Manually adding a Laser in Lightburn

How to Manually Add a Laser Machine To Lightburn

If you want to add a laser that isn't connected to your computer or is linked through a network, you can do it manually.

1. Open the Devices Window: Click the Devices button in the Laser window to access the Devices window.
   
   
   
   
   

2. Create Device: Click the Create Manually button.

   
   

   

    

   Choose Device Type:
   LightBurn will open the New Device Wizard. You'll see a list of supported controllers for your version of LightBurn. Choose the one that matches your laser's controller or firmware and click Next. If you don’t have a device yet, select No Machine to continue using the software.

    

   

   
   The Custom GCode device type, added in LightBurn 1.5, lets you create templates for GCode. This isn’t necessary for most users but is useful if you have a custom machine with non-standard GCode. Refer to Custom GCode for more information.

    

    

3. Select Connection Type:
   Next, choose how you will connect to your laser. Your choices depend on the connection methods supported by your controller and LightBurn. The most common connection is Serial/USB, but some controllers also support Ethernet (including Wi-Fi and wired). Choose your preferred connection and click Next.
   
   
   

4. Name and Set Work Area Size:
   You can name your laser, which is helpful if you have multiple lasers. Set the size of the work area so LightBurn can prevent tasks from going outside this limit. If you don’t know the exact size, you can change it later in the Device Settings.
   
   
   
   
   

5. Set Laser Origin and Homing:
   The origin is the 'zero' point of your X & Y axes. If set incorrectly, you can change it in Device Settings later. This setting also affects how your laser outputs its work.

   • If you have a GCode-based controller (like GRBL or Marlin), the origin is usually in the front-left corner. You have the option to send a homing command when connecting. If your laser lacks homing switches, leave this option off.

   • For DSP controllers (like Ruida), the origin is where the laser head seeks when powered on. DSP controllers will automatically home at startup, so you won't see the homing option.
     
     
     
     
     

6. Review Your Settings:
   The last page shows a summary of your choices. You can go back and make any changes if needed, or click Finish to create the new device entry.