LightBurn Setup Guide: First Laser Job from Start to Finish

LightBurn is the standard software for diode and CO2 laser engravers. This guide walks you through the full setup process — from installing LightBurn to getting your first job running on the Ray5 20W.

Installing and Licensing

Download from lightburnsoftware.com. LightBurn has a 30-day free trial, then $60 for a permanent license (DSP) or $40 (G-code). The Ray5 uses G-code, so the $40 license is correct.

The license covers 2 machines and includes lifetime updates. It's the best $40 in the hobby laser world.

Adding Your Machine

1. Open LightBurn → Devices → Find my Laser (if connected via USB)
2. Or click Create Manually → select GRBL (the firmware the Ray5 uses)
3. Set work area: Ray5 20W is 400 × 400 mm
4. Set origin to Front Left

After adding: go to Edit → Device Settings and verify:

• Enable laser fire button: checked
• S-value max: 1000 (this maps 0–100% power to 0–1000 in G-code)

Connecting

USB: plug in the Ray5, select the COM port under the Laser panel (bottom right). If no port appears, install the CH340 USB driver.

Wi-Fi (if your Ray5 has it): use the IP address in LightBurn's network device option.

The Workspace

• Canvas (center): your work area, scaled 1:1
• Cuts/Layers panel (right): list of operations, each with its own speed/power settings
• Laser panel (bottom right): connect, start, frame, fire
• Properties panel: position and size of selected objects

Setting Up a Job: Engraving Text

1. Click the T text tool, click on canvas, type your text
2. In the Cuts/Layers panel, the text gets assigned a layer (e.g., C00 black)
3. Double-click C00 to open Cut Settings:
4. Mode: Fill (engraving)
5. Speed: 3000 mm/min (start conservative)
6. Max Power: 50%
7. Min Power: 10% (ensures laser fires at low speeds in corners)
8. Click Frame to verify the laser moves to the right position
9. Click Start

Setting Up a Cut

1. Draw a shape (rectangle tool, or import SVG)
2. Assign it a different layer (click the layer color swatch)
3. Set Cut Settings:
4. Mode: Line (cutting, not filling)
5. Speed: 5 mm/s for 3mm wood
6. Max Power: 100%
7. Passes: 1 (increase for thicker material)
8. Run a Material Test before committing to a full job

Material Test Card

LightBurn's Laser Tools → Material Test generates a grid of engraves at different power/speed combinations. Run this on scrap before every new material type. It takes 10 minutes and saves hours of guesswork.

Framing

Always Frame before starting any job. The laser head traces the bounding box of your job without firing — confirms position and scale. Click Frame in the Laser panel.

Air Assist

Enable air assist before cutting — run the compressor or pump alongside the laser. In LightBurn, the Air Assist button in the Laser panel fires the M8 G-code command if your controller supports it. The Ray5's air pump runs separately from the controller, so just turn it on manually.

Saving Files

LightBurn saves .lbrn2 project files (keeps all settings) and can export G-code (.gc or .nc) for machines that run G-code directly from an SD card or using offline controllers.

Common Issues

Not connecting: Wrong COM port, or CH340 driver not installed. Burns/scorch instead of engrave: Speed too slow, power too high. Run a material test. Pattern shifted mid-job: Belt tension or stepper driver current. Check belts. Uneven depth: Bed not flat or material not flat. Check focus height across the work area.