Beam Bench Docs
GuidesHardware setup

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, max power, 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 mm: bed width.
  • Height mm: bed height.
  • Max Speed: your machine's safe max in mm/min.
  • Max Power %: usually 100, unless you want a software-level limit.
  • 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 to make this profile the one new jobs use.

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 something mechanical (new motor, new pulley, new laser tube), update steps/mm via GRBL Settings tab and click Apply to Active Profile.
  • You moved the machine to a different surface and now bed dimensions changed, update Width / Height.
  • Your firmware changed, update S-value Max if $30 changed.

Hardware setup

Set up your physical laser for the first time, then keep it dialed in.

Workspace and origin

Confirm your bed dimensions and which corner is workspace origin. Get this right once and every job lines up.

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