Ortur Laser Engraving Machine Beginner's Tutorial
Welcome to the creative journey of the Ortur laser engraving machine! Whether you are a DIY enthusiast, a craftsman, or a novice in the field of laser engraving, this tutorial will take you step by step to familiarize yourself with the Ortur laser engraving machine, from starting up to completing your first exquisite work. Ortur provides users with unlimited creative possibilities with its high-quality and high-performance laser engraving machine products. Now, let's start this fun-filled creative journey!
1. Important preparations before turning on the machine
Before turning on the Ortur laser engraving machine, there are several key steps that need to be completed carefully to ensure the normal operation of the equipment and the smooth progress of your creation.
Check the integrity of the equipment:
After unpacking, carefully check whether the Ortur laser engraving machine and its accessories are complete. Generally, the equipment should include the laser engraving machine host, laser module, power adapter, USB data cable, protective glasses, etc. Make sure that all parts are not damaged or missing. If you find any problems, please contact Ortur customer service for help in time.
Choose a suitable working environment:
Place the engraving machine on a stable, dry and well-ventilated workbench. Avoid direct sunlight and humid environments, and make sure there are no flammable or explosive items around. A good working environment not only ensures the stable operation of the equipment, but also ensures your operational safety.
Install the laser module (if necessary):
If your Ortur laser engraver needs to install a laser module, please follow the instructions in the product manual. Usually, this process requires carefully installing the laser module to the specified position and ensuring that the connection is firm. During the installation process, be sure to wear protective glasses to avoid laser damage to your eyes.
Connect the power supply:
Use the included power adapter to connect the engraver to a stable power outlet. Pay attention to check whether the specifications of the power adapter match the engraver to ensure safe power supply.
2. Power on and device initialization
After completing the pre-startup preparations, you can turn on your Ortur laser engraver.
Power on: Press the engraver power switch, and the engraver will perform a self-check at this time. You may hear a slight running sound of the motor, and the indicator light of the device will also light up. During the self-check process, please do not perform any operations and wait for the self-check to complete.
Start the cooling system (if applicable): Some Ortur laser engravers are equipped with a cooling system to ensure that the laser module maintains a suitable temperature during operation. If your device has a cooling system, start it after turning on the machine. Usually, the cooling system may be a small water cooling device or air cooling fan. Make sure that the cooling system is operating normally and observe the flow of coolant (if it is water cooling) or the rotation of the fan (if it is air cooling).
Connect to the computer: Use a USB data cable to connect the Ortur laser engraver to the computer. Make sure the data cable is firmly connected and the computer will automatically recognize the engraving machine device. After the connection is successful, you can check whether the engraving machine has been correctly recognized in the device manager of the computer.
3. Software Installation and Connection
Ortur laser engravers usually require special software for operation and design. Here we take the commonly used LightBurn software as an example to introduce the software installation and connection steps.
Download and install LightBurn software: Visit the LightBurn official website and download the corresponding software version according to your computer operating system (Windows, Mac or Linux). After the download is complete, run the installation program and follow the prompts to complete the software installation.
Open LightBurn software: After installation, open LightBurn software. When you open the software for the first time, you may need to make some initial settings, such as selecting the type of engraving machine (find the Ortur related model in the list), setting the size of the working area, etc. Follow the software's guidance to set up and ensure that the parameters are correct.
Connect the engraving machine: In the LightBurn software, click the "Connect Device" button. The software will automatically search and try to connect to the Ortur laser engraving machine that is connected to the computer. If the connection is successful, the software interface will display relevant information about the engraving machine, such as device status, firmware version, etc. At this point, you can control and operate the engraving machine through the software.
4. Design and import works
Before you start engraving, you need to prepare the design file to be engraved. You can use the drawing tools that come with the LightBurn software for simple design, or you can import external design files, such as SVG, DXF, PNG and other formats.
Use LightBurn drawing tools (optional): If you want to do simple graphic design, in the LightBurn software interface, select the drawing tools in the left toolbar, such as line drawing, rectangle, circle, text and other tools. With these tools, you can create a variety of shapes and patterns on the canvas. After drawing, you can edit, resize, rotate, and other operations on the graphics to meet your design needs.
Import external design files: If you already have a ready-made design file, click the "File" menu in the LightBurn software and select the "Import" option. In the pop-up file browser, find the design file you want to import (make sure the file format is compatible), select it and click "Open". The imported file will be displayed in the software canvas, and you can also scale, move, rotate, and other operations to adapt to the working area of the engraving machine and your creative requirements.
5. Set engraving parameters
Correctly setting the engraving parameters is the key to ensuring the engraving effect. The parameter settings will vary depending on the type of material you are using, the thickness, and the complexity of the design. In the LightBurn software, you can find the engraving parameter setting options in the "Device Settings" under the "Edit" menu.
Power setting: The power determines the intensity of the laser. For thinner and softer materials, such as paper and thin wood, a lower power can be set; for thicker and harder materials, such as thick wood and acrylic, a higher power is required. Generally speaking, the power range can be adjusted between 10% - 100%, and the specific value needs to be determined through experiments. For example, for ordinary thin wood, the initial power can be set at 30% - 50% for trial.
Speed setting: The speed controls how fast the laser head moves on the surface of the material. The faster the speed, the shallower the engraving depth; the slower the speed, the deeper the engraving depth. Similarly, the speed setting also needs to be adjusted according to the material. For fine engraving, such as engraving text or complex patterns, a slower speed is usually required; while for large-area cutting or rough processing, the speed can be appropriately increased. The unit of speed is generally mm/s, and the common speed range is between 10 - 1000mm/s. For example, when engraving text on a thin wood board, the speed can be set at 50 - 100mm/s.
Frequency setting (applicable to some models): The frequency affects the emission speed of the laser pulse. For some scenes that require high-precision engraving, the frequency setting is also very important. Higher frequencies are suitable for fine engraving, and lower frequencies are suitable for cutting thicker materials. The frequency setting range varies from model to model, generally between 1-1000Hz. In actual operation, you can try different frequency values according to the requirements of the material and the engraving effect.
Focus setting: Focusing is a key step to ensure that the laser can accurately act on the surface of the material. In the LightBurn software, there is usually a dedicated focus function button. You can control the laser head to move above the material surface through the software, and then use the focus tool (such as the focus ruler) that comes with the engraving machine to adjust the distance between the laser head and the material so that the laser focuses on the surface of the material. Correct focus can ensure the clarity and depth uniformity of the engraving effect.
6. start engraving
After completing the design import and parameter setting, you can start your first Ortur laser engraving journey.
Place the material to be engraved: Place the material ready to be engraved on the workbench of the engraving machine. Make sure the material is firmly fixed and will not move during the engraving process. You can use clamps or tape to fix the material on the workbench.
Preview the engraving effect: In the LightBurn software, click the "Preview" button, and the software will simulate the engraving process and the final effect. Through the preview, you can check whether the design is correct and the parameter settings are appropriate. If necessary, you can go back and adjust.
Start engraving: After confirming that the preview effect is satisfactory, click the "Start" button in the LightBurn software. At this time, the engraving machine will start working, and the laser head will engrave on the surface of the material according to the designed path. During the engraving process, please stay focused and do not touch the engraving machine or the material at will to avoid accidents. At the same time, pay attention to the engraving effect. If you find any abnormal situation, such as abnormal movement of the laser head, smoking of the material, etc., you should immediately press the emergency stop button on the engraving machine, and continue the operation after troubleshooting.
VII. Completion of the work and subsequent processing
When the engraving machine completes the work, you can harvest your first Ortur laser engraving work.
Remove the work: Carefully remove the engraved material from the workbench, and be careful to avoid burns, as the material may heat up during the engraving process. Check the engraving effect of the work to see if it meets your expectations. If you are satisfied with the effect, congratulations on successfully completing your first work! If there are still some minor flaws, you can analyze the cause, adjust the parameters and try again.
Clean the work area: After the engraving is completed, some debris and dust may be left on the workbench. Use a brush or vacuum cleaner to clean the work area and keep the engraving machine and the working environment clean. At the same time, check whether the engraving machine has any abnormalities, such as whether the laser head is damaged, whether there are debris on the guide rails, etc.
Maintain the equipment: In order to ensure the long-term and stable operation of the Ortur laser engraving machine, it is important to maintain the equipment regularly. According to the frequency of use of the equipment, regularly clean the laser head, guide rails and transmission parts, and apply an appropriate amount of lubricating oil (if necessary). At the same time, check whether the power cord, data cable and other connections of the equipment are loose, and deal with any problems in time.
Through the above steps, you have successfully mastered the entire process of the Ortur laser engraving machine from starting up to completing the first work. The Ortur laser engraver opens the door to a world of creativity for you, and you can use it to create a variety of personalized gifts, decorations, artworks, and more. Keep exploring different materials, designs, and parameter settings, and use your imagination to create more wonderful works. If you encounter any problems during operation, don't forget to refer to the Ortur product manual, the official website's support documents, or ask for help from the Ortur user community. I wish you go further and further on the creative road of the Ortur laser engraver and create more amazing works!