Creating a Material Test Card using LightBurn - Project Walkthrough - OMTech

Are you a new OMTech user looking to get started? An existing user seeking extra guidance? Or are you still on the fence of acquiring one of our machines? This video and the rest of our OMTech Training Playlist will assist with frequently asked questions, provide additional guidance and advice, and motivate you with creative project ideas.
This video will cover the purpose of a material test card, how to use LightBurn to make your test card, and how to analyze your final card for future adjustments.
Download OMTech's material test card from our website: omtechlaser.com/pages/downloads
Jump to your favorite part:
00:00 Laser engraving a material test card
00:25 What is a material test card?
1:13 How to create a material test card
1:39 Using LightBurn to make my test card
4:50 Laser engraving the test card
5:37 Analyzing the laser engraved test card
7:25 LightBurn's material test card
Website: omtechlaser.com/
Check out Max's work here: / laserbeastlab
Our Instagram: / omtechlaser

[@chrisl4999]

Thanks. I just installed the k40 upgrade board so I can run lightburn on it and this helped me dial in the settings

[@sigh_of_the_times]

You have an impressive camera I feel like I'm standing right there. It also helps too see your videos. I'm new to this so I will be following you. Thanks for everything.

[@omtechlaser]

Thanks for the Feedback!

[@mcangelesv]

THANK YOU

[@jphergan]

Very helpful!

[@tammy__8161]

Thank you!

[@omtechlaser]

Of course! Let us know if you have any questions.

[@lupdogdog5371]

very nice

[@omtechlaser]

We appreciate the kind feedback!

[@evilutionltd]

I wonder if smaller details would be more prominent with less burn/heat bloom if CO2 was used in the air nozzle?

[@omtechlaser]

Air assist is a very crucial component for an effective and efficient laser machine!

[@mommamiap]

Would you share what camera you decided to use with your laser set up? Thank you!

[@JavierLopez-eg3hr]

my guess it's the lightburn cam

[@drurigney3909]

Understand how to do the card but what if say I use leather, do I create a “card” on the leather (?) 🤔

[@nathanjones3427]

the power on the left is that max or min power ?

[@katyellena5107]

What is the camera attachment?

[@riskariskadebri]

If the left and right sides are engraved, they are blacker, how do you adjust them so that the black color is even? thanks

[@tlgrimmy]

Thanks! I just ran this last night on my new Omtech 100w. One issue I ran into was that the letter outlines on the right ended up being misaligned. Any idea what could cause that?

[@omtechlaser]

Very interesting! A visual representation would help us out. Feel free to either email our Technical Support Team at [e-mail] or send your photo to our engaging community of users here: omtechlaser.com/pages/our-laser-community

[@rooofficialmerch]

Can we have more videos like this

[@Checo1]

is this test card also good for acrylic?

[@cassibburch536]

Ran into the text on the side for outline is not even marking the wood. Tried and checked all power and speed setting but not sure why it is not doing the text?

[@alexandergolob7556]

I ran into the same issue. Any help here would be very much appreciated @omtechlaser

[@letmebehomie6185]

So where did you get the 150m, 20 Percent power settings? You left that out.

[@deanmiller294]

Go into each layers settings and you can input the speed and power.

[@gscraftyshop3910]

Mine came out with a shadow on everything? Any idea what might be wrong, this is the first thing I’ve done on my OMTech 80 watt

[@markjeffery7322]

check your belts are not loose this will output a sort of 3d effect if they are.

[@KatieClawson-jg2hi]

This doesn’t help entirely. I tried the card on acrylic and nothing cut out and a lot didnt engrave at all. People always skip over how they decide on the numbers they use for the percentage and speed…can you advise on how those decisions are made?

[@emericanow]

Did you find any information on acrylic? Mine won’t cut either

[@isabellmediaproductions6935]

Running on 1.5mm basswood. None of the images are burning in.

[@MrMalik918]

'focal adjustment tool provided by the company' ... there were 2 acrylic pieces in my box.... and for the other people that dont know how, why not go thru that part of the process? information is appreciated but, should have went thru the full process for the people that do need it...

[@omtechlaser]

We appreciate your feedback and have provided it to the our team to help improve our videos in the future.

[@datdude1783]

That's what I'm seeing, most videos don't show all you need, just a portion. None of these videos are truly for beginner's, they are all done from folks who laser and show you the part they want to show you, which normally isn't the full scope of information you need to complete the task. Presents a steep learning curve.