What is Lightburn?

Lightburn is a software package designed to be used with Lasers of all types and can be used with CNC machines.

It has a free trial that allows you to test it with your machine before purchasing.

Lightburn

With Lightburn you can design, edit and create the Gcode which you can send to your MASSO CNC controller.

It is a very powerful software that can be used with Windows, Mac OS and Linux.

When you are happy that the software is what you want you will need to purchase a license from Lightburn for the GCode version of Lightburn software.

This document does not seek to teach you how to use Lightburn but how to set it up to use with MASSO.

It assumes that you are using a Diode Laser.

Configure Lightburn to use with MASSO

Step 1 Select the right Machine type.

When you first open Lightburn it will Ask you to select your Device.

• Click on Create Manually
• select GRBL-M3 (1.1e or earlier) and click Next
• Select Serial/USB and click Next
• Enter the X & Y axis length for your machine and click Next
• Turn off Auto "home" your Laser, (switch will be brown when off), and click Next
• Click Finish

At the completion of step 1

Step 2 General settings

• Along the top line find the symbol and click on it
• Under Unit / Grids select mm / min or Inches / min as required.
• Click OK

Completed General settings

Step 3 Device settings Basic settings tab

• Along the top line find the Along the top line find the symbol and click on it.
• Under the Basic settings tab select M8 for Air assist
• Set the S-value max to 1000

Completed Basic settings

Step 4 Device settings Gcode Tab

• Along the top line find the Along the top line find the symbol and click on it.
• Under Start Gcode enter 

T111 M06
G200 Q0 (Ramped Power)
S0
M5

• Click OK

Completed Gcode Screen

Lightburn configuration is now complete.

Lightburn Pro version 2

Custom Gcode settings

This version has the option to customize the Gcode output.
Suggested settings are shown below. It is recommended that you copy and paste the commands from this page into the appropriate sections of Lightburn to ensure accuracy.

T111 M06

G200 Q0 (Power Ramping)

G0 Z0 (Move to cutting height)

S0 M3 (Laser enable)

Remove the existing entries from the boxes above.
To delete then highlight the existing text inside the box and press the spacebar.
Deleting the content of the box will cause it to return to the default entry.

M8

M9

G1 [X]{x} [Y]{y} [Z]{z}[A]{rot}S{power} [F]{speed}

G1 [X]{x} [Y]{y} [Z]{z}[A]{rot}S{power} [F]{speed}

G0 [X]{x} [Y]{y} [Z]{z}[A]{rot}S0

M5

M30

Outputting Gcode

While there are many settings that you can use the steps above are the minimum needed to get up and running.

• Once you have created your project select Save Gcode to output your file.
• Remove the .gcode at the end of the file name and add .nc and all files from then on will save as .nc files
• Ensure that you have selected GRBL-M3 (1.1e or earlier) for your device when saving to ensure it outputs the correct Gcode format. This is only a problem if you set up more than one device.
• Ignore the disconnected message on screen as it only applies when the Laser is connected directly to Lightburn.

Overscanning

This is an important feature then engraving photos or shading an object.

It allows the Laser to move past the end of the object you are engraving.

This is necessary to overcome acceleration and deceleration. Without overscanning the laser would slow down as it nears the end of the engraved area but because the laser is still turned on the area of acceleration or deceleration will get darker burning because the laser is moving slower in that area. This causes a fringing effect on your engraving.

By using overscanning on your layer the laser will move past the end of the engraving and turn the laser off then decelerate.

Likewise when accelerating it will start outside the engraving and turn on when it reaches the correct position. This will allow the Laser to reach the correct speed before turning on.

The faster you move longer the overscanning will need to be.