YOUR FIRST DAY WITH RETINA ENGRAVE 3

[@rdrewachong9965]

Really appreciated your video. It was a lot easier to follow than the one from FS I've been watching! We just unboxed our Muse Titan, and are still putting it together. We can't wait to fire it up and make our first project! Thanks again for the great video!

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Happy to help. The Titan is a fun machine.

[@annieprovenzano5098]

I just got my Muse Core and found this sooooo very helpful! Thank you. I am not computer illiterate, but also found there to be some basic things lacking. I appreciate you filling in some blanks!

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Hi Annie. Glad this was useful 😀. Make sure to subscribe and stick around for more videos. I try to do at least one video every week.

[@briancann1513]

Are you connecting the laser and computer to your home wifi? Or, is it a wireless connection generated from the laser to the computer? Can it be used in an area with no wifi, is what I'm asking, I guess? Thank you

[@SteveMakesEverything]

My Muse is connected to the wifi in my workshop, though most people probably don't have shop wifi so in that case there is also an ethernet port built into the laser and you can just run a cable. If you have something like a Glowforge then you must be connected to the network to do anything; however, with a Muse you only need to be connected to get software updates to the laser. Connection is recomended though since you never know when updates are going to get pushed.

[@wparker8258]

Very helpful info for us laser newbies. Your videos remind me of the old "Missing Manual" series of books that used to be written for software applications explaining how to get through things that weren't covered sufficiently in the official reference material. FSL's documentation on RE3 is incredibly weak - I have 30 years of experience in desktop publishing, graphic applications, RIPs, digital printing, etc. and I find myself getting frustrated trying to get up to speed with RE3.

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Well I have spent much of my life in the tech world so I can sympathize with bad documentation :-)

[@sallyann-nicolemiller5625]

Thanks, Steve! You have been so helpful! Looking forward to the next! Nicole

[@SteveMakesEverything]

More on the way

[@swtmommy]

Thanks so much for the video!

[@SteveMakesEverything]

My pleasure!

[@Bekkis4boys]

Hello! Thanks for the great video! I do not have all the options for materials that you have. Is there somewhere I can download those to import into my program? Thanks!

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Well you can certainly create these yourself, but I did a couple of material settings videos you should watch. In the description you can download a settings file for FSL lasers. You'll have to tweak it for your particular laser but it's a good place to start. If you have a laser that uses Lightburn a Google search will provide a wealth of similar profiles for pretty much every laser/power

[@Bekkis4boys]

@@SteveMakesEverything Okay awesome, thank you for the quick reply! I will look through more of your videos. I have a Muse 3D with riser and rotary. I watched several videos (including a few of yours) before making my purchase. Just got it set up yesterday and appreciate all the work you have put into these tutorials!

[@valeriaavellaneda9077]

I love your videos ... do you think you can do a video about alignment of mirrors.. thank you

[@SteveMakesEverything]

😀 Welcome to the channel. I actually did an alignment video recently - check it out (kzbin.info/www/bejne/qniyp2SOgqubhLc)

[@larryeber]

Thanks Steve for the great video!

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@whynotcnc8828]

great job

[@tombuiak5255]

Hi Steve - Really appreciate your informative videos. I need some assistance, please. I recently got the Muse Full Spectrum Laser. However, I have not successfully made anything yet. I've just learned how to convert a file to vector format. Now I need to know how to choose the correct settings in order to move ahead. If I'm not mistaken, the vector is for cutting and the raster is for engraving. Do you already have a video that covers the settings? Thanks...Tom

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Yes you can find a couple of videos I did earlier this year on material settings, including one that will let you import my settings for vector cutting, so you have a starting point (you'll probably have to adjust these for your own laser). The actual settings you use will depend very much on what material you are working with. My settings library has settings for most of the common materials. Since your laser is new you might also want to quickly check the alignment to make sure it didn't get roughed up in shipping. If the alignment is out, it will just frustrate you to cut anything. Start experimenting with cardboard using low power (~30%) and maybe 80% speed. If your cuts aren't getting through you can increase the power/current or decrease the speed. Keep in mind that cardboard is flammable so definitely start from the low end of power and work your way up. A good cut is one that goes all the way through the material without causing significant charring.

[@dustin9258]

Is there a way to have part of the image raster only and part vector only? Instead of rastering everything then vectoring afterwards.

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Hmm, this would be a pretty big challenge if you wanted to do this in RE3.

[@coreyflannagin3698]

So....why did you do the Factory Reset 1:23 ??? seems like you kind of started that fact but then left it to describe the wifi? or did I miss the reason?

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Ah sorry, this is a bit misleading. All I was trying to do is get my laser to the same state that it would be for a new user who just took their laser out of the box. This way you can see the network setup from start to finish.

[@coreyflannagin3698]

@@SteveMakesEverything Oh ok. Thanks for that

[@coalakida]

Do you have to get up to go to the Machine to Start it ? Is there anything to set the Laser to a Precision cut where the laser it super fine ? Seem like with the Auto Focus Camera might be able to get away with a Switch bot to press the button maybe > Thanks for a great video and the time.

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Hi Coal. On a Muse (and many other lasers) there is no need to push the button. You can start a job from any device that is equipped with a browser. Assuming you laser is already powered on and the material is loaded, you can use the Retina Engrave software form any browser to load and layout your design and then start the job. There is no precision setting for cutting - laser are just precise all the time. For raster engraving something like an image, you can control the dots/inch to control the detail and engrave times.

[@brianvarey3488]

Hi Steve I am interested in a Muse.Just wondering if Lightburn can be used with this laser. I ask because i have experience with it and my Boss LS1630 and it is very easy to use. Thanks

[@SteveMakesEverything]

The Muse does not support Lightburn unfortunately. I’ve been asking FSL for it in addition to their RE3 resident software

[@brianvarey3488]

@@SteveMakesEverything Too bad..........thanks Steve keep pushing them and maybe one day they will.

[@guilouie]

Hey Steve I just assembled my Muse but I cannot see any water flowing between the tubes, what do you think.?

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Well I'm not FSL support. 😉. But here are a couple of things to check. First make sure you hear the pump running (you can manually turn it on from the front panel. Assuming that's the working, make sure you have the output of the pump connected to the input of the laser. Assuming those things as correct pull the pump output from the laser and put it in a bucket and turn the pump on the make sure it's actually pumping water.

[@guilouie]

@@SteveMakesEverything Your the man Steve keep up the good work for us Newbies.!

[@SteveMakesEverything]

@@guilouie Let me know if this solves your problem

[@guilouie]

@@SteveMakesEverything You we’re right the water is flowing, one thing I find odd is there is no power on/off switch I have to unplug it.

[@SteveMakesEverything]

@@guilouie What I did was to put the laser, the Coolbox and my external inline exhaust fan on a power bar and just use one master switch to shut everything off. There's no "Off" switch on the coolbox because they don't want you turning off the pump while the laser is running. Your laser tube won't run very long without cooling. BTW there is a water flow indicator on the laser display and in the bottom right of RE3 which if Green indicates that water flow is OK.

[@emilycox5187]

i have the 3d muse, got it set up yesterday. It wont home, I HATE the retina software and I am becoming SUPER defeated. when i type in the IP address in google chrome it does not take me to the retina website. it turns on and thats it :( HEEEEEELP

[@SteveMakesEverything]

We’ll get through it. 😀 shoot me an email to my address in the description an I’ll give you a hand

[@PedroValejo]

Do you know how to change file location/destination for "exporting project to file" in RE3

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Hmm you should be able to select this when you export since this is done on your computer rather than the laser. Unfortunately my Muse 3D is in storage because I needed the shop space

[@anapaularochaschweitzer9901]

Hello! Okay! I am finally trying to use retina Engrave and I used it on my browser through Wi-Fi! But I can only use it with the machine on? It is taking a while for me to figure the software out and I honestly don’t like to keep the machine on while I am taking so long to learn the software. Is there a way to keep using retina engrave with the machine off? Would I have to install the software file in my computer? I was reading I need an account and number but I haven’t received anything or any paper inside the box. Thank you again for your help! It seems so difficult but I know I will get the hand of it! 😊

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Well, here's a tip. FSL provides an RE3 simulator on their site (under software). It is fully functional except for the actual cut so you can do your layouts on the simulator, save the project, and then load it into your own laser when you're ready.

[@SteveMakesEverything]

FWIW I share your complaint, but the alternative is to do what Glowforge did and lock you in the their cloud experience. Always trade-offs. I would love if FSL provided at least some interface to Lightburn for power users. In addition to extra capability you the something you can run on your own computer rather than relying on the laser to be powered or for something to be running in the cloud..

[@anapaularochaschweitzer9901]

Thank you!!! I didn’t know that!!

[@PedroValejo]

Mine seems to be defaulted to Downloads File

[@kurtanp]

A nice leg up!

[@SteveMakesEverything]

The second day video will follow soon.

[@kurtanp]

@@SteveMakesEverything I've been spending a lot of time busting up large lamp shade files into separate layers in illustrator with an art board sized for the laser bed. With Multi vaned lampshades, you can only cut a few vanes at a time.

[@SteveMakesEverything]

Sounds like you’re ready for a Pro-series laser with a much bigger workspace 😜

[@kurtanp]

@@SteveMakesEverything my wallet isn't!

[@SteveMakesEverything]

@@kurtanp I feel your pain 💰