Finding your way around Beam Bench

Find the controls

1. Open workspace-tour.lzrproj. The grid represents the workspace; later Start From determines how artwork is placed for a job.
2. Find drawing tools on the left and Layers, Properties and Outliner in the panels. Design shows drawing tools; Run shows job and machine controls. Switching workspace does not start a job.
3. On macOS, use Beam Bench > About Beam Bench. On Windows/Linux, look under Help. Record the version before reporting a problem.
4. Open Preferences on macOS, or Edit > Settings on Windows/Linux. Cmd + comma or Ctrl + comma opens it. Record current preferences before an optional change.
5. Units and Grid contains Display Unit and speed units. The course uses millimeters. Per-second and per-minute speeds differ by a factor of 60.
6. Under General, inspect Check for updates on startup. Save work and finish any job before installing an offered update.

Arrange and restore

1. Find Layers, Text and Run without changing artwork.
2. Drag a panel tab to dock it at an available edge, or onto the canvas to float it. Work in your practice layout.
3. Use F12 to hide and restore side panels. On keyboards that use media keys, the function-key modifier may be needed.
4. Use Window to reopen an individual panel. Reset to Default Layout restores the default arrangement.
5. Choose a display theme if useful, then Save only the preference changes you want. A saved project does not restore all app preferences.
6. Return to Design and save exercise artwork separately if changed.

• Where did you find the version?
• Which command restores a missing panel, and which resets the layout?

Quick reference

Workspace

Design is for artwork editing. Run is for placement, Preview and job controls.

Units

20 mm/s equals 1200 mm/min. Check the unit alongside every speed.

Preferences

Record existing values and restore them if the trial change is not useful.

Panel visibility

F12 toggles side panels; Window contains individual panel controls and the default layout reset.

• Version and operating system:
• Preferred display and speed units:
• Preference/layout changes to keep or restore:

Files and comparisons

A tour of Beam Bench

Folder a-tour-of-beam-bench. workspace-tour.lzrproj. Keep this chapter's inputs and comparisons together.

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