Output is too light

You see

The job ran end-to-end but:

• Engraving is faint, hard to read, or barely visible.
• A cut did not separate the part from the surrounding material.
• A fill looks washed out.

What is happening

The total energy delivered to the material is too low. Energy = power × time-per-area. Increase one (or decrease speed) to add energy.

Fix

If you can see the laser is firing

It is firing, just not enough. Options in increasing impact:

1. Decrease speed. Slower head = more dwell per area = more energy.
2. Increase power. Self-explanatory.
3. Add a pass. Multiple passes accumulate energy without changing single-pass parameters.

Adjust in small steps (10-20%) and re-test on scrap.

If the laser is not firing (or firing intermittently)

• Check the laser is enabled in Laser Control (some machines have a hardware enable).
• Check $30 in GRBL matches Beam Bench's S-value Max in Device Settings.
• Check $32=1 (laser mode), without it, power may not modulate correctly.
• Verify with a manual pulse in the Console panel:

  M3 S1000
  G1 X1 F100
  M5

  Should produce a strong burn line.

If only some parts are faint

The faint parts may be on a different layer with different settings. Check the Cuts/Layers panel, each layer has its own power / speed.

If focus is off

Out-of-focus burns are wider but lighter. Run a focus test to verify focal point matches material height.

If the lens / mirrors are dirty

A dirty lens significantly reduces power delivered. Clean per your laser's instructions (typically alcohol and a lint-free swab, with the laser off and unplugged).

Verify it worked

• Test burn on scrap reaches expected darkness / cut depth.
• Save the working settings to the Material Library so this does not happen again.

Still stuck?

• Material test grid guide.
• Focus test guide.
• Post in the Facebook group with the material, settings, and a photo of the result.