Frame and preview
Check the planned output and verify physical placement before starting.
Preview and framing check different parts of a job. Preview shows the plan; framing moves the machine around its planned bounds. Both depend on correct profile and placement settings.
Preview first
- Open Preview with
Alt+Por Window > Preview. - Inspect the complete planned output. A newly loaded preview starts at the completed view; return to the beginning and press Play to watch it.
- Check geometry, processing order, travel, and raster overscan.
- Resolve blocking findings. Use Refresh when the preview becomes stale after edits.
Bounds messages offer recovery appropriate to Absolute Coords, Current Position, or User Origin. Raster quality advisories may offer overscan or speed adjustments. Missing geometry and invalid placement remain blocking.
Preview is a simulation. It cannot prove that controller settings, material placement, or physical machine behavior match the plan.
Frame the job
- Set the intended Start From and Job Origin in Run > Laser Control.
- Place and secure the material, keeping the planned travel clear of fixtures.
- Use Box for rectangular bounds or Outline for the tighter outer boundary.
- Click Frame and watch the entire pass.
- Correct placement and frame again if the result is wrong.
Normal framing keeps the laser off. Laser-on framing is a separate, confirmed low-power action. Follow the machine's enclosure and eye-protection requirements even at low power.
The app checks the complete framing motion against the active machine profile. Current Position needs a fresh head position; User Origin needs a saved origin. Unhomed relative GRBL jobs require a completed frame before Start.
Some controllers, including the original xTool M1 adapter, do not expose framing. Follow their compatibility guidance rather than expecting a Frame button.