Frame a job without a camera¶
Framing is the last cheap place to catch a unit, origin, orientation, or clamp-clearance mistake. Run it with laser emission disabled.
Understand the three coordinate ideas¶
- Machine coordinates are established by the machine's homing/reference procedure.
- User/work origin is a repeatable point you deliberately set for a fixture or sheet.
- Current-position origin makes the present head position the job reference for that run.
The exact names in mLaser may vary by version. Before jogging, read the indicated coordinates and identify which origin mode the job will use.
Placement workflow¶
- Home/reference the machine using the supported procedure when required.
- Import the file and verify its displayed dimensions against a known dimension.
- Confirm orientation: which drawing edge maps to machine X and Y.
- Choose the origin mode intentionally and select the matching anchor/corner in the job.
- Position the sheet and clamps so the whole bounding box has support and clearance.
- Disable laser output and run mLaser's frame/boundary function.
- Watch all four limits and every travel segment, not just the starting corner.
- If the frame is wrong, stop and correct origin/scale/orientation; do not drag the sheet under a low head while axes are enabled.
A reliable fixture method¶
For repeat jobs, establish a physical stop outside the cut path, set a documented user origin, and save a small reference file that frames the fixture envelope. Photograph the coordinate/origin settings. Re-run the no-emission frame after any homing issue, software/configuration change, or fixture movement.
Common mistakes¶
| Symptom | Likely layer to check first |
|---|---|
| Frame is 25.4× too large or small | Inch/mm export or import units |
| Correct size, wrong location | Origin mode or anchor corner |
| Mirrored/rotated | Axis mapping, export orientation, or rotary configuration left active |
| Starts correctly, crosses clamp later | Bounding box/path simulation was not fully checked |
| Size differs in X and Y | Axis calibration or mechanical issue; see scale and kerf |
Never use a low-power visible mark as a substitute for a no-emission frame unless that marking procedure is explicitly controlled for the fitted source, enclosure, material, and PPE.