Batch Production
Once you've mastered the craft of making one thing really well, you're going to want to make many more of that thing really well. Use these tools to lay out copies of your design, or set your laser up for several runs in succession. If you're a small business owner with orders to fill, these features will help you scale up and expedite your production process.
Grid Array¶
The Grid Array tool creates copies of an object (or objects) in regularly spaced rows and columns, and includes options to adjust spacing, mirror the shapes, randomize orientation, and more.
It's one of the fastest tools you can use to duplicate your designs for batch production.
Virtual Array¶
When using the Grid Array tool, you can even toggle on an option to create a Virtual Array, which allows you to continue modifying your original design, and automatically apply the changes to virtual copies.
You can even adjust your original Grid Array parameters, or add new objects to the array.
Variable Text¶
You can use Variable Text to have LightBurn automatically substitute specially formatted expressions with alternate data when you output a project to your laser. LightBurn can substitute those special expressions for serial numbers, date/time stamps, or even your project's cut settings.
But one of the most powerful options is Merge/CSV formatting, which tells LightBurn to swap in entries from a spreadhsheet, making it extremely handy when you're batch-producing personalized products.
Barcodes and QR Codes¶
Create Bar Code generates a Bar Code which stores data that's visible when the Code is scanned. This tool offers a wide range of common Bar Code formats, including QR Codes.
You can even use Bar Codes in combination with Variable Text, so each successive code you engrave stores different data from the last.
Repeat Marking¶
Note
This feature is available for Galvo lasers only.
The Repeat Marking tool enables the use of a Rotating or Linear axis table with Galvo lasers, to move parts past a laser while running repetitions of identical jobs.
By specifying an Increment of movement as well as a desired number of repetitions, or Count, you can command your laser to mark a design, move an external axis by the specified increment, then run the project again, and repeat that process until it has completed the set number repetitions.
Print and Cut¶
Print and Cut aligns a current project to existing Target Positions — also called registration marks — in a previously output design.
Print and Cut works by measuring the difference in location, orientation, and scale between two Target Positions in your laser's physical work area and the positions of two corresponding graphics in your LightBurn Workspace.
You can use Print and Cut to align laser output to registration marks that were specially added to a file in order to use them as Target Positions later. In this case, the original file is intended to be printed by one device, and cut out (or around) by a laser later on.
Feeder Setup¶
Auto-feeders are conveyers that feed materials such as fabric or leather into a laser in stepped increments. The laser runs repetitions of the same engraving or cutting job between each increment.
Go to Laser Tools → Feeder Setup (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+F) to open the Auto-feed settings window, where you can set the parameters by which your auto-feeder will feed material into your laser, and the laser will run repeat jobs.
Note
Feeder Setup is only available for DSP lasers with Ruida or Trocen controllers.
Rotary Mode¶
Rotaries are used to turn cylindrical objects so that their surfaces can be marked by a laser. In order to use your laser with a rotary, you must first establish several important parameters in the Rotary Setup window that control the rotary's motion.
Info
If you're working with a tapered object, use the largest end of the taper for the object diameter.
To open Rotary Setup, go to Laser Tools → Rotary Setup (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+R), or click the rotary icon in the Modes Toolbar.
For more help using LightBurn, please visit our forum to talk with LightBurn staff and users, or email support.