Understanding the Different Start From Modes in LightBurn

[@arnojones8566]

I spent a couple of hours trying to learn this the hard way by trial and error. I wish I had the brains to come here first.

[@SCULPFUNReal]

Thank you！ I love this function for a long time. Use current position as center point. I can engrave patterns and control positions very well, and I don't need limit switch at all !

[@michaelmartin8036]

Thank you very much!!!! Now I will be able to put my project on my cut board and it will now where it is by using the Absolute Coords!!!!!

[@LarryDMitchell]

Awesome explanation for this process. This newbie appreciates it and will definitely be using it. 👍

[@woodsniffer]

Thanks for showing how to enable fire button. Thats awesome.

[@carmenascheid144]

OMG, this helps out so much! Thank you.

[@lamardesigns]

Excellent video! You have saved me a lot of time.

[@GioVanniDaThird]

THANK GOD I NEEDED THIS lol

[@onsapplikasies8620]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@Vale-pe3ci]

Your video really helpful

[@Shinthaw]

I'm a complete newbie at this, your video has helped loads. But, I am having a homing issue. Whenever I press home, the laser goes to the left corner, which is fine, but then it makes a horrible and loud grinding sound like the laser is trying to go beyond where it can actually go. Any idea how to fix this so I can home correctly? I'm terrified I'm gonna break this machine.

[@saltysailorboy1062]

While in "Start From: User Origin", I can't get "Set Origin" to work. After "Set Origin" then some miscellaneous "Move" then hit "Go to Origin" it doesn't go to where I had set the origin. I have a Fox Alien M-Pro CNC with a 20w laser. Many thanks!

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

@@saltysailorboy1062 - You are likely not zeroing out the workspace offset from using it as a CNC. You basically zero the machine to the front-left corner.

[@usuee1]

Something that I just figured out that is not mentioned on any video is that when LightBurn is using Current Position it includes everything that is outside the grid to figure out the framing. I kept trying to use Current Position and slamming the laser into the frame. I could not find the little green dot either. Figured out that I had a bunch of images outside the grid that I used to create what I was going to engrave and LightBurn was including that in the framing. This does not happen on Absolute Coords. You can have all kinds of stuff outside the grid and it is ignored. This was such a simple thing but it was stopping me from ever using anything but Absolute Coords. Hope this helps someone else out.

[@willowcreekgraphics]

Current position can still be used in your scenario - select the items you want to include and turn on the options for "Cut Selected Graphics" and "Use Selection Origin". Anything that is not selected will not be included in determining the extents of the elements to be processed / framed..

[@sharkyigor]

Thanks! one question, what material is this white tile that creates such a high contrast? thank you!

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

These are ceramic tiles that have a layer of white paint on them. It is called the "Norton White Tile Method". OMTech has a pretty good written guide on the process here: omtechlaser.com/blogs/news/how-to-laser-engrave-ceramic-tiles-norton-white-tile-method There are also quite a few videos on KZbin covering it.

[@juniordoss3565]

I just renewed my license and updated Lightburn, and now when I send a file to my laser, it starts to burn for just a second and then stops. I tried restarting my computer and restarted my laser several times. Could it be the USB cable? If so, is it a regular printer usb cable? I don't know what else to do unless a setting changed when I updated the software. I have a Masuter laser with Windows 10. Thanks for any help in advance.

[@medyadavetphotographyprodu5321]

Hello, I have a license that I bought in 2023. I would appreciate it if you could inform me if my license will work when I update it to the new version.

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

The only way for us to know that would be to look up your key, so please email [e-mail] and we can assist you.

[@TheGarth325]

I'm new to this and I appreciate the videos very much. I have an Xtool D1. My problem, one of many, is when I set the center point and frame it frames as I expect. But when I start the image it goes outside the area that is framed.

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

Are you framing with the beam of the laser or the x positioning tool?

[@TheGarth325]

@@lightburnsoftware7189 the x positioning tool

[@andyn333]

I had this problem and I had turned on the Offset position in the setting. Once I turned it off it went back to normal.

[@lucasmontec]

If I cancel a print, how to make it return to the starting position, if not absolute?

[@lightburnsoftware7598]

If you stop a run in progress, you would have to be working in Absolute Coords or User Origin mode. If you are using Current Position mode the only way would be to manually jog the laser head back to the same point before restarting.

[@andybuttz]

Did you remove the minimum power setting for the laser when drawing a line (cutting)? I'm having big issues since the last few updates where the laser is not cutting the wood all the way through and is now burning the surface quite badly. This was not an issue before but is now constantly ruining projects?

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

We did, because it is not used for GCode devices, and never has been. It was never supposed to be shown, and GCode systems have no way to use the Min Power value, so something else has changed.

[@Monztuh]

I have the Atomstack x7 pro that doesn't have limit switches. So if you have to manually move the head as well as turn off auto home, it sets the origin relative to the origin set in LB correct? Is that why when I would frame/start the laser moves all the way to the right and hits the frame? I start the laser with it all the way on the left so even then I don't see how it would hit the right gantry if my work piece isn't even that far from the left side

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

If your laser does not have limit switches, the location you power it on at is what it will assign as its origin. If you use absolute coordinates that is your origin. Now you can jog the laser head to where you want it in user origin mode and set the origin, or you can move the laser by hand in current position mode and when you hit start it will start at that location (make sure you set job origin correctly). If you are following what is in the video and it is going to the wrong corner it very well may be that the origin location is set incorrectly. This is typically front left for GRBL firmware. You set this under device settings.

[@LINCOLNLAVARCE]

sometimes when I start cutting with lightburn instead of it cutting it writes Lightburn, I have an ATOMSTACK S10 PRO machine

[@jurazzblady3008]

I choose "Start From: Current Position" but anyway I cant choose job origin, please help

[@s.c4235]

I have just buy the atomstack x7 pro does this have those limit switches or not? Thanks!

[@Monztuh]

No it does not. So like he said move the laser head to the front left before powering on machine as I did not know this and would constantly have it run out of bound since the origin is set once you turn the head on

[@EmpoweredPercussion]

My machine was down for 4 days and Light burn sent me your link. One button and it fixed my problem. Somehow my absolute coordinates changed when my laser head hit an object really hard in the bed. I recieved a margin slop error immediately after. Did my FL1390 sense the hit as a merging issue?

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

If the head of the laser hit an object really hard it is likely that it caused the stepper motor to skip steps. The absolute coordinates wouldn't have changed intentionally but due to the skipped steps, the position shifted.

[@EmpoweredPercussion]

@@lightburnsoftware7189 Ok, I better run a test to see if it can cut a perfect circle or square. If it doesnt do we count the teeth on the xy to make sure they are equal?

[@edwardpataroque5450]

My lightburn software has no "move" tab thherefore I cant use the fire button, please help how to enable the move tab. Thanks.

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

Click Window from the top menu and select Move. If it is already checked or still not visible then you will want to select "Reset to Default Layout" from the same menu.

[@englishwithmah]

What can we do when the laser is bumping on the axes? I've tried everything, but it didn't work

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

Does this laser have homing limit switches? If it is bumping the axes it could be a few things. I would make sure the work area size for the laser is set correctly under Device Settings. If you are using Absolute coordinates and the laser has limit switches you will need to home it before running the job (you can also enable auto home on start up). If there are no limit switches you will need to physically moved the laser to the front left corner before powering it on. The location the laser is when powered on in this case sets the origin. For User Origin or Current Position as long as your design is not bigger than your work area and you have the job positioning set correctly that is another option. Is this happening for all jobs? Even if you try to run something that is small? If you try the above and are still having issues reach out to our support team - [e-mail]

[@Vanessa-jd6tt]

Hello! Why does scupfun streaming my laser? It takes too long. I have work to do. Pls help

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

I am not sure what that means?

[@BitsndBobs]

When I use your software can I define how many passes to make when I hit the fire button? I generally need 3 or 4 passes to position my project perfectly.

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

Not yet, but that is coming.

[@gravadoraslaserbrasil]

​@@lightburnsoftware7189 still waiting :(

[@chrismartin5530]

is the fire button available for mac as well?

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

It’s available for all platforms, but it’s only visible for GCode based machines. If you have a DSP based CO2 system, it won’t appear.

[@kenholcomb3172]

Can any of you commentors give me a hand? Ive been searching the web, maybe I dont know how to ask the correct question. Whenever I use jog my laser, the machine moves opposite of my arrow keys. Also when I engrave out text, its always backwards and reversed, if that makes sense. Like if you were to write on the outside of a sheet of glass and then look at it backwards and from the other side. Any pointers?

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

docs.lightburnsoftware.com/Troubleshooting/JobQuality/MirroredOrBackwards.html

[@JohnBuitenhuis-yv8nb]

Hi Sculpfun users, I need help.......I have a sculpfun s30/5.5 machine. When i try to download the CH340 driver my security tells me it can't download due to a virus . Now what do i do??? Any help would be appreciated and now at a standstill.

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

Replied to your most recent comment but also pasting here in case you did not see that one: If you used this link then it would be a false flag and you may need to allow it past your virus detection: sparks.gogo.co.nz/ch340.html Alternatively you could try a different source. The CH340 driver is quite a common one.

[@JohnBuitenhuis-yv8nb]

@@lightburnsoftware7189 problem is resolved

[@ajmalsyed4348]

I like your videos And you doing good job, how can i draw a doted line in LightBurn 1.1.04?

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

Look at Perforation Mode in the Line settings. lightburnsoftware.github.io/NewDocs/CutSettings-Line.html#perforation-mode

[@ajmalsyed4348]

Thank you for reply

[@johndiego3105]

How about doing a foxalien 4040 xe setup.

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

We do have some documentation available for CNC machines running GRBL: lightburnsoftware.github.io/NewDocs/CommonGrblSetups.html If you go through the process and run into any issues reach out to our support at [e-mail].

[@cruz47144]

Didn't really understand absolute and current position. Why not just start all jobs with current position?

[@123hkopm123]

Absolute is navigating from the machines zero or origin. Current would be navigating from from the current position. In absolute if x axis is at 4" and you tell it to go to 4" it will not move. In current or incremental it if you told it to to go to 4" it would move 4" from its current position.

[@keithhupp5995]

I'm watching this before destroying anything

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

Always a good idea. Having a solid understanding of how these modes work will be very helpful moving forward.

[@goldylox5870]

I tried doing a test cut before researching and when I hit the start, it went straight to the limit switches in the opposite corner! 🙃

[@lebojay]

I’m watching it after.

[@upnorthFPVandEUC]

Im not seeing a "move" button

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

If the move tab is not visible you can enable it under the "Window" dropdown in the top toolbar. (Same toolbar that File/Edit is in)

[@smokest4k]

Clear videos but doesn't relate to anything my Sculpfun S9 does. Can't get it to remember the home position, couldn't get it to find the cutter without manually adding. Despite the first project design it still tries to cut it in the wrong place and go overlimit. Ran out of advice. Forum is very unspecific as my thread got taken over by someone with a different machine but I get a snotty warning for double posting whilst making another specific thread. Very unwelcoming. Some admins have such crap attitudes. Overall, trial ran out so now a paying customer and not really getting much in return, just generalisation.

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

The SculpFun S9 does not have limit switches or homing (unless you've added those) so absolute positioning is more difficult, but not impossible. We have a video that covers the S9 specifically here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIq3pomcjJiafM0

[@smokest4k]

@@lightburnsoftware7189 watched it several times. The recommended link to the drivers didn't work as shown. Had to rely on a link from another user on the LB forum. LB didn't find laser at all. Another user had to tell me how to fudge it. Now prescribed settings have it banging the extrusions every go and no cutting done. Will have to start again and try it on Win11 machine if it'll reach. Between drivers, LB and laser I reckon there's a problem.

[@casper1240]

help my letters are all backwards ??

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

he ‘Device Origin' setting, found in the menus under Edit => Device Settings , controls the orientation of what gets sent to your laser. If you have the origin for the device set incorrectly, your output will be mirrored or upside down when run.

[@casper1240]

@@lightburnsoftware7189 Thanks i think ive sorted it i must have inadvertently hit the reverse image on one of the top buttons seems ok now thanks

[@robdylan2541]

Gym motivation

[@yuchengguo2872]

Why does it has to be so complicated... it should be one of the most basic functions

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

If you use “Absolute Coords” it is not complicated at all - it goes on the laser where it is in LightBurn. The other modes are provided mostly for CO2 laser systems which make quite heavy use of the ability to easily reposition files stored in the controller.

[@Jer0867]

0:13 Absolute "cordinants"?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lightburnsoftware7189]

I see no typos, if that’s what you’re saying. What are you looking at? (Might be auto-generated subtitles)

[@ferenccsordas8292]

this lightburn is a joke...I know,if you are pro it is good and you dont feel like you are wasting your time BUT as an amateur I dont have 4 weeks to learn this "thing".Should be much more logical and simplier and user friendly.

[@cineminexdelta9518]

4 weeks? I installed lightburn today and in 10 minutes I got my first model engraved (got machine yesterday and saw everything from software and hardware for the first time). Then did some tests with speed and power, to find out settings that cut or engrave my wood properly. It's pretty logical, just test things. There are 5000 settings I don't understand so far, but learning them one by one in time will print projects better.

[@sarahbutcher6112]

I was up and using mine in a few hours. Seemed super simple to me 🤷‍♀️

[@ExtraFungus]

If you're going to use a laser, the mild learning curve of LightBurn is 100% worth it. It doesn't take 4 weeks. I learned after a use or two on RD works, I already knew everything I needed on LightBurn from day one coming from RD. So between the two, it was a couple hours at most figuring out how to ultimately run LightBurn.

[@casper1240]

I know what you mean m8 my letters are still backwards !!

[@Monztuh]

Try fixing your brain..