How your laser and Beam Bench work

From artwork to the machine

1. Beam Bench prepares paths, speed and power commands. The controller interprets them. Record its family and supported connection method from the machine documentation.
2. Record optical output separately from electrical input. Leave unknown specifications marked unknown. A twenty-watt optical rating is not the power supply rating.
3. A Power percentage is a command within the configured range. It does not measure the optical power reaching the work.
4. Line follows outlines. Cutting and scoring describe intended results using suitable Line settings. Cut and Score are not Mode choices.
5. Fill covers closed vector areas. Image processes the tones of a bitmap. An imported SVG or PDF can contain either or both.
6. Focus, wavelength and the identified material affect the result. Preview checks the planned paths and time, not material suitability or finished darkness.

Compare a vector and bitmap

Start a New project and import vector-sample.svg and owl-illustration.png. Keep both visible. Select each separately and inspect Properties, then compare artwork-demo.lzrproj.

• Find VECTOR on the tag and IMAGE on the owl. Inspect the actual layer and operation for each.
• Zoom into the vector curve. Enlarging the bitmap cannot add source detail. Keep the original image available.
• Save a separate copy. Treat name-tag-finished.lzrproj as another saved design example.

• Which artwork supplies a cutting outline?
• Which modes match a scored line, a filled name and the tonal owl?
• What controller and optical-output details are still unknown for your setup?

Explained answers and setup record

Cutting outline

The vector tag supplies paths. A bitmap requires a separate vector outline for an outline cut.

Process choices

Line for a scored or cut path, Fill for a closed filled name, Image for the tonal owl. Settings determine the intended effect.

Setup evidence

Record exact laser/module, optical output, controller family, supported connection method and required driver. Keep unverified details unknown.

• Laser/module and optical output, with documentation source:
• Controller, connection method and matching driver:
• Material, preparation and intended effect:
• Unresolved details before any later operation:

Files and comparisons

Vector and bitmap

Folder vector-and-bitmap. artwork-demo.lzrproj, owl-illustration.png, vector-sample.svg. Keep this chapter's inputs and comparisons together.

What Beam Bench does

Folder what-beam-bench-does. name-tag-finished.lzrproj. Keep this chapter's inputs and comparisons together.

Use the comparison after your attempt. Check the specified dimensions, settings and object structure.