Top 10 laser issues and solutions

[@lordace8795]

Just picked up a 3018 and watched MANY of your previous videos, thanks for sharing your journey and making my journey start easier 🐐👍

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

I hope they have helped :)

[@rondoring4964]

Excellent information, James! In my case, I am an artwork editing freak. And I have found in my short career as a laser hobbyist, that an important key to getting good quality engravings, or burns, is ,learning what types of images transfer well through the laser, to the wood, or whatever the material is you are using, and what doesn't. So, I spend a lot of time, manipulating my photos, and artwork, so it looks crisp, and like I want it to, on after running it on my machine. And I think this is a very important aspect of getting good results, which isn't really discussed very much. But, you touched on a good topic, and a very important one, because it does basically boil down to is image quality. So the old adage, "garbage in, equals garbage out", is a good thing for all of us to keep in mind.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

I do touch on it in one of my earlier laser videos about the importance of preprocessing your image. An image can look good on screen but may laser terribly. You are spot on though, the better you can prepare your image for the laser, the better results you will get

[@rondoring4964]

​@@JamesDeanDesigns, I find one thing I have to do, on small detailed images, is make sure the outer lines are well defined. Because the software and the laser tend to ignore them, at times, otherwise. Thank you for your nice reply!

[@DavidDunster]

Dang it man "spanner??". Just like lorry, boot, bonnet and torch. My grandparents were from Kent. Thank you for the video. Very nicely done. Saved for future reference. 🙌

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

thank you very much :)

[@Desiklown]

hi i know this is random but I am desperate. My laser kentoktool laser beeps a few times then just stops burning midburn. I need to get some order out. I've reinstalled the software and everything. Check lose cables. I've had a few weeks only. I'm new to all this stuff? Any suggestions? thanks!

[@PineView80]

Fantastic video. I started here before going into anything else Laser related, this really showed me what to even look for when deciding on how to approach the subject as a whole. Glad I watched it, thank you.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Desiklown]

hi i know this is random but I am desperate. My laser kentoktool laser beeps a few times then just stops burning midburn. I need to get some order out. I've reinstalled the software and everything. Check lose cables. I've had a few weeks only. I'm new to all this stuff? Any suggestions? thanks!

[@doen.8724]

Very informative, with a beautiful presentation. Calm and to the point. Well done. Now I have to check out everything else you do.👍🏼

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Thank you very much :)

[@robertdickson637]

Hi James good video once again I bought the xtool s1 it’s engraving fine was cutting now not cutting 3m plywood only had it a week thanks

[@Dcscockpit]

Thank you so much. I couldn’t get my laser to fire so I tried swapping pwm and ground, and just like you said, on my controller board they are swapped from how they are on laser. Up and running now!!

[@lorigilroy3000]

Your videos have been very helpful. I have the Atzer p5, my engravings have improved thanks to your videos. New problem is my laser beam will not turn on. Everything is working correctly and lined up but won't burn or engrave.

[@FlyBy2507]

very instructive! For cutting, you can also manually lower the laser at each pass and therefore the focus (force a pause between each pass)

[@transientaardvark6231]

As I recall LaserGRBL has a place where you can specify some G-code to send between each pass (I cannot remember exactly where, I have not opened it in while). This is especially useful to include the Z motion that you describe. This does of course need a good guess ahead of time of how much material will get removed in each pass.

[@Desiklown]

hi i know this is random but I am desperate. My laser kentoktool laser beeps a few times then just stops burning midburn. I need to get some order out. I've reinstalled the software and everything. Check lose cables. I've had a few weeks only. I'm new to all this stuff? Any suggestions? thanks!

[@SusanHoneycutt-n8r]

M1 laser has quit coming on at all. My machine moves as if it is cutting, but no cuts. Do you have a video for this? I had the scoring and I appreciate your easy to follow videos.

[@rodzmas]

Thanks James, excellent video. So clear and thoroughly explained!!!

[@YasiekYasiek]

James great video as always! Just want to mention there is a bit easier way to determine the hight of the laser if you have manual z axis. Just put the piece of the wood angled to the bed so the slope rises with the x axis (let say for clarity, left side of the board on the bed right side lifted up ), so the burned line should get thinner to the right, than just measure the distance from the thinnest part of the line to the laser module.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

🙈 annoyingly I remembered this after I published the video but yes, a great tip 👍

[@Desiklown]

hi i know this is random but I am desperate. My laser kentoktool laser beeps a few times then just stops burning midburn. I need to get some order out. I've reinstalled the software and everything. Check lose cables. I've had a few weeks only. I'm new to all this stuff? Any suggestions? thanks!

[@stevenA44]

This may help me with my laser. Seen a few things that I seem to remember, likes the lines at the beginning. Gave you a like.

[@icwilliamhartmann2601]

Very good instructional video. I took some notes and will return to watch it again if needed.

[@Desiklown]

hi i know this is random but I am desperate. My laser kentoktool laser beeps a few times then just stops burning midburn. I need to get some order out. I've reinstalled the software and everything. Check lose cables. I've had a few weeks only. I'm new to all this stuff? Any suggestions? thanks!

[@guynotes777]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. Being new to this , the information you have provided will make my learning curve much easier!

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Glad it helped 👍

[@CESAR_H_ARIAS]

Havent seen the video. But i had since Saturday troubleshooting mi laser. Even tried a couple more controller boards but in the end it ended up being the control module from neje.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Troubleshooting can be a pain but glad you solved it. Hopefully they are sending you a new one

[@parthmehta4105]

Amazing video, very well explained and extremely informative. Thanks a lot Sir you have saved lot of my time 👍🏼

[@transientaardvark6231]

Nice video, as always. A couple of slightly off-topic but related comments: Firstly, it is worth stressing that $32 (like all the $ settings) is stored in non-volatile memory, so for CNCs that get switched between milling and lasering it is important to remember to keep this setting in sync with the tooling. A slightly more subtle thing here is that the behaviour of LaserGRBL slightly changes depending on the value of $32 that it sees in the controller it is talking to (it changes some options that it offers). That little thing once had me pulling my hair out for about an hour. Secondly - and there is no limit to how many times safety nags can be repeated - unless you have good reason to think that your material is fine to cut with a laser, always assume the smoke and gas given off when you laser it is both poisonous (will damage you) and corrosive (will damage your machine). As I understand it, both plywood and MDF are particularly problematic in this respect due to the synthetic binders. If in doubt, lots of ventilation.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Completely agree, I do usually mention safety in my of my laser video because you are correct, those fumes are terrible

[@Desiklown]

hi i know this is random but I am desperate. My laser kentoktool laser beeps a few times then just stops burning midburn. I need to get some order out. I've reinstalled the software and everything. Check lose cables. I've had a few weeks only. I'm new to all this stuff? Any suggestions? thanks!

[@transientaardvark6231]

@@Desiklown I'm afraid I can offer little help as I don't know your system or what you're trying to do or what you're actually seeing. So I can only offer the most general of advise. So the principle is that you need to reduce the complexity of your system to a point where you have something working and then try to build up from there. At base, that would be, if you turn your machine on and leave it for an hour, does it still go beep and die ? If so, it is nothing to do with what you are doing, it is the hardware. Assuming you clear that hurdle, make the simplest possible job. If you can write your own g-code by hand (if you are doing it "commercially" it is a skill you need to develop) then get it to just plot a square and run the job over and over. If that eventually dies after N repeats maybe it is your serial port. Then make some g-code that just burns some simple pattern but keeps going for a long time. If that works for a bit and then fails maybe your laser is overheating. Or maybe your stepper drivers are. Try running the same job but with the laser off or lower power to distinguish those two possibilities. Then try more and more complex patterns. Does it always fail on your job at the same point ? Maybe your g-code is bad. Wrong commands, unsupported commands, a radius that does not match the start/end points. Try to locate the line. You can try cutting the gcode up into blocks and see if the fault is always in a particular block - keeping cutting the broken bit into 2 is always the quickest way to narrow it down. And of course, contact the company for support - I've never heard of them. If they suck at customer support then don't forget to tell the world about it. My best suspicions if a job works for a while and then fails - serial port dying (CH340 on windows is notorious for that) or something overheating or dodgy power (the PSU or the mains where you are) or just possibly electrical noise (side note, sometimes the limit switches pick this up and spuriously put the machine into an error state - maybe try disconnecting or disabling them). Those are all if the failure happens at a random time. If it always at the same point then bad g-code (or g-code your computer does not like). If it is the serial then see if you can use a better interface (FTDI) or an offline controller where a computer is not involved and the gcode is sent "direct" (I simplify massively here) from an SD card. HTH.

[@Desiklown]

@@transientaardvark6231 thank you so much for your lengthy and kind reply! Really appreciated!

[@Desiklown]

@@transientaardvark6231 can the USB that came with the machine be the culprit? Should I get a better one?

[@ct2644]

Thanks for the info. I have a ComMarker B4 20w light engraving on stainless steel but if I have the same settings on and engrave, and then try to engrave again on the same piece, it will give a different output. Why do you think that happens? Do you think it's defective? I use LightBurn

[@brandonalford4757]

Hello. Thank you for all of your instructional videos! Have you perhaps done a video on the laser setup with the ProverXL 4030?

[@stussystevo16]

Hi James thank you for all your informative videos. It has helped massively. Just a quick question. I am having an issue with my laser even turning on!!!! I have a TwoTrees (Chinese CNC3018) and the laser that I purchased with it does not turn on. It does not have a on/off switch but has a light to say power is going to it and it can move. But there is no light coming from it when I do the 2 second test. My machine didn’t come with instructions either on where to even plug the laser but I’m saying that I have tried each 3 prong thingy available on the motherboard. PLEASE HELP!

[@donferron5352]

Great Videos!!! I am really new to laser engraving. I have run just 8 projects with 6 with no particular issues. The last two, when I hit center or frame the laser takes off from home (lower left) to top right and have to quickly stop. To my knowledge I have not changed and settings in LaserGRBL. Asked help on another site and the help was it has to do with manual or default coordinates, but no help on how to check and correct. Suggestions? (Laser is OLM2S2 LU2-4 SF

[@janpaulzadravec5591]

I have question... At 42:00 how do you know which cable is for which pin so you can put them into right order.... because right after I connect laser withh board Laser turns on and doesnt turn off anymorr

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

You need to check end to end, so for example if on your control board the PWM is the yellow cable, then you need to make sure the yellow cable is connected to the PWM pin on the laser as well, and same for live and ground. Most circuit boards will have a little marking for what each pin is

[@janpaulzadravec5591]

@@JamesDeanDesigns Is there anyway i can provide you pictures of my cable and control board because my is a littlebit different that was shown in a video

[@BAHATI1943]

Great video. I am starting laser work today on an Algolaser Alpha. My problem is when engraving a circle there is a gap left. This shows up on the preview so think it must be software problem. Any ideas please?

[@DavidHuisman-dc1nw]

Thanks for the video. I was wondering what would cause the underside of acrylic material to be jagged and burred? It is not burnt. The material is 3mm think acrylic and I am using Atomstack X20 pro laser.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Essentially it's just where it is struggling to cut through. You can try doing more passes, slow the speed down or try different air assist pressures to see if it makes a difference

[@qumpania]

Thanks for the video. I am having a problem that doesn't seem to becoeverd here. I have been using same cheap chinese laser for a while and now it started blinking resulting in uneven line. I will admit I didn't take very good care of the machine (i have it on the balcony in a wooden box so there is a bit of rust here and there but nothing dramatic). Do I need to swap out laser module or does the problem lie elsewhere ? Thanks in advance !

[@mambaman2007]

A very rare and valuable video indeed 👍👍

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Thank you 👍

[@rc9119]

Thanks James I found the problem it is the gantry, the rails the bearings run on are not true straight which makes the head unit wobble so slightly. Brand new unit it May something for you to discuss on your channel, I actually have the video of this happening. Good channel thanks 👍

[@Desiklown]

hi i know this is random but I am desperate. My laser kentoktool laser beeps a few times then just stops burning midburn. I need to get some order out. I've reinstalled the software and everything. Check lose cables. I've had a few weeks only. I'm new to all this stuff? Any suggestions? thanks!

[@johnstewart2507]

James really enjoy you videos I’m new to CnC and Laser i have a 3018 Prover I was watching you video for setting up the laser started doing the focus tests then the laser stopped on inspecting the code down the side there was a hard limit in red. Any ideas

[@johngibson1171]

Excellent video. I’m experiencing the parallel lines on the x axis and think the pulley on the stepper motor may be loose.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Can be a couple of things, even the size of the pulley wheels can make a difference. If you're on Facebook, head to the group Den of Lasers, check out guide 13 for banding 👍

[@johngibson2244]

Took my Xtool D1 gantry off and found the pulley freely rotating on the flat part of the shaft. That was definitely my issue. Machine is perfect again. Thank you.

[@johngibson2244]

Took my Xtool D1 gantry off and found the pulley freely rotating on the flat part of the shaft. That was definitely my issue. Machine is perfect again. Thank you.

[@johngibson2244]

Took my Xtool D1 gantry off and found the pulley freely rotating on the flat part of the shaft. That was definitely my issue. Machine is perfect again. Thank you.

[@johngibson2244]

Took my Xtool D1 gantry off and found the pulley freely rotating on the flat part of the shaft. That was definitely my issue. Machine is perfect again. Thank you.

[@basilloizou1942]

Hi Great Video thanks, I have been using Genmitsu 4030V2 with Carvco Maker and Candle with out any problems but Lightburns is causing problems in that the Move is working in opposite the the arrows suggest. I set my home rear right and when i try to move LEFT is goes right . can you offer any help thanks

[@garygray9985]

Hi James, new to all this and love the videos (seen quite a few). I have a Foxalien 4040 Masuter with a 20w diode laser. i am using lightburn for a particular project, set the origin and framed the design. All ok. When i start the run it starts around 80mm to the right and i run out of room. Checked all settings I can think of. Any ideas please. Gary

[@aleshahensley111]

I am having the same exact problem! If you find a fix can you reply here please.

[@canvaskedesign]

You have a great set of guides, both for advanced and beginners. Thank you. I also wanted to ask one thing. For some time now, my laser is no longer in the form of a dot, but rather a very short line. Do you know what it could be caused by?

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Lens may be dirty, lens also may have moved. It also could possibly be cracked. Take a look and see if anything looks odd

[@DuyDepTraiPhoBaTrieu]

I use LightBurn for my Ortur 2 but the line is not as fine as yours. What can I do so mine looks like yours 6:58 ?

[@kennethbrown7350]

would like to see a review of the CNC carving a guitar and guitar neck. very interested in fox alien CNC but need to be able to do what I mentioned.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Will try and get one done

[@Michael-hv8uo]

Hi James, I love your videos. You have a great way of explaining things. I have a cnc3018 Pro and now a 20w = 5.5w laser. Could you tell me how i can use my laser in Easel Pro please? i understand most of it but not sure about the power setting. I am assuming that you set the spindle speed to say 1000 or is 1000 full power to the laser? Thank you.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

You can't really. Well you can but it's not easy to try and do it. Much better off using software for a laser like lightburn

[@Michael-hv8uo]

@@JamesDeanDesigns Hi James, Thank you for that. I will wait until my subscription runs out in the next week or so and get Lightburn. Thank you again.

[@danzelsvk6497]

Hi, thanxs for very Nice videos and thanks fór the second tíme, I learned a lot from you. But Can you please help me.. i bought a laser today, for my cnc 3018 pro and i don't know how to start it Up.. i tried to upgrade my firmware, didnt help.. i tried to Flip cabels on the cable conector of the laser, didnt help.. when i try to turn the laser on by grbl laser software, the machine tries to turn on the spindle (the LED beside the conector on the motherboard lights on when i try to turn on the laser.. the LED is for the spindle indicating that It is spinning) and the Z Axis stepper motor buzzes 2x and nothing happens.. what am i suposed to do?

[@allabouthim03]

I have the exact same LE-1620 you showed in the video, I may have used it 20 times in tiny projects. I've been doing dog tags lately with it and have only done about 12. Speed and power setting is 2000/95. Went to do a test print today and it hardly printed anything on the anodized aluminum. I've been playing with it a couple hours now and can't get it to do a decent job unless I do multiple passes and it still doesn't look right. I've checked the s-value settings with the firmware, it matches. I don't know what to do next, I definitely don't want to buy a new laser head. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[@janpaulzadravec5591]

46:00 Is there anyway i can provide you pictures of my laser and cable and board because i thimk mine js different

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Find me on Facebook or there is an email address on my website 👍

[@robertarmstrong2323]

Great video the one solution you forgot which was my problem..is the S-value in lb being 225 instead of 1000

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

I'm pretty sure I cover the Smax Value in one of the issues. It's usually related to power being too weak, too powerful or sometimes no power at all but glad you sorted it 👍

[@robertarmstrong2323]

@@JamesDeanDesigns it was in your getting started video

[@Desiklown]

hi i know this is random but I am desperate. My laser kentoktool laser beeps a few times then just stops burning midburn. I need to get some order out. I've reinstalled the software and everything. Check lose cables. I've had a few weeks only. I'm new to all this stuff? Any suggestions? thanks!

[@ericeinsmann5559]

Another excellent video James! I am having an odd problem. At first, I thought it might be a missing step problem, but after watching the video, I'm not sure. I was cutting out a project and I noticed that some of the letters didn't cut all of the way through the wood. It turns out that the laser is jumping over portions of some of the letters. For example an "O" would look more like a "C". I watched the laser (with my laser glasses on) and I saw the laser jump over the same spot on each pass. Only on the letters.. Not the border or any graphics.. Using lightburn. Any ideas? Thanks!

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Could be font related. Potentially try a different font and see if it helps.

[@ericeinsmann5559]

@@JamesDeanDesigns I tried 4 different fonts, all with the same result.. I did email the manufacturer (Comgrow) with pictures of the problem. Hopefully I will hear from them soon. Thanks again

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

@@ericeinsmann5559 if you're on Facebook, send them to me. I'm curious to see what's happening

[@ericeinsmann5559]

@@JamesDeanDesigns will do some time tomorrow .. It's very odd. The only reason I found out what was happening was that I was watching it when it happened.. You know how the laser burns something at a specific speed.. Then turns off and moves quickly to the next letter or the next object to be burned.. It was like that.. It would turn itself off and make a small, quick jump (2-3 mm) further on in the same letter and continue on its way.

[@chiefnol53]

Hello! Can you help me? I have a laser cutter and suddenly stopped making circular and curving movements. I can't find any solution in internet and not in the Lightburn user manual. Please help! I just have 4 days with this machine cutter! Salutes from Cancún, México!

[@smartyshoaib3]

The laser machine's rays are not blinking according to the design they are continuously emitting. What is the solution for this?

[@Wackaas]

I am having the first issue described in this video, I am already in $32=1 laser enabled mode. but still it keeps firing on G0 Rapid Moves. Tested signal from Z+ by using and LED which Turns of During Rapid move even PWM working fine on LED, which showes grbl is telling laser to go off but laser isn't listening at all, it turns on on any move command even on Jog and stops when motors stops..... my laser module is Laser Tree , LT-40W-F23

[@yvonneomalley3332]

Hello I'm a pure newbie to all this, I bought a Ekelstar 4240 laser engraver cutter, and I'm struggling to find all the cutting elements and my machine doesn't show up on Laser Grbl when you drop down the menu, quite a few machines but not mine, is there anything I can do to get the information required please

[@afiqzainal5273]

Hi sir. I have a problem using fibre laser. After laser it will produce black dot on zinc alloy nickel plated surface. Please help me. Also want to ask if is there any different between vertical vs horizontal laser marking pattern? Thanksss..

[@mmcunome314]

I just got a plasma torch from my husband but I don't have a cnc machine to make patterns. Is there a material I can use to maybe "tape out a design"

[@lunarlites1]

Hi James i have a vevor 3040 that i have been using for about 4years not all the time , what i would like to know if the laser does not come on but all the other function work does this mean that the laser needs replacing, The laser is a sanwu , modal XTS05 12volt out put o-42 a max rated power 5w wavelength 405nm output control PWM sn2109tacp. if the laser is no good what would be a good one to buy toreplace it .

[@JAKEco]

Hi, there, my co2 laser engraver... Stops at mid process and starts again after , but loses position which it ends up cutting over other cut areas

[@sherra-leerubia1197]

I keep getting a alarm, I did the framing it was ok, went to laser once it uploaded I got a alarm and it stopped. Can you help ?

[@rc9119]

James have you ever crossed paths with diode laser not engraving straight lines or circles and squares with wobbly lines? If you can help that would be appreciated.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Light only travels in a straight line so chances are if you have wobbly lines it will be coming from your machine. Usually flat spots on the wheels or sometimes it can be the belts are too loose/tight

[@dunrobindesigns]

Excellent video as usual James. Thank you.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@joewarren929]

I'm testing a laser engraver for possible purchase. Its a FoxAlien LE-4040 with a 40w laser. My problem is the width (X axis) image is perfectly sized to the image but the height (y axis) is only about 50%. I've tried 2 different software including Laser grbl as well as Lightburn so I don't think it's software related. Is there a setting on the control board that would make the Y axis half of the original? Thanks

[@Desiklown]

hi i know this is random but I am desperate. My laser kentoktool laser beeps a few times then just stops burning midburn. I need to get some order out. I've reinstalled the software and everything. Check lose cables. I've had a few weeks only. I'm new to all this stuff? Any suggestions? thanks!

[@denisajancovicova6403]

Hello, great video thanks, but I have an issue that I do not seem to find response anywhere, Can you please help?? have you happened to come across an issue when Laser has homing issue Alarm 9 keeps coming up but also my laser head actually does not move vertically, only horizontally when I press the home button. I also tried switching it on and off, sending command $22=0 to switch off homing but did not help. When it tries returning home, it hits the top left corner and makes breaking sound as if it was trying to go further altough there is nowhere to go. Many thanks to anyone who has time to respond ! :)

[@mdsharook894]

hi , line across on work material im using mach3 lpt board ....you have any idea about this issue

[@timbrzycki2518]

Good Morning, I have tried to hook up 20w laser to my Mauster Pro. (Lightburn). X and y are way off.outbounds! So I decided to go back to routing a project. Now my homing cycle fails, z over travels on the upper limit cycle fails. Can you help? Thanks in advance for your help. T Brzycki

[@darylsaunders7114]

Hi James I have a xtool D1 pro 10w I would like to engrave photos on slate di you have any videos? Or what I have to do there are so many different variations. Thank you Daryl

[@Desiklown]

hi i know this is random but I am desperate. My laser kentoktool laser beeps a few times then just stops burning midburn. I need to get some order out. I've reinstalled the software and everything. Check lose cables. I've had a few weeks only. I'm new to all this stuff? Any suggestions? thanks!

[@alfiebiddulph7246]

I have a problem. In some designs the laser cuts and the you get that the laser turns of but still move. The it starts cutting again so it miss a cut line. It only does it with some designs. But most of the other designs that i have downloaded works correctly and no problem that tell me the design is the problem. How can o fix it as the design as i love the design. It is only two designs that i have. Thanks for your videos and always learn lots from your videos

[@jumpin_joe0075]

I am having same issue did you get it resolved?

[@jamesanderson7407]

My Xtool D1 pro 20w keeps stopping in the middle of a burn resets and homes itself. Any ideas?

[@darylsaunders7114]

Hello James I'm new ish to laser engraving I have a xtool D1 Pro 10W using Lightburn all my setting up and running the work was good but I needed more storage space so brought a new laptop now I frame the peace of work and hit engrave and it engaves off to the right hand side. Now I'm not the sharpest tool in the box so if you know the answer basically I'm as thick as sh@t so please make it easier for me thanks Daryl Wales UK 🇬🇧

[@eddiegonzalez6048]

I was excited to find this video as $32 would solve my issue but unfortunately i have a golden laser and it uses power cut and it doesn't have a command line. Any chance you know how to solve this for a golden laser in powercut?

[@tommy3d791]

Hi, I have a problem, depending on how I set the button above, the laser remains either always on at maximum power, or always off in "pointing" mode And if I start the engraving process from lighburn, the laser remains in "pointing" mode it is a home made laser with arduino and cnc shild

[@EduardoOlguín-j9f]

Hi, I’m having the $32=1 issue. I’m using the software Lightburn and a genmitsu 4040pro whit 10w diode. when I have $32=0 the laser turn on to make the engraving whit the trajectory line and when I change to $32=1 the laser doesn’t turn on at all. Do you have any advice ? Thank you!

[@alankemei8308]

Hi James! thank you for this, it's a great video and have learned a lot, I just have a quick question , when engraving in my engraving machine model VLS350, the output of my hard work looks raster and each letter is not complete e.g O looks like this ( ).What could be the problem

[@Desiklown]

hi i know this is random but I am desperate. My laser kentoktool laser beeps a few times then just stops burning midburn. I need to get some order out. I've reinstalled the software and everything. Check lose cables. I've had a few weeks only. I'm new to all this stuff? Any suggestions? thanks!

[@sergiuteglar7009]

I buy a laser 20w for a CNC 3018 and a new board controler… i check wires and i install it but when i start the CNC the cooler from laser function permanentelly and when i try to start laser it don”t firing.. Please can you help me with some advices? Thank you!

[@azoz.almala]

What is best program for laser

[@pammyanne55]

I can only see half a picture from camera full picture on control but only half on viewing please help I am using lightburn

[@psclark2416]

Hi I have a laser with 2 wires but my control board has a 3-wire plug please can you tell me what I have to do to convert it thanks

[@_ZEIT_]

Hello, I'd be very thankfully if I could get some help here because i've been having a pretty annoying issue that I really don't know how to solve. I've got the Atomstack X7 Pro, it's all good, once I got the right speed and power i got to cut the material i'm using right now (3mm MDF). The problem is that, when I use my SD card (always), whenever I try to use the "Frame" function in the X7, it gets it all wrong, or somethimes it doesn't even work, others it just reads the X axis. I use LaserGRBL, this may be the problem but it's all i have today (i'm just a student from Argentina trying to start a business, buying software and things from outside it's ridiculously hard and expensive. Is it the program? Is it my machine? or is it that the only way of getting everything right is connecting the machine to my PC?

[@boogeeass]

I have VEVOR, 5W Output Engraving Machine its not cutting or engraving. the light comes

[@BrendaDavis-1963]

I have the JL5 kentok tool it tells me it’s not compatible with windows 10

[@EdwardBright-nq5ml]

My laser keeps pausing in random spots but the laser stays on and just burns a spot into the wood. Does any know how to fix this?

[@darylsaunders7114]

love the videos. I New to all this so you will have to forgive me. I have a Genmitsu lc-60a the laser works grate with the program GRBS Laser but in lightburn the laser is very week and isn't fireing all the time but as I have said only in Lightburn please help as lightburn is a grate program. Thanks Daryl

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

In lightburn under device settings you should see somewhere an Smax setting. This needs to match your $30 GRBL setting on your laser. Chances are your $30=1000 and your smax is at 10,000 so you're only getting 10% of the power

[@darylsaunders7114]

@@JamesDeanDesigns Thanks so much i'll try tomorrow.

[@darylsaunders7114]

@@JamesDeanDesigns ​ @James Dean Designs Hi sorry it's me again I have opened Device settings and there is nothing at all so can't change to $30 unless i'm looking at the wrong thing it is just Device . and yes the power needs to be turned up the laser is not firing properly it is spluttering not in a smooth motion I do have a video of it but no way to send it to you. sorry to be a pain Daryl

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

@@darylsaunders7114 this first image, look above where the ok button s-value max, this is the settings I'm on about. You can also email me on [e-mail] docs.lightburnsoftware.com/UI/DeviceSettings.html

[@maryanncarpio2710]

Hello.. How if the laser is fix in burning..? Thank you

[@mr.whatsnext8413]

How about engraving double?

[@tomme6x3]

Even with $32=1, my laser still has light burn lines like the laser is not turning all the way off, especially when filling a shape- do you have any suggestions on how to fix this type of issue? TIA

[@sandybanker3213]

What to do when laser stops halfway done at the same spot. Even when it is just text like 1st it stops halfway down.

[@unboxtv2049]

My laser engraving is almost 100% slower than the preview and I can't figure out why this is happening.

[@martinnowak4393]

i've got already burnmarks at the beginning of the shape from the Laser. It goes down in Z-Axis and Laser is turned on to early. How can i get rid of this issue?

[@mikeecho33]

ok my issue is that there is no light emitting from my laser, 1 wire connection and I cant see any power switch

[@SkyPilot1943]

After about fifty successful small project with OLM3, the laser no longer cuts or burns. It fires as it should but does not burn or cut. I have cleaned the lens, checked my settings and belts and tried to reset as suggested but still no positive results. I have tried contacting ORtur tech support with no results and I am on two ORtur FB sites but no suggestions that work. Could you help?

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Check the lens isn't damaged if you can but that doesn't sound very good customer service from Ortur although if they are Chinese based then do remember it was there new year and they normally take 1-2 weeks off completely

[@laser31415]

@48:00. I really wish I had reviewed this Before I plugged my laser into a replacement control board. 4 seconds later poof, laser gone.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Sorry to hear that :(

[@jasonjames8896]

My laser not burning , how can I fi this problem?

[@sonyabanks6345]

Hello I am a beginner. I just set up my Longer Ray 5 10W Laser with an air assist pump. When I press frame in Lightburn, my laser just goes to the left. Help! Thanks!

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

There are a couple of settings in Lightburn for the home position and job origin position. You may need to switch one of those around

[@User62ivzvj]

My cnc grbl shield Y axis not working I changed everything Driver new again but YAxis not working how to fix this problem send sir😢

[@aNaEsquiviasJonhs]

my laser does't do the framing, at the moment of burning the laser turns on but does not burn

[@6point2000]

I have a constant power issue and all my pin are intact 😢😢

[@basilloizou1942]

I am trying to set up a 4030 genmitsu v2 and need to know the G code and $$ settings i can get the laser to fire but not much else your help would be greatly appreciated

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Feel like I may have answered this on Facebook but just to be sure, check you $30 setting. Usually for spindles this is set to 10,000 but when doing laser, laser software is often setup to use 1000 so if you have low power its probably because of this.

[@ulrichlachman9714]

Hi my laser engraving machine is engraving and then stop and don't respond.. you have a solution for me?

[@MissoulaPublicLibraryMakerSpac]

Hi James! I've been using a Thunder laser for over a year now and yesterday it stopped lasering. I'll send a file over and it'll move exactly how it's supposed to, but no laser beam coming out. I've tried several different settings with a few different materials, and the motion always works, just no beam. Tried turning everything off and on again, cleaned the lenses and mirrors (I do this regularly), but nothing. Any idea what's going on?

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

I'm still relatively new to the CO2 world but assuming your tube isn't firing, that would be my first guess. The CO2 tube do run out and need to be replaced. If you're running it relatively low power then try upping the power to a higher percentage and see if anything happens

[@jimhunt5259]

what if the $32=1 does not work???

[@mamadoubapassioninformatique]

Hello. Is it possible to use the Laser module of the Ender-3 S1 with the GRBL software?

[@keirantimson7893]

I have a major problem with my laser as its almost 2.5 time slower than the max speed I use.

[@m-intube]

I have a cnc 3040 but the laser doesn't work at all

[@nicoleailles499]

Hey, I am not sure if anyone else has had this issue, but my laser just all of a sudden stops burning and starts blinking in spot. It has power and is still running just stops burning and continuing to move. I just purchased a Genmitsu Jinsoku lc 40

[@arbjful]

Is a 20W laser better or a 40W laser for etching on anodised or powder coated aluminum? Also are there any applications for anodised or powder coated aluminum? I am thinking maybe etching or printing text or graphics

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Generally speaking, more power is usually better because you can go faster. So in theory a 40w can do the same job as a 20w in half the time. It's not always as straightforward as that. Make sure you're comparing output power and not input power. Output or optical is the main value

[@arbjful]

@@JamesDeanDesigns I am thinking of buying the Foxalien 40W (10W optical) unit, are there any aluminum applications for this? I saw some videos of etching in aluminum, I am also planning to buy the Vasto CNC router for aluminum milling (your video actually convinced me) the other option was the Sherline mill

[@jeonjungkookie4403]

does anyone knows why the laser engraver stops in between engraving? what could be the problem ? is it the motor or the wiring?we cant finish one single design because of that problem .can anyone please help?thank you so much

[@ayoubaitmouloud6698]

Thank you so much dude u save my life

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Glad to help

[@abdoo157]

Can you teach me how to cut 5m wood with laser on a cnc 3018

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Not much to teach. You need a laser powerful enough to cut 5mm wood. Your average 5.5w laser might do this in several passes but you probably need a 10w laser, even then will take 2 passes though. Then just a case of testing with speeds until it cuts cleanly usually doing passes at 200-400mm/min

[@davidmead9455]

how do I get text to write things on my machine?