Material library
In the Laser → Material library … menu you choose task (cutting or engraving), material and thickness. You also enter your laser's optical power (listed in the laser's data, for example 5, 10 or 20 W; this is not the electrical power).
The app then shows starting values for power, speed and passes. They apply to a 10 W diode laser and are converted for your power: cutting with fewer or more passes at the same speed, engraving with faster or slower speed at the same power.
Create as profile turns them into a laser profile. Test grid around these values … opens the test grid around the starting values.
Important: these are starting values, not a guarantee. Focus, optics, power supply and material vary widely. Always check them with a test grid or a scrap piece.
Shared settings
Below the starting values you see what other users have burned with their laser for this material and task. Each entry names the laser, its power, the thickness and the values, often with a short note. Settings with the same thickness and similar laser power come first.
- Use as profile creates a laser profile with these values.
- Thumbs up or down tells others whether the settings worked for you. Every account has one vote; a second click takes it back.
- Share my settings opens a small form. It is filled with the starting values; with "Values from profile" you take the values of a profile from your project. Add your laser, for example "TwoTrees TS2 10 W".
Shared settings are visible to everyone right away. Report (the flag) settings that are wrong, dangerous or have an inappropriate note; after three reports they are hidden until we have checked them. Your name is only shown if you tick Show my name with these settings when sharing. Signed-in users then see the first and last name from your account, never your email address. Hide name on the entry withdraws this at any time. Withdraw removes your own settings again. Shared settings are only a starting point too: burn a test grid first.
Never put these under the laser
At the bottom of the window is the list of materials you must not laser, with the reason: PVC and vinyl (chlorine), chrome leather, Teflon, ABS, polycarbonate, carbon and glass fibre materials.
Test grid
The test grid (menu Laser → Test grid …) burns a grid of squares: more power upwards, more speed to the right. The values are written as digits at the edge.
- Choose Engraving (each square is filled) or Cutting (each square is traced, with selectable passes when cutting).
- Set columns, rows, speed and power ranges and the square size. The preview shows the result.
- Load test grid and laser … opens the laser assistant with the test grid as the program.
- After burning: which square looks best (when cutting: which one is through, at the fastest speed)? Tap it in the preview and choose Keep as profile.
The test grid stays in the window until you change it.
Calibrate burn depth: the 3D view calculates how deep the laser burns: from your laser's power (Set up machine), power in percent, speed, beam spot or line spacing, passes and the project's material. Every laser burns a little differently. So measure the depth of one burned field once, for example with the depth rod of a caliper, enter it under Measured depth and choose Calibrate. The calibration applies to the selected machine and all laser profiles of the project. The Laser → Laser profiles … window then shows the burn depth of each profile, and when cutting the app warns beforehand if a cut will probably not go through.