LightBurn Material Test

LightBurn Material Test

Preface

We recommend using LightBurn's material testing feature before engraving or cutting new materials to determine the optimal parameter.

At the same time, we have tested some common materials and the following are the recommended parameters for each series of THUNDER machines

Nova: Parameters for CO2 Glass Laser Tube

Bolt: Parameters for RF Laser Tube

Aurora: Parameter for Fiber Laser

Quick Video


Complete Guide

  1. Open the Material Test function.



  1. By default, the Material Test Generator will create a 10x10 grid of boxes with varying "Power" and "Speed" settings. Additional parameters, such as passes and DPI, can be selected from the "Param" drop-down menu. If supported by the laser, Frequency and Q Pulse settings can also be tested.



Test Grid Settings

Explanation

Count

How many rectangles are in each row/column

Param

The setting being tested along this axis

Min

The lowest value to be used for this setting

Max

The highest value to be used for this setting

Height/Width

The height/width of each rectangle in the test grid

Y Center/X Center

The position of the center of the test grid (if using Absolute Coords)



Button

Explanation

Edit Material Setting

Base settings for the test — the two settings chosen in Param will be varied in the grid, but all other settings applied here will apply to every test box

Edit Text Setting

Settings to use for the text labels

Enable Text

This switch controls whether text labels are output

Edit Border Setting

Settings to use for the border around the test grid — available in LightBurn 1.5 and higher

Enable Border

This switch controls whether the border around the test grid is output


  1. Click "Preview" to confirm that the test grid is as desired.



  1. Click "Start" to begin processing.
    Notes
    Ensure the material is focused before starting.


  1. Create a test grid with varying effects, then select the parameters that best match the desired effect.


Related: Material Test Card


Material test cards are a great way to determine the best cutting or engraving settings for specific machines and materials. Each machine series has unique capabilities, so there isn’t a universal test card that works for all materials. You can choose smaller test cards to conserve material or larger ones to gather more detailed data.

Remember, these tests provide initial settings on a small sample, and adjustments to speed and power may be needed for larger projects. Settings might also require updates as optics accumulate debris over time or as a CO₂ laser age. Additionally, material types vary widely, from thin films to thick boards.

For customers who prefer not to use LightBurn’s Material Test, Thunder offers pre-made material test cards that can be opened directly in LightBurn for easy setup and testing.

Material Test Card：
RF Tube：
Lightburn Material Test for All CO2 Glass Tubes

Glass Tube：
Lightburn Material Test for All RF Tubes


Still need help?

For specific technical questions or help requests, please open a Ticket with a picture or video, so our Support team can assist you ASAP.

For the information provided in the ticket, please refer to this link：
Help Tech Support Troubleshoot Faster


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