Setting Up Laser Offset for Accurate Alignment

Overview Laser Offset Setup

If your laser has a red dot pointer that is not aligned with the laser beam's actual position, you can use the Laser Offset feature in LightBurn to calibrate the beam's output. Proper setup ensures that the red dot matches the laser's working location, allowing you to:

  • Align output to material using Current Position or User Origin.
  • Accurately frame the output location.
  • Find the center of a circle using the Center Finder tool.

When correctly configured, the laser head will adjust to match the red dot's position during alignment actions.


Steps to Set Up Laser Offset

1. Initial Setup

  • Open Device Settings in LightBurn and ensure Enable pointer offset is disabled before proceeding.

    Guide-LaserOffset-OffsetDisabled

2. Prepare for Calibration

  • Load an expendable material into the laser bed where both the red dot and laser beam can mark.
  • Position the laser head over the material.
  • Download and import the 2-square pattern into LightBurn. Assign the pattern to a layer set in Line Mode with appropriate settings for marking, not cutting.

3. Set Starting Parameters

  • In the Laser Window, select Current Position as the Start From mode and set the Job Origin to Center.

    Guide-LaserOffset-StartFromJobOrigin

  • For DSP devices: Navigate to Edit → Machine Settings and ensure Return Position is set to No Return.

4. Run the Initial Test Job

  • Press Start in the Laser Window to run the job and mark the material.
  • In the Move Window, press Get Position and record the X and Y coordinates reported.

5. Align the Red Dot

  • Move the laser head until the red dot is perfectly aligned with the center of the 2-square pattern (where the squares' bottom right and top left corners meet).
  • Press Get Position again and record the updated X and Y coordinates.

    Guide-LaserOffset-GetPosition

6. Calculate the Offset

  • Subtract the coordinates recorded in Step 5 from those recorded in Step 4 to calculate the offset:
    • Example:
      • Step 4 X: 180; Step 5 X: 200 → 180 - 200 = -20.
      • Step 4 Y: 200; Step 5 Y: 195 → 200 - 195 = 5.

7. Apply the Offset

  • Open Device Settings and enter the calculated X and Y values in the Laser Offset section.

    Guide-LaserOffset-OffsetEnabled
  • Toggle on Enable pointer offset.
  • For DSP devices: Reverse the sign of the calculated values (e.g., -20 becomes +20).

8. Test the Calibration

  • Re-run the same job with the red dot aligned to the 2-square pattern.
  • The laser head should shift to match the red dot, and the output should align perfectly with the initial engraving.

Troubleshooting

  1. Output Shifts in the Wrong Direction

    • Reverse the sign of the X or Y offset in Device Settings (negative becomes positive and vice versa).
  2. Output is Slightly Misaligned

    • Repeat the setup process, ensuring precise alignment of the red dot to the 2-square pattern.
  3. Alignment Drifts Over Time

    • Verify that the red dot pointer is securely mounted and cannot shift. Re-run the calibration if necessary.