Beam Bench Docs

Build a material library

Material recipes, LightBurn import and kerf compensation

A preset stores a complete recipe of up to 11 ordered sublayers.

What you need

  • Settings calibrated on scrap for the exact machine, material, batch, and intended operation.
  • A useful name plus the material and thickness information you want to keep.

Steps

1. Open the Material Library panel

  • The Material Library panel is available from Window or the Library drawer.
  • If it is hidden, open it from the Window menu.

2. Create a preset row

Two ways to start:

From scratch:

  • Click + Add. Beam Bench immediately creates a default New Preset row; it does not open the editor.
  • Click E on that row to edit it.

From an existing layer:

A preset stores a complete recipe of up to 11 ordered sublayers. Configure a layer, select it, then use From Layer. This captures operations, min/max power, passes, air assist, Z offset, kerf and advanced vector/raster settings. Use E to name the saved row.

3. Fill in the details

  • Name: a descriptive identifier.
  • Material: the material type.
  • Thickness: shown in the current Display Unit and stored internally in millimeters.
  • Operation: Line / Fill / Offset Fill / Image.
  • Speed: shown in the current display and speed-time units.
  • Power % and Passes: use values verified on scrap.
  • Notes: machine, lens, batch, focus procedure, air assist, or other context needed to reproduce the test.

Basic edits change the first sublayer while preserving compatible advanced settings and the rest of the recipe. Changing its operation resets incompatible settings. Image is also available. For advanced edits, apply the recipe to a layer, edit it there, then capture it again.

4. Save

Click Save. Power % sets maximum power from 0 to 100, including zero. Minimum power is retained; review it in the layer controls. Blank or invalid power keeps the saved value. Use positive whole numbers for passes. A thickness of 0 means unspecified.

5. Repeat by material, batch, and operation

Keep separate presets when the tested result changes with material thickness, surface finish, batch, lens, machine, or operation. Choose every starting range from manufacturer guidance or a prior known-safe calibration; do not assume that full power and slow speed are safe cutting defaults.

6. Apply a preset to a layer

  1. Select the target layer in the Cuts/Layers panel.
  2. Find the preset in the Material Library.
  3. Click + on the preset row.

Apply with + to replace the selected layer's complete stack. Undo restores the previous stack. Tool layers cannot accept presets.

Legacy JSON presets without a recipe still update only compatible settings on the first sublayer. They keep its operation and the remaining sublayers, with a warning for multiple entries.

Naming convention

A consistent name makes the library easier to scan. For example:

<material> <thickness>, <operation>, <machine>

Keep the name concise and put calibration context in Notes.

Sharing presets

Import accepts Beam Bench JSON and LightBurn .clb libraries. .clb: Review converted recipes and skipped entries, expand each recipe to inspect its sublayers, then import or cancel. Export writes JSON. LightBurn speed converts from mm/s to mm/min by multiplying by 60.

LightBurn base settings and sublayers stay together. If one sublayer is unsupported or invalid, the whole recipe is skipped. Unknown operations and Image modes such as 3D Slice are unsupported. Enabled percentage overscan uses 2.5 mm and needs review. Controller-specific settings are not fully converted; original XML remains in Notes. Check every imported setting and calibrate on scrap for your machine.

Imported or shared settings are reference values only. Recalibrate them on scrap for your machine, material batch, lens, and safety limits before using them on a real job.

Recalibration triggers

Re-test and update the preset when:

  • The machine, lens, tube, module, optics, or motion system changes.
  • A new material batch or surface treatment behaves differently.
  • Focus, air assist, ventilation, or the intended result changes.
  • Cut or engraving quality begins to drift.

Verify it worked

Apply with + to replace the selected layer's complete stack. Undo restores the previous stack. Tool layers cannot accept presets.

LightBurn .clb

On this page

What you needSteps1. Open the Material Library panel2. Create a preset row3. Fill in the details4. Save5. Repeat by material, batch, and operation6. Apply a preset to a layerNaming conventionSharing presetsRecalibration triggersVerify it workedRelated