The EM-Smart Dual, when paired with LightBurn, is an excellent tool for hobbyists and small business owners. With no additional purchases required, you can start engraving right away by connecting EM-Smart Dual and LightBurn software in the right way, making it a cost-effective and convenient choice. However, if you’re not familiar with setting up the EM-Smart Dual desktop laser engraver in LightBurn, you could be missing out on powerful features that enhance engraving quality. To help you get the best results, here are five expert tips for optimizing your setup.
Trick 1: Material Testing
This works well for beginners, as material testing can help determine optimal engraving and cutting settings. However, if you are familiar with the machine and the material you are going to work with, this tip can be neglected. Another situation where this is useful is when you need to calibrate the machine.
The step-by-step guide for material testing has been shown below.
Step 1: Open the Material Testing Tools
Click to expand the "Laser tools" bar and find the "Material Test" option. Then modify the sub-layer name into the selected material.
Step 2: Set the Parameters
Set an appropriate size of the testing grid by adjusting the number of rows and columns. Tick parameters you are going to test, like power, speed, frequency, interval, and so on.
Step 3: Choose Testing Range
The material decides the range of the testing number. For example, when testing on wood, you can set the power range between 5% and 35% and the speed between 5,000 and 7,000 mm/s.
Step 4: Preview & Start the Test
Preview the test grid first to ensure its configuration is correct. Then, click "Start" to begin engraving. Next, the EM-Smart Dual will engrave a testing grid according to the parameters you have set. Once this process is completed, you may need to analyze the engraving result to find the most appropriate parameter settings.
Trick 2: Image Tracing Mode
The "Trace Image" is another powerful tool for laser engraving, as it can convert images into vector files, tracing the picture and adjusting the engraving mode, making detailed engraving more precise.
Here are three situations where you may use this function. One common use case is image engraving, where you need to convert complex images into a compatible format. Another is image optimization, as by adjusting contrast, brightness, and gamma (γ) settings, you can enhance the engraving effect for better results. Lastly, this function helps adapt images for different materials, such as wood and acrylic, ensuring the engraving effect is as precise and ideal as possible.
Now that the main uses of the 'Trace Image' function have been discussed above, let's look at the steps involved in using it effectively.
Step 1: Import Image
Click the 'File' button in the top left corner of the LightBurn interface, then import the picture you want to laser engrave.
Step 2: Set Image Position and Size
Adjust the size and placement within the work area to make sure the image is aligned with your material size.
Step 3: Trace Image
To locate the "Trace Image" button, first open the 'Tools' menu in the toolbar, and you'll find the function you're looking for in the expanded options. In fact, the simplest way is to right-click the image, and you'll see the option. After selecting this option, the next step is to modify the threshold and cutoff values to optimize the vector for the best effect. By the way, you can also observe the vector effect in real time using the "Preview" function. When you're satisfied with the result, just click the 'OK' button to get the targeted vector.
Step 4: Parameter Settings
Once everything is properly prepared, you'll need to set the right parameters that correspond to your material. There is no universal standard for these parameters, so the values we provide here are just for reference. For diode laser cutting on wood, you can set the power to 60%, the speed to 500 mm/s, and choose the '3D Sliced' mode. For laser engraving on wood, 12% power is sufficient, and to avoid blurring, it's better to set the speed to 2000 mm/s.
After setting all the parameters and reviewing the preview, click the 'Frame' button to check the laser engraving path. If everything looks good, you can proceed to start the engraving.
Trick 3: Image Adjustment
This process is slightly different for image tracing. You may also need to right-click the image you've imported and select the 'Adjust Image' option. This is mainly used for adjusting the contrast and brightness of the image to optimize it and achieve the best effect.
Trick 4: Laser Cleaning
It works by removing surface carbonization using low power (typically 10%-20% of the cutting power) and high scanning speed (2000-5000 mm/s) to prevent heat damage to the base material. How does it work? It's based on the sub-layer cutting: by setting the correct sub-layer cutting orders. For this, you can start by completing the main engraving, followed by laser cutting.
Noted that fiber is preferred to be used in completing the last laser cleaning work.
Trick 5: Cutting Optimization
For enhancing the cutting efficiency and quality, the cutting optimization is vital. So what should you do to optimize it? There are mainly these steps.
Step 1: Open the Optimization Settings Window
In the Laser window of LightBurn, click the "Optimization Settings" button.
Step 2: Enable Optimization
Ensure that the "Optimize Cut Path" toggle is turned on.
Step 3: Set Cutting Order
Choose an appropriate sorting method, such as "Sort by Layer," "Sort by Group," or "Sort by Priority," based on your needs.
Step 4: Adjust Optimization Options
Enable specific optimization options according to your requirements.
Step 5: Preview Cutting Path
Use the preview window to check the optimized cutting path and estimated cut time.
Step 6: Execute Cutting
Once satisfied with the preview, you can click the "Start" button to begin cutting.
Note: Features like gap hiding, minimizing direction changes, selecting the best starting point, and removing overlapping lines are enabled by default, so there is no need for manual activation.
Mastering these five pro tips will not only save time but also improve your cutting precision. Holding the firm belief that incorporating them into your workflow can make a significant difference in your final results.