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      Adding Tabs in LightBurn

      Prevent Cut Objects from Falling Out with Tabs

      Tabs are small uncut sections in a design that prevent objects from falling out of the base material during laser cutting. Tabs can be manually placed or automatically generated by LightBurn, ensuring stability while allowing easy removal after cutting.

      Ref-AddTabs-TabExample

      How to Add Tabs

      Manual Tab Placement

      Ref-AddTabs-TabsInToolBar

      1. Activate the Tool: Go to Tools → Add Tabs, or use the keyboard shortcut:
        • Windows: Ctrl+Tab
        • Mac: Cmd+Tab

      QuickRef-AddTabs

      1. Hover and Insert: Move the cursor over a shape in your Workspace assigned to a layer in Line Mode.
        Ref-AddTabs-InsertedTab 
        • The cursor changes to Insert Tab Icon-CursorInsertTab.
        • Click to place a tab (indicated by a red dot).
      2. Adjust or Remove Tabs:
        • Drag the red dot to reposition it or move it to another valid shape.
        • Remove Tabs: Double-click the red dot or hold Shift and click it.

      Default Tab Width: Manually placed tabs are 0.5 mm wide. Tabs cannot be placed closer together than their defined width.

      Automatic Tab Generation

      To enable and configure automatic tabs:

      1. Open Cut Settings Editor: Double-click a layer in Line Mode from the Cuts/Layers Window.
      2. Tab Settings: Adjust tab-related settings in the Tabs/Bridges section.

      Tab Settings Overview

      Global Enable/Disable

      • The Tabs/Bridges toggle enables or disables tabs for the selected layer.
      • Tabs remain stored and will reappear if the toggle is switched back on.

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      Tab Generation Modes

      • Manual: Tabs must be manually placed.
      • Automatic: Tabs are placed automatically based on these parameters:
        • Even Spacing: Tabs are evenly spaced along the path at the specified interval.
        • Tabs Per Shape: Defines the number of tabs per shape, spaced evenly along the path.
        • Skip Inner Shapes: Prevents automatic tabs on shapes fully contained within others.

      Tab Size

      Specifies the length of skipped sections (tabs) in system units (mm or inches). Applies to both manual and automatic tabs.

      Additional Tab Settings

      Tab Cut Power

      Instead of skipping tabs entirely, set a Tab Cut Power percentage to apply pulsed cuts along the tab.

      • Low Percentages: Weaker connection to the base material (easier removal).
      • High Percentages: Stronger connection to the base material.
        For example, a tab set to 25% power is weaker than one at 75%.

      Ref-AddTabs-PulseExample

      Limit Max Tabs

      Sets an upper limit on the number of tabs per path when using the Even Spacing option.

      Clear Tabs

      Removes all tabs (manual and automatic) from shapes in the selected layer.

      Troubleshooting

      • Tabs Not Available: Ensure Beginner Mode is disabled in Settings/Preferences.
      • Shapes Must Be Closed: Automatic tabs require closed, continuous paths. Refer to Open vs. Closed Shapes for more information.

      Conclusion

      The Add Tabs feature in LightBurn ensures stability during laser cutting, preventing objects from falling out of the base material. Whether placed manually or automatically, tabs can be easily customized for precision and efficiency in your laser projects.