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Create Manually

If you need to add a laser that isn't connected to your computer or is connected over a network, you can create a device profile manually.

What if I don't have a laser yet?

If you don't have a laser, use the No Machine device type to create a placeholder device of any size you want.

First Steps

Start by clicking the Devices button in the Laser window to open the Devices window.

Devices Button

Click the Create Manually button in the Devices window to open the New Device Wizard.

Create Manually

New Device Wizard

Device Type

On the first page of the New Device Wizard, you'll see a list of controllers and types of firmware supported by your version of LightBurn.

Create Manually

  • If you don't have a device to connect yet, choose the No Machine type to move ahead with using the software.

  • The Custom GCode device type allows you to create custom templates for generating GCode. This won't be necessary for most users, but if you have a custom machine or purchased a machine from a vendor using non-standard GCode, go to Custom GCode to learn more.

  • All other options refer to specific controllers or types of firmware. If you are unsure what type of controller or firmware your laser is using, consult your laser's manufacturer.

After choosing the correct device type for your laser, click Next.

Connection Type

The next step is choosing how you connect to your laser. The choices you see will depend on the type of connection methods supported by your controller and LightBurn.

Create Manually Connection Type

  • Ethernet/UDP or Ethernet/TCP is used for both wired and wireless network connections.
  • Serial/USB is the most common connection type, used for direct USB connections.
  • Packet/USB is an alternative option for Ruida controllers only, which uses a built-in driver, similar to RDWorks. This option can be inconsistent on some systems, and is best not to use unless you're having issues with a Serial/USB connection.
  • LightBurn Bridge is used to connect to a LightBurn Bridge. This option is available for Ruida controllers only, and if this is your first time setting up a Bridge, it's best to use the Bridge Discovery Wizard instead of Create Manually.

After selecting your connection method, click Next.

Ethernet and LightBurn Bridge — Set IP Address

If you selected Ethernet/UDP, Ethernet/TCP, or LightBurn Bridge as your connection type, you'll need to enter the device's IP address on your local network.

Network IP Address

After setting the IP address, click Next.

Name and Work Area Size

You can give your laser a custom name, which is often useful if you have more than one, or just leave it as is.

You must set the size of the work area for your laser so that LightBurn can send projects to your laser within the appropriate dimensions. If you don't know the exact size, you can change this later in the Device Settings window.

Name and Dimensions

After naming and entering your machine's dimensions, click Next.

Laser Origin And Homing

The Origin setting is your laser's 0,0 point — where the X & Y axis both meet and begin. If you get this wrong, you can change it later in the Device Settings window.

New Device Origin Settings

  • With a few exceptions, the Origin for GCode lasers is almost always the bottom left.

  • If you have a DSP laser, set the Origin to the location the laser homes to when it first starts up.

  • If you are unsure what to set the Origin to, consult your laser's manufacturer.

  • The Origin also controls the orientation of output to your laser — if it's wrong, output to your laser may be mirrored or upside down.

If you have a GCode based system, you'll see the option to send the homing command each time LightBurn first connects to your laser. You can change this setting later in the Device Settings Window.

New Device Wizard Auto-home Option

Warning

If your laser does not have homing switches, leave this off.

After setting the Origin, click Next.

Review Settings

The final page will show you a summary of your choices. You can click Back to return to a previous step and fix anything, if necessary, or click Finish to create the new device entry.

NewDevice-Finished

Confirming Device Creation

Once you've exited the New Device Wizard, you'll return to the Devices window — be sure to click OK to save and confirm the creation of the new device.

If you click Cancel or "X" out of the the window, all changes you've made in the Devices window, including creating the new device, will be discarded.

Next Step: Connecting to the Laser

For more help using LightBurn, please visit our forum to talk with LightBurn staff and users, or email support.