Lightburn includes editing functionality, but for now I prefer to use Inkscape for editing. I was able to import my Inkscape laser cut designs into LightBurn. Running the Smoothieware software, almost any aspect of the controller can be configured with a configuration file on the micro SD card.

The heart of the Smoothieware boards is the NXP ARM Cortex-M3 LPC1769. The last item requires an LCD attached (or graphic display).Running jobs without PC attached (e.g.Ability to run G code on the machine with command line control.More stepper motor drivers to control Z axis plus add a rotation axis for round objects: the M2-Nano only supports two steppers (X and Y axis).Controlling the laser power with software: I have to set the laser power on the panel, and lasering something with multiple speed and power requires multiple manual steps.While the above hardware and software is working fine, I was aiming for more:

That Smoothieware project really kicked me off to enhance my laser cutter with a more powerful solution.

And there I really enjoyed the benefits of the Smoothieware: free, opensource and powerful G-code and CNC controller software, used for 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC milling. The K40 Whisperer software is free of charge (thanks!) and evolving (see ), but when working on another side project I taped in the the world of CNC and 3D printing controllers.

Lightburn k40 laser