How to set home position for laser module very precisely - and keep this home position for subsequent jobs

Snapmaker 2.0
1

I use my 1.6W laser to engrave text/graphics for my instrument panels (I’m a Home Cockpit Builder). This means that I have to be able to set my work origin very precisely. But since I have my SnapMaker 2.0 several years now, I always wondered why this is not so obvious.

I’m using the CNC wooden surface as the base (I know, this is not intended for using with laser, but I’m not cutting, only engraving). On that surface, I mount a square, that by using some calibration technique makes it perfectly square in the X/Y axis.

Next I need to put my laser home position exactly on the corner of my square. The easiest way to do that would be to enable the laser at 0.5% or 1.0%, and then move the X/Y axis until the laser spot is perfectly on the corner.

Unfortunately, you can switch the laser on, but once you go back to the menu to move the toolhead, the laser switches off. So this means that I have to move the head, go back to switch on the laser, check the position, and then move the head again while the laser is again turned off.

There should be an option to keep the laser one, while moving the toolhead! Especially because that is possible when you put your home position at each start of a new job.

Second issue is that the home position is even not remembered by the machine when you start the job. The laser always starts from the 0,0 machine coordinates, and then you have to tune in the home position every time again. So I have to write down (and not forget) the home position coordinates, and each time when I start lasering, I have to bring the toolhead manually to the home position to store it again. When I want to laser multiple parts using this home position, I have to do that each time again and again.

Or I must be missing something, because I can’t believe that this is the intended workflow! So questions are:

  1. Is there a way to keep the laser on while moving the toolhead
  2. Is there a way to set a permanent home position (as is the case with CNC)
2

If you have the enclosure: Keep it closed!
Start the laser job on the touchscreen and set the work origin in the process. It should be the same origin in the next job except if you change the toolhead, state of now the machine can’t remember the work origin of a different toolhead.
You should be able to make the laser dot a bit brighter if you adjust the laser mark setting in the touchscreen settings if you can’t see the point in the enclosure.
Alternatively it might be possible if you turn off the door detection :thinking:.

3

Hello @xchrisd ,

Sorry for my late reply. I will try what you say next time when I use the laser.

What you are saying is that I have to set the work origin during the start of a laser-job. You are right that in one of the steps, I can adjust the head-position to set a new work origin. And you are also right that at that time, the laser dot is slightly visible. And yes, I can set the work origin, and the job starts from that position.

But when the job is finished, and I start another laser-job (didn’t change toolhead at all - even didn’t switch off the machine), the laser head is again moving to the machine origin, and I’m almost certain it starts from there. So I have to move my head manually to the coordinates of my work origin again, set work origin, and then start the job.

But as I said, I will try again. Maybe I’m doing something wrong. I will confirm later.

Thanks

4

Hello @xchrisd ,

I’m just doing a laser job on my Snapmaker. And I confirm what I said above. Let me repeat my steps:

  • I press Start, select my USB, and pick the “*.nc” file that I want to process
  • I press Ready
  • I select Auto Mode, and set material thickness → here it remembers my latest choice
  • I put on my safety gogles, and press Next
  • Now my laserhead moves to the machine origin and NOT to the previous set work origin - I need to move my head to the desired work origin and tap on “Set Work Origin”.
  • Then I proceed…

When the job is finished, and I start a new job, the head moves to the machine origin again (center). It lost the previous work origin. So if I want to do a second pass on the same location, I have move my head first to these exact same coordinates (so I shouldn’t forget to write them down), and press “Set Work Origin” again.

Bottom Line - Snapmaker does NOT remember the work origin.

5

I can only talk from the 10W laser.
With this toolhead it works to open the *.nc file and press manual focus, then simply press next and now you are able to press go to work origin (this is the same work origin like the job before because it’s saved to the machine coordinates).

6

Hello @xchrisd ,

I just tried again, but nope. Every time I start a new job, my laserhead moves to the center of my workspace, and not to my previous work origin. So I have to move it to the origin myself, then press “set work origin”, and then start lasering.

Anyway, no big deal. I live with it.

Thanks for your answers anyway!

1 Like
7

@xchrisd Exactly what machine are you using? I can confirm on the SM350 there seems to be no way to “just do it again” without going through the whole focus/origin ritual. This mostly defeats the purpose of fixturing your work, and wastes time.

8

I use a A350 with 10W laser.
If I tap on set focus manual I could then press next (laser moves in Z) and on the next page, press go to work origin.

This seems only to work with the 10W and not with the 40W. Maybe also with the 1.6W but not confirmed.

9

I have the same issue…very frustrating when doing multiple of the same job. Did you get a resolution?

10

I use the ARTISAN and am frustrated too! Same issues.

11

Looks like for some unknown reason, according to @xchrisd, it seems only to work for the 10W laser. I have a Snapmaker 2 A350, purchased a few years ago but updated a month ago with the latest software, and there it definitely doesn’t go to work origin.

Today, I used the machine, and what I noticed is that when I start a new job, and when I come to the step where the laser head moves to the center of the workspace, I do see my work origin coordinates appearing on the left side of the screen. But once the head is in the center position and stops, these coordinates suddenly disappear, and are replaced by the machine coordinates. It’s like it “erases” the previous work origins.

I assume this is a “bug”, but strange that nobody has ever reported it, because shouldn’t be so hard to solve I guess? Not sure if people from Snapmaker are reading this?

12

Open a support ticket and see what we get:
Support@snapmaker.com or ticket https://snapmaker.formcrafts.com/support-ticket

13

While complicated, it would resolve your issue.

I would suggest just editing the gcode instead of messing with Luban files, however. If you use the laser method to line it up, you could find your repeatable origin, then use the follow code to repeat your position after writing it down on the set work origin screen;

G0 X# Y#
G54
G92 X0 Y0

You could also always write down the location and move to that each time, but depends on the level of automation you want.

14

Thanks… but indeed, much to complicated.

I make note of my coordinates the first time, and then move the laser head to these coordinates for all other jobs. Takes me 30 seconds, no big deal.

15

I submitted a ticket. Curious if I will get some useful feedback.

1 Like
16

Well, at least I got confirmation from support that this is a known issue.

We apologize, but currently, there is no better solution for repeated job scenarios. However, our product team is aware of the user demand for this feature.
They will try to improve this and add the repeat job functionality in future versions, although the exact timeline for this update is still unknown.

This case can be closed :roll_eyes:

1 Like
17

Thanks for sharing!

18

I would be happy, and even expect that if you pick a different file you should be asked to set the origin and focus. But as is, it’s pretty silly and time consuming.

19

I use Lightburn because Luban is what it is. I too use the MFD board. I both cut (CNC) and engrave (laser) my faceplate without removing the plastic sheet from the build plate. Centering is easy. Tape down a piece of scrap to the middle of the build surface. Find what you think is the middle of the build plate and write the X/Y coordinates on the laser head with an indelible marker. laser a single tiny dot. Swap to the CNC head and position the pointy bit directly over the dot. Write those coordinates on the CNC head. Now you can first laser, then cut out, your faceplate using those coordinates.Easy-peasy.
BTW: I’m JCsLove on the MSFS forum. Love your work.