Solution to move Z to a safe height between groups or layers

Should be able to do it with Z offset.
Set laser higher up out of focus then set offset to drop it down in focus.
The I believe you can enable relative Z moves.

Here’s the instructions on some tests i did a while ago on how Z axis Offset Works

I was wondering if anyone has used the Z Axis Offset. I assume with this you can adjust the Z axis height for each individual layer for cutting or engraving. Example: Layer 1 is engrave, set z axis for engrave height. Layer 2 is cut move laser down for cutting

I have a job that has 3 Layers, The first layer is engrave, the second two layers are cut.
So i would set the depth of cut manually for the first layer which is engrave before i start the job.
On the second layer i set the Z Axis Offset for 5mm to move the laser down 5mm for the cut
No problem there.
What about the third layer which is also cut?
Will the Z Axis move back up and i need to also set the third layer for 5mm Offset or will it stay at the current Z Axis Position which was 5mm from the starting position

OK. Did a test and it looks like the Z Offset is Accumulative from the original position. So to do this i need to do the following

Set Z Position for Engrave focus depth before starting job
Set Z Offset for 0mm for first Engrave Layer
Set Z Offset for 5mm for second Cut Layer
Set Z Offset for 10mm for third Cut Layer
It does work but the downside is it increases job time because it repositions Z for every individual design element. Might be more efficient to just leave Z Offset at 0 and then run each layer one at a time.

“I figured that I could use multiple layers and insert a dummy layer in between to reset the laser head to a safe height.”

I was able to achieve this.

set laser to engraving distance
use a dummy layer to move the head up -10mm
use design elements to control the head movement over the side of the tray
engrave again down 10mm
But there is a limitation to this, the number of layers.
Is lightburn limited to 29 layers?

Is there a more practical solution?

• Miller

  : Don’t know of any other solution. Like i mentioned It does work but the downside is it increases job time because it repositions Z for every individual design element in the layer. Lightburn says there are no limits to the number layers you can have

• Cruise Wang

  Reply

  @Miller

  : Good to hear, I think this would be a cool feature. Say changing height in the same layer for a specific group.

• Miller

  Reply

  @Cruise Wang

  : Don’t think you can change height for different objects in the same layer. But you can have sub layers. Maybe that would do it