Beam Bench Docs

Machine profiles

Create a profile that matches your machine. Switch between profiles when you have more than one.

A machine profile is Beam Bench's record of one specific physical machine: bed size, max speed, manual-fire power ceiling, baud rate, origin direction, output policy, calibration data. Every connection picks a profile; every job uses the active profile's settings.

If you have one machine, you have one profile. If you have two (e.g. a diode and a CO2), you have two and you switch when you swap machines.

What you need

  • The machine connected (or at least known specs).
  • A few minutes.

Steps

1. Open Device Settings

2. Create a new profile

  • Click New in the left column.
  • A blank profile appears with default values.

3. Fill in the basics

  • Name: descriptive (e.g. "Sculpfun S30 Pro", "OMTech 60W").
  • Width: bed width. The profile stores millimeters; the field follows the current display unit.
  • Height: bed height. The profile stores millimeters; the field follows the current display unit.
  • Max Speed: your machine's safe maximum. The profile stores mm/min; the field follows the current display and speed-time units.
  • Max Power %: caps manual Fire-button power only. It does not cap layer power or planned job output.
  • Baud Rate: usually 115200 for GRBL.
  • Origin: Bottom Left (most diode and gantry) or Top Left (some CO2).
  • Notes: anything you want to remember.

4. Set Output Policy

Below the basics, expand the Output Policy section. The most important fields:

  • Constant Power (M3) vs dynamic (M4). For laser engraving on a GRBL machine, dynamic (M4, $32=1 in the firmware) is usually right.
  • S-value Max: should match your firmware's $30. If $30=1000, set this to 1000.
  • Air On / Off G-code: if your machine controls air assist via a specific M-code. Defaults work for most.

5. Save and activate

  • Click Save in the bottom right.
  • Click Set Active. This immediately makes the profile active for output and binds any open project to its machine and workspace settings; it also becomes the default for future work.

6. Connect using the new profile

  • Switch to the Connection tab.
  • Select your port and the new profile.
  • Click Connect.
  • Verify in Laser Control that the status is Connected and Ready.

Verify it worked

  • Laser Control shows the new profile's name in the devices row.
  • Jogging behaves as expected for the bed size you set.
  • The Console shows the GRBL welcome message on connect.

Switching between profiles

  • Open Device Settings → Profiles.
  • Click the profile you want to switch to.
  • Click Set Active.
  • Reconnect to the machine using the new profile.

When to edit an existing profile

  • You changed the drive train (motor, pulley, belt, or leadscrew): recalculate and write the steps/mm values in the GRBL Settings tab. The controller stores them in EEPROM; verify measured travel with the Steps per millimeter guide. They are not copied by Apply to Active Profile.
  • You changed the usable bed dimensions: update Width / Height.
  • Your firmware changed: update S-value Max if $30 changed.

On this page

What you needSteps1. Open Device Settings2. Create a new profile3. Fill in the basics4. Set Output Policy5. Save and activate6. Connect using the new profileVerify it workedSwitching between profilesWhen to edit an existing profileRelated