Are you a new owner of a Mr Beam? In this article we give you an overview of the most important topics to get you through the basic to get you started with laser cutting and engraving!


1. Setting Up
    Unpack, set up and connect


2. Software and getting ready for the first laser job
     Software / Camera / Materials


3. Laser cutting with Mr Beam 

     Focussing / Laser parameters / set up a laser file / Design Store
    

4. Servicing
     Maintenance and servicing / Laser head cleaning / Air filter exchange 

1. Setting Up


1. These are the first steps to set up your new Mr Beam: all about unpacking, setting up, connecting and laser cutting.
(more details in the article: What do I need for using Mr Beam?)



2. Connect your Mr Beam with your computer: 
There are three ways to connect your Mr Beam: 


A. via WiFi Access Point
B. via cable (recommended) 
C. via home-WiFi 


(more details in the article Connecting your Mr Beam)



3. Mr Beam Status Lights signal the modes of connection currently available for your Mr Beam. Status lights pulsate (or breathe) in different colours:


  • Orange: connection via the find.mr-beam.org us available
  • Green: connection via WiFi WLAN Access Point available
  • White: Your Mr Beam is either connected via a network cable or via WiFi, but the connection via find.mr-beam.org service is not available.

(more details and information about further colours of the status lights can be found in the following article.)


2. Software and getting ready for the first laser job


1. Mr. Beam Software: 

The Mr Beam software (BeamOS) is browser-based and works best on Google Chrome. This means you don't need to install any additional programs or tools.

(more details in the article Mr Beam Software)


Tip: Double-click on the working area to move the laser head to your desired position.


2. The camera, which is mounted on the lid, helps to position your laser designs accurately on the working area. 

  • The camera of your Mr Beam takes and processes new pictures every 5-10 seconds. You can then see the black-and-white preview picture in the "working area" in the software. 
  • To restart the camera, please close the lid of your Mr Beam and open it again. 
  • The pink circles in the corners of the working area help the camera to find orientation. This is why they should not be covered by your material or by the horizontal leading axle. 


(more details in the article The camera: general information)



Tip: For precise positioning through the camera image you should enter the height of your object in the left pane of the "working area" in the software. Especially if you are working with objects higher than 3mm like cuttings boards, wooden spoon, clothes peg, etc. This will help the camera to adjust the preview image more accurately.



3. Everything about materials:


3. Laser-cutting with your Mr Beam


1. Focus your laser head : 

After you have placed your material on the working space, you should focus your laser head. 

To achieve the best results with your Mr Beam, the distance between the lower edge of the laser head and the upper edge of the material in use must be 10mm. You should adjust this distance manually, with the help of the focus tool. 


(more details in the article Focusing the laser head)


Rough Focusing:


Fine Focusing: 



2. Laser Parameters

Open the Mr Beam Software in your browser (Google Chrome works best) and position your design in the working area. After clicking on "Laser" a new window will pop up, in which you will be able to choose your material and adjust various laser parameters.


The most important laser laser parameters which influence the laser-cutting process, are: 

  • Laser intensity 
  • Speed 
  • and number of Passes


If you are aiming for a deeper laser-cutting or a greater engraving effect, you can either increase intensity, decrease speed or turn up the number of passes.

(more details about every single laser parameter in the article Laser Parameters)



3. Set up a laser file

  • What should you pay attention to when setting up a laser-cutting file specifically for Mr Beam? Which steps are important in various vector editing programs? (more details in the article Set up a file for laser-cutting and engraving)
  • Which file formats do I need for using the Mr Beam? (more details in the article What kind of files can your Mr Beam process?) 
  • Why is it important to know the difference between a vector and a raster graphic for laser-cutting? (More details in the article Vector vs raster: How to choose the right file format)
  • And what should you pay attention to when working with text elements and lettering? (more in the article  How-To: cut out or engrave lettering.)



4. Design Store
 

Design Store is where you will find a selection of laser files, which you can buy and download. After a successful purchase, the files will be automatically uploaded to your design library. (more information and everything about Design Store)


4. Care-taking


1. Maintenance and taking care of your Mr Beam  

We recommend keeping the working area of Mr Beam clean, otherwise dirt particles get blown around during every laser job which can affect your laser result. A small vacuum cleaner might be handy for cleaning, but a cleaning rag and glas cleaner are also sufficient. 

(more information about General Cleaning and Maintenance Tips)


2. Laser Head Cleaning

The laser head should be cleaned if there is a noticeable deterioration in the laser result or cutting performance. This also depends heavily on the materials being processed - wood, for example, should be cleaned much more often!


We assembled a detailed tutorial on how to clean your laser head probably in this article: How to clean a laser head. Otherwise, you can also make use of our cleaning service - available for purchase in our Shop.


3. Mr Beam Air Filter System - Filter changing

Mr Beam Air Filter System has two filter parts, which need to be replaced from time to time:

  •  a pre-filter (pre-filter mat/cartridge) for rough particles, 
  • and a main filter consisting of a HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter.

It depends a lot on the materials you laser cut and engrave how often you actually need to replace your filter. If you work a lot with leather, wood or paper, we recommend to replace it more regularly, than if you are working with acrylic, felt or foam rubber.


(How exactly and when to exchange your filter is described in the article Air Filter System and how to change a filter)