Machine Settings vs Project Settings when creating a Run File (RD)

Machine Settings vs Project Settings when creating a Run File (RD)


This article covers some of the settings for the Machine, Project File and Run file to describe how they interact with each other.

Definitions


Machine Settings

Settings that live on the machine, usually edited through software like Lightburn via Edit>Machine Settings. The settings usually control how the hardware functions, constraints and user specific behaviors for the machine functions.

Project File Settings 

These are usually things that the user adjust to their liking, settings such as Speed, Power, Origin, Start From, optimization etc. These are usually the commands that are given to the machine from software to be able to output what the user desires.

Project File

Typically your lightburn file, a .lbrn or .lbrn2 type file depending on your lightburn version.



Run File

A set of instructions for the machine to run, minimized to exactly what the machine needs. A Project File cannot be re-created from a run file. Objects lose their identity when converted from a Project File to a Run File. For example a circle is no longer is circle in a Run File. It is either a series of vector movements to trace the outline or it is a series of raster engraves to give the appearance of a circular object (See the bottom of this article for more information). You can save your run files to your computer, a usb stick or the machine. Changes to the project file only are relayed to the machine if the Run File is updated.

Laser control Window to create and run RD files:




Specific Machine Settings to be aware of:


Origin Point

Lightburn does not set the origin point. That setting must be done on the controller. Lightburn can instruct the machine to move to the origin point, but the Origin must be set at the machine and is independent of the Project file or the Run File.

Rotary Settings - The wizard in Lightburn is reading the Machine Settings for the U axis. The adjustments are for the hardware of the machine and the values do not save with the Project File or the Run File. It is a good practice to save them in the "File>Show Notes" prompt to be able to recall them with the Project File.

Wizard (Laser Tools > Rotary Setup:


Machine Settings (Edit>Machine Settings):
Note how the Rotary Settings are included in the Machine Settings


When you change a Project File Setting, you must send that project to the machine again to overwrite the previous Run File.


Specific Project File\Run File settings to be aware of:

Z Axis Moves - They can enabled\Disabled them in Lightburn under the Device Settings prompt but this does not disable or enable them on the Machine or from existing Run Files. If a file had been created with a Z Axis move enabled, it will keep that function even if you Disable Z moves in Lightburn. The file will need to be overwritten in order to erase or add in the Z axis functions.



Scanning Offsets - These settings are a Project File setting that the Machine is mostly oblivious to. The Machine does not know that they exist. When the Project File is converted to a Run File, the scanning offsets are applied to the raster engrave lines. This is done so that the machine will provide the results with the offsets applied that give a satisfactory look. If you have to Enable or Re-Enter your offsets for a job that you ran that turned out bad, you must re-send that Run File to the Machine. If you work on multiple computers, you need to enter your Scanning Offsets on all computers that will be creating Run Files. If you have multiple machines, you must have your correct Device selected before sending or creating the Run File so that the correct offsets will be applied.






Project File Objects vs Run File Data:
So in this example we will use a 2 Inch circle

In Lightburn, the circle object can be adjusted with tool tips, made into an oval, broken down into 4 arcs, welded with other shapes etc. Since it is part of a project file, it gets to keep those properties until the user changes them.


When you use the preview function in lightburn, you see the circle shape that is "ready" for an engrave or vector move.

Fill:
Looks like a circle but it is really not. The RD file just contains a series of lines to engrave to give the illusion of a circle. The RD file does not know what a circle is, just the 100 lines (2 inch circle, low 50 lpi to show lines easily) to engrave.


Line Layer:
Zoomed way in and with a low curve tolerance, the Circle is actually just a series of short lines. It no longer is a circle to the machine, just a collection of vector moves


Applying offsets in Lightburn using the Edit>Convert to a Cut feature in lightburn:
Magenta line is the circle border as drawn, the black lines are the engrave lines that will be sent to the controller and show up "shifted" on the controller. When offsets are properly entered in MM, the overlap will not be to noticeable. If entered as MM while in INCHES, it will be extreme.

Some of the black lines cross the magenta line, while every other line does not



When offsets are entered incorrectly:



Preview on the Machine Controller Screen Showing the correct offsets applied (.25" circle, .37mm offset):



Preview on the machine screen showing the incorrect offsets applied (2" circle, .37" offset):

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