template to your machine in some known repeatable position.

I have a steel plate on the floor of mine with alignment holes drilled.

These are jigs for doing tile and slate coasters.

Do you have a Ruida, your profile says only an Ortur Master 2

Does your machine home?

:smile_cat:

Just to be sure, you are using the jog buttons in the Move window, rather than shoving the laser head by hand, right?

Thank you, Bernd. My bed is not anchored down so I’m not sure your suggestion would work for me.

thanks for the reply Jack. I have a Ruida KT332N controller. Yes, the machine does home.

Yes, Ed, I am moving the laser head with the jog buttons, both on the machine and via Lightburn. I’m not sure what changed but now the “Click to Move” button seems to be working as expected. I don’t know what I was doing wrong but things are working. :grin:

Here is what I believe is a method that works for me.

  1. Set absolute coordinates
  2. Using “click to move” hit the first target on the LB screen
  3. Move the template to match the location of the laser pointer
  4. In LB, using “click to move”, go to second target point
  5. Adjust the template to match laser pointer location
  6. Repeat as needed to dial in the template target locations

Thank you all for your help.

The easiest solution has already been given - create a reproducible bed location. get a waste board that the laser sits on. Cut some feet mounts - It looks like the Ortur has round feet, so this is probably just an appropriate sized circle. Glue / tack the feet down in the approriate place. Now your laser is fixed relative to the waste board - and can still easily be lifted off. Repeat for fixing your laser bed to the board - or for engraving, just skip using the laser bed and engrave an alignment grid directly is the waste board - use this grid to place your template. This should result in a very accurate 100% reproducible placement!

Or, if that won’t work, put your template in the approximately correct location and use the “Print and Cut” functionality to register the placement (use diagonal registration marks). This function is usually used to cut / engrave items larger than the print bed, but ultimately is just about getting good alignment.

Then it’s much like my Ruida…

I removed the honeycomb and got a rolled sheet of steel for $12 that fit snugly in the honeycomb hole… I put a marking powder on the plate and lased the hole locations to be drilled on my drill press.

When it homes, both axes are about 10mm off the end of the home location.

I can lase the holes in the template, put in screws, and place it in the machine.

I usually cut the template out in absolute coordinates, but figure where the corner of the item is… or some place to home the Ruida.

This gives me a pretty tight system. Here’s a 12"x12" mirror tile in one of the jigs.

Good luck

:smile_cat:

Thanks Tony and Jack. You have given some food for thought.

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