Trying to center an image on slate tile

Good morning!! I would like to burn some slate tiles but had a question with centering. Usually I will create the image and than with trial and error I will “find” the middle of the image and line it up on the item I am burning the image on to. I will do this by hitting the fire button to line up the image. Is there an easier way to do this??

There are many different strategies for this. Let me list one.

This is most straightforward using Absolute Coords but can be adapted to other modes. Will assume absolute coords for now.

  1. In LightBurn import your image
  2. Create a shape that matches the dimensions of your tile
  3. Align image and tile
  4. Position slate roughly to corresponding area of workspace
  5. Frame design; repeat until slate and frame match. You can move either the slate or the design on workspace to achieve this.
  6. Burn

Alternative:

  1. Find the center of the slate with whatever technique. Make a small erasable mark.
  2. Use Current Position or User Origin with job origin at center
  3. Jog laser head to center mark of slate
  4. Assuming image is loaded in LightBurn with appropriate dimensions frame to make sure burn is aligned
  5. Burn

For one object I use the second method berainlb described.

If you have several to do, its best to make a jig and anchor that to the bed. Use the grid function to produce the cut outs, change the cut lines to a tool path (or turn output off), then center your designs into each circle or square.

Pop the coasters in the jig, double check everything, and off you go.

Good morning!!

Thank you for the quick response. WIth the first suggestion. Everything up to Step #5 makes sense. It’s that step where I get a little confused. I usually use the second suggestion but I’m not sure if I Jog the laser head. I usually use the fire button and line up my center mark with what I’m burning.

How do you get the laser in the initial position? I would just discourage moving the laser head by hand.

The idea is that the frame should match the outer perimeter of the workpiece since it’s in your design. So when you frame, the frame should match the design which matches the workpiece. So by moving the workpiece to be outlined by the frame you are ensuring that location of design on your workspace matches to physical location on your laser bed on which you’ve now placed the workpiece.

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