Laser Test Cards · Laser Generator Studio
Laser Test Card Generator
Power × speed material test grids, line-interval cards and a kerf and joint-fit comb. Every cell runs its own setting, so one card shows you the right numbers for a new material.
- Exports
- SVG, G-code, DXF, PDF
- Works with
- LightBurn, xTool Creative Space, GRBL lasers
- Materials
- Any material you want to dial in
Why a test card beats guessing
Published settings are a starting point. The same “3 mm basswood” can be denser from one supplier than another, and two lasers with the same wattage on the label rarely cut identically. A test card burns a grid of small squares, each with a different combination of settings, so ten minutes and a scrap of material tell you what your machine actually needs.
The Laser Test Cards studio makes three kinds of card.
1. Power × speed grid
Set a power range and a speed range and the studio builds a grid: power changes down the rows and speed across the columns, with the values engraved beside each row and column. Each cell can be an engrave fill, a line or a cut, and cut cells can use more than one pass.
Reading it is simple. For engraving, pick the darkest cell that is still crisp and not charred. For cutting, pick the fastest cell that dropped out cleanly. That cell’s power and speed are your settings for that material.
2. Line interval card
Fills and photos are made of parallel lines. Too far apart and you see stripes; too close and the surface overburns. This card keeps power and speed fixed and changes the line interval from row to row so you can see which spacing gives the smoothest, most even tone. Use the result in photo engraving, where the export DPI and line interval should match.
3. Kerf and fit comb
Finger joints, inlays and press-fit parts all depend on how much material the beam removes. The kerf gauge is a row of 10 bars cut side by side. Push them together, measure the gap that is left and divide by 10: that is your kerf. The fit comb has slots that step through a range of offsets, and the peg holes show which hole size gives a press fit. More on this on the kerf calculator page.
Getting it onto your machine
| Machine or software | Export | How the settings are applied |
|---|---|---|
| LightBurn | SVG, colour by layer | Each cell is a separate LightBurn layer colour; set each layer to the values on the card |
| xTool Creative Space | SVG, colour by layer | Each cell arrives as its own colour; assign power and speed per colour |
| GRBL lasers | G-code | Every cell already runs at its own power and speed; set Max S for your controller |
Tip: keep focus, air assist and the material position identical between the test and the real job. A test card only tells you the truth about the conditions you ran it under.
Building a swatch library
Cut the card out of the sheet (there is an option for it) and engrave the material name in the label area. After a few weeks you will have a stack of cards for every material you use, which is faster than any settings table when a customer asks for something new.
If you’d like a head start before you test, the laser settings pages give starting values for xTool, Glowforge, Epilog, OMTech, Thunder Laser, Sculpfun, Atomstack and Aeon machines. Use them to set the middle of your grid.
Questions
How do I run a test card in LightBurn?
Export the SVG with the LightBurn preset and colours set by layer. Every cell lands on its own LightBurn layer colour, and the labels show which power and speed belong to which cell. Set each layer to the value printed beside it and run the job.
What does the G-code option do?
On GRBL machines the G-code runs every cell at its own real power and speed, so you don't have to set up one layer per cell. Set the Max S value to match your controller (often 1000) so the power percentages come out right.
How many cells should I use?
A 5 × 5 or 6 × 6 grid is usually enough to find the useful range. Run a coarse grid first, then a finer grid around the cells that looked best.
Why test line interval separately?
Line interval (the gap between engraving lines) changes how dark and smooth a fill looks as much as power does. The line-interval card holds power and speed steady and changes only the spacing, so you can see the effect on its own.
Do I need a new card for every material?
For every material and thickness you sell, yes, and again if you change lenses or the machine starts to behave differently. Label finished cards with the material and keep them as a swatch library.
xTool, LightBurn, Glowforge, Epilog, OMTech, Thunder Laser, Sculpfun, Atomstack, Aeon are trademarks of their respective owners. Laser Generator Studio is an independent product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.