Laser Lab

Physics engines & calibration workshop — five tabs in one suite.

By Scott Bedow, Founder & Lead Developer · Published July 21, 2026

Manufacturing manager who runs CO2, diode and MOPA fiber lasers; builds and maintains every Reticle Red tool.

Method — Documents the shipped behaviour of the current build. Updated when the tool changes, and dated so you can tell how far behind the build it may be.

Laser Lab combines Calculators, MOPA Predictor, Delay Tuner, Material & Kerf Tests, and Burn Confidence. The Delay Tuner uses software-specific LightBurn/EZCAD terminology and a directional card whose burned labels identify every endpoint and jump target.

How to use Laser Lab

Step 1: Describe Your Hardware

In the Hardware Engine panel, set your Source Power (e.g. 60W), F-Theta Lens focal length (e.g. 210mm), and Substrate Material (Stainless 304/316 or Titanium) plus surface finish (Brushed vs Mirror).

Step 2: Pick a Target Oxide Color

Click a quick-pick swatch (Gold, Red, Blue, Teal, Violet, Black) or use the Custom color picker to dial an exact hex. A live 'achievable' badge shows whether steel/titanium can actually make that hue.

Step 3: Generate the Starting Recipe

Hit Generate Starting Recipe and the solver returns a Power %, Frequency, Q-Pulse Width, Scan Speed, Line Spacing, and Defocus window, plus Thermal Diagnostics (oxide thickness, pulse overlap, spot size).

Step 4: Bracket, Burn & Verify

Treat the recipe as a starting point. Click 'Bracket This Prediction' to load a 5×5 sweep into the MOPA Colour Sweep, burn it, then use Verify Result to teach the engine the color you actually achieved — future predictions self-correct to your machine.

Tactical Tip

Before using Delay Tuner, save or screenshot the manufacturer configuration. Verify A1–A4 direction in Preview, use conservative power on scrap, and change only one timing value per fresh mark.

MOPA Color Predictor

Predicts color outputs on Stainless Steel 304, Stainless Steel 316 and Titanium based on Frequency, Pulse Width, and Power. The defining tab of the Lab for fiber/MOPA operators.

Pulse Width (ns)

Lower ns (2–10) creates thinner oxide layers (Blues/Purples). Higher ns (50–200) creates thicker layers (Golds/Greens).

Frequency (kHz)

Higher frequency spreads the heat for more uniform colors. Lower frequency bites deeper into the metal. Oxide colors live roughly in the 250–1500 kHz band.

Line Spacing (mm)

The gap between scan lines (what other software calls "Hatch" or "Interval"). Tighter spacing (0.01–0.03mm) lays down a solid, saturated oxide; wider spacing marks faster but can leave visible scan lines.

Defocus (mm)

How far the focal point sits off the surface. A small defocus widens the beam and softens the oxide toward pastel tones; tight focus concentrates energy for deeper, darker marks. The solver suggests a defocus along with power and frequency.

The Other Tabs

Calculators

Speed, power, scale, DPI, and resolution conversions across laser configurations. Quick math for dialing settings.

Delay Tuner

Choose LightBurn Galvo, EZCAD2, or EZCAD3; preserve the manufacturer baseline; then export a 100 mm directional card with burned START/END labels, corner probes, and 5/20/40 mm jump targets. The tuner proposes one reversible next-test value at a time and keeps an experiment history.

Material & Kerf Tests

Build LightBurn material test grids (speed × power matrices) to find perfect settings for a new material.

Before a production run with Laser Lab

Save the source file before changing geometry or parameters, confirm the final physical dimensions, and inspect the smallest details at the intended output size. Use matching scrap to test focus, speed, power, frequency, and layer order. Record the settings that worked with the material and machine so the next job starts from a verified result.

Open Laser Lab Tool Workspace