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.

For an ACMER S2, start with the built-in ACMER S2 (4W / 7W / 12W / 20W) preset. It supplies the 300 by 300 mm workspace and standard GRBL connection defaults, which you can verify against your machine.

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.

When you connect with Generic GRBL, Beam Bench reads $130 and $131 from the controller and uses that reported X and Y travel in place of the generic placeholder workspace. The controller values must match the machine's real usable travel.

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.

Remembered connections and portable profiles

Each profile remembers its last successful serial or network connection and selected controller. Switching profiles or restarting restores those choices without connecting automatically. Discovery-created profiles retain the endpoint that identified the device.

A pasted network endpoint can include its port, including bracketed IPv6 addresses. Check the parsed host and port before connecting.

Portable profile exports omit local connection addresses and ports. Set those on the destination computer. Presets also exist for supported LaserPecker models and the original xTool M1; choose the matching adapter and read its compatibility limits.

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 profilesRemembered connections and portable profilesWhen to edit an existing profileRelated