LightBurn is the de facto standard for controlling laser cutters. Compatible with almost every machine on the market — diode or CO2, with GRBL, Ruida, Trocen, or Smoothieboard controllers — it has a moderate learning curve, but once you understand the logic, everything becomes intuitive.
This guide is designed for someone who just installed LightBurn and wants to cut their first SVG file from Box Studio.
LightBurn has a 30-day free trial. After that, the license costs USD 60 for the GRBL version (diode machines) or USD 80 for the DSP version (Ruida/Trocen controllers, typically CO2).
Download from: lightburnsoftware.com
When installing, it will ask you to add your machine. You'll need to know: - The controller type (GRBL, Ruida, etc.) - Your machine's work area size
You can find this in your cutter's manual or by searching the model online.
When you open LightBurn you'll see:
Common problem — incorrect scale: If dimensions don't match, there's probably a units issue. Go to Edit → Settings and verify that document units are set to millimeters.
The Box Studio SVG has red strokes (#FF0000). LightBurn automatically creates a layer for that color. What you need to configure in that layer:
Mode: must be set to "Cut", not "Scan" (engraving) or "Image".
Speed: depends on your machine and material. For 3mm MDF with a 20W diode laser, a starting point is 400–600 mm/min.
Power: also depends on the machine. For 3mm MDF, start with 80–90% maximum power.
Passes: start with 1. If the cut doesn't go completely through the material, increase to 2.
These are reference values — you'll need to calibrate for your specific machine and material.
Before cutting your first box, do a speed and power test. The most efficient way is to use LightBurn's Material Test function:
Save those values in the material library so you don't have to repeat the test every time.
Tip: Use "Set Laser Position" to physically position the laser cursor at the starting point before cutting.
The Frame (or "Boundary") is a function that moves the laser around the perimeter of the area it will cut, without firing the laser. It's used to verify that the job fits within your material.
If the frame goes outside the material, reposition the elements in the work area.
LightBurn shows progress and estimated time in the bottom bar. Don't leave the machine unattended during cutting.
Optimize Cut Path: Reorders the cutting sequence to minimize head movement. Enable it in Optimization Settings before cutting. Reduces job time on complex pieces.
Cut Inner First: Cuts inner paths before outer ones. Useful if you have engraving and cutting in the same file — engrave first, then cut.
Tabs/Bridges: Leaves small uncut material bridges so pieces don't move during cutting. Not very necessary for simple boxes but useful for small pieces.
Save your file as a LightBurn project (.lbrn) in addition to the original SVG. The .lbrn file saves layers, parameters, and position — next time you want to cut the same box you don't have to reconfigure everything.
With LightBurn properly configured, importing and cutting a Box Studio SVG takes less than 5 minutes. The real time investment is in initial calibration — but once you find the right parameters for your material, repeating the process is very fast.
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