The Mr Beam software is browser-based and works best via Google Chrome. This means that no other programmes and no additional installation are required. Once you have completed the initial setup, the quickest way to access the software is via the find.mr-beam service. In the following article, we will give you an insight into the most important functions of BeamOS.
1. Homing and focussing laserhead
1. Homing and focussing laserhead
When starting the software, the Homing cycle button appears on the workspace. Click on it to move the laser head to the starting position (top right corner) in order to synchronise its actual coordinates with the software.
Next, place your desired material in the workspace and focus the laser head on your material height. Double-click on the work surface to move the laser head over the material. You can find more detailed information on focussing here. Set the appropriate working height in the software.
2. Quick shape and quick text
The quickest way to create a laser design is to use the Quick Form or Quick Text features in BeamOS. These are located in the left-hand panel of the software in the Workspace tab. Here you have a selection of several shapes, different types of QR codes and selected fonts.
The shapes can all be customised and you can set both the line colour and the area of the object. This means it can either be engraved, cut or engraved and cut.
You can also add your own fonts in the settings. You can find out how this works in this article.
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3. Upload file
Click on the big plus on the left in the design panel and then on File to upload a finished laser file to the software. This opens the design library. Under Upload or by dragging & dropping into the browser window, you can upload files with the extension .dxf, .svg, .gco, .gcode, .gif, .jpe, .jpeg, .jpg, .bmp, .pcx, .png, .webp (+ depending on the Mr Beam version: .g, .go, .goode, .nc). Afterwards these are available for selection on the right.
If you click on your desired file, it will be placed directly in the workspace.
The Mr Beam software already shows you in the workspace which elements it has recognised in your laser file.
 | Filled areas (for engraving): - Pixel graphics such as photos (JPG, PNG, BMP) - Colour gradients or areas |
 | and vector lines (for cutting or engraving) |
4. Design store
In our Design Store you will find a selection of ready-made laser files that are compatible with your Mr Beam and can be purchased with Beam Coins. You can find more information about the Design Store in this article.
5. Positioning
You can now align your file in the workspace on the workpiece as required. You can use the arrows to scale and rotate the graphic.
Note: For precise placement via the camera, you must enter the height of the material if the material thickness is more than 3 mm, otherwise the display on the screen may differ greatly from the actual laser result! You can find more information on placing designs in this article.
Tip: For easier placement, the software offers the option of splitting your SVG file into several pieces. This gives you even more freedom to place your design correctly on the workpiece and can often save space, especially when cutting.
When you are happy with the alignment, click on the Laser button at the top left to go to the laser parameters.
6. Laser parameter
Select the inserted material in the next pop-up window. Depending on the material, you can select the colour and material thickness. If your material colour or thickness is not listed: the default values are only guidelines and can be adjusted manually if necessary - simply select a different colour or thickness that comes closest to your workpiece and change the settings accordingly. You can find further articles on the topics of laser parameters and materials here.
7. Assign Colors
If different colours were used in your laser file, different laser settings and parameters can be assigned to them. Different jobs such as skipping, engraving or cutting can be assigned to the colours by dragging and dropping them into the corresponding field.
8. Advanced Settings
In the case of engraving, the intensity range describes the laser power with which the lightest and darkest grey levels are processed, speed range describes the speed with which grey values are engraved (the lower the speed, the darker the grey levels become).
When cutting materials, intensity represents the laser power and speed - how quickly the laser head moves over the material. Number of passes indicates how often the contour is traced.
You can find even more options by clicking on the advanced settings menu item below.
You can find more information on individual parameter settings in this article.
Click on Start to prepare the order and send it to Mr Beam.
9. Start
When you are prompted to do so, close the lid of the laser and press the button on the device to confirm. The Mr Beam will then immediately start the laser job.
Only open the lid of the Mr Beam again when you receive the message "Laser job finished!".
If you want to pause or cancel the laser process, click on the button.
SOFTWARE-UPDATE
If a software update is available, a message appears in the top right-hand corner of the software. To start the software update, click on Update now. Your Mr Beam will perform the software update automatically. You can also check for updates manually by clicking on Settings > Software update > Check for updates now in the top right-hand corner.
Note: A software update is only possible with an active Internet connection or via a USB update tool!