Build a material library
Save settings you verified on your own machine, then apply compatible values to future layers.
The Material Library stores tested speed, power, passes, and compatible raster or vector settings for a material. Presets are machine-specific references, not universal recipes. The edit form has no focus/Z field; record focus separately in the preset Notes, machine profile Notes, or your own material records.
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 docked lower-right by default.
- 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:
- Select the layer whose primary entry contains the settings you tested.
- Click From Layer. Beam Bench immediately creates a preset row from that entry; it does not open the editor.
- Click E on the new row to edit its descriptive fields.
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, or Offset Fill for new presets. An existing preset with another operation keeps that option while edited.
- 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.
The editor does not provide a separate interval/DPI or focus/Z field. To capture interval and other compatible raster settings, configure a layer first and use From Layer.
4. Save
Click Save. Enter explicit positive values: a blank or zero Power % is stored as 50, and a blank or zero Passes value is stored as 1. Passes is otherwise stored as entered rather than rounded or clamped by this form.
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
- Select the target layer in the Cuts/Layers panel.
- Find the preset in the Material Library.
- Click + on the preset row.
Apply keeps the target primary entry's operation. It copies speed, power, passes, and only the raster or vector fields compatible with that operation. On a layer with multiple entries, only the primary entry is updated and Beam Bench shows a warning.
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
- Export writes the library to JSON.
- Import reads that JSON.
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
- The preset records enough context to identify what was actually tested.
- Applying it updates the selected layer's compatible primary-entry settings without changing its operation.
- You can reproduce the result on scrap before relying on it for a job.