Lightburn
Lightburn is software used for both MakeICT laser cutters.
It accepts the following file types:
- Vector: .svg, .ai, .pdf, .dxf, .hpgl, .plt,
- Raster: .bmp, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .tif, .tiff, .tga
- Project files: .rd, .lbrn
Installing
You can download a 30-day trial of Lightburn here: https://lightburnsoftware.com/pages/trial-version-try-before-you-buy
If you want to use it for more than 30 days on your personal machine you will need to purchase a license. The license normally costs $120, but we have a discount code to get it for $30 if you are only using it with the machines at MakeICT. Email fablab@makeict.org to get the code. You will use this discount code during the checkout process on their online store. We use the DSP version for our machines. Otherwise you can use one of the laptops or the design computer in the Fab Lab.
When you first run Lightburn you will need to add settings for a laser cutter. You can add the settings for our machines by clicking the 'Import preferences' button and importing one of the settings files on this page.
There isn't a huge difference between the settings on our machines, so it doesn't really matter which you download and use. Alternatively you can just go through the configuration steps, choose the Ruida controller, set the origin to the upper right, and set the dimensions to 1200x900. That will get you close enough.
Using Lightburn
Lightburn help pages: https://github.com/LightBurnSoftware/Documentation/blob/master/README.md
Video tutorials: https://lightburnsoftware.com/pages/tutorials
Kim's instruction slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1rfGGdQ_P0tLj5DTN5ybGl_pFY_jt2Nv4bhCviAJMgCY/edit?usp=sharing
