The Advanced Parameters panel gives you finer control over your cutting results. This panel is hidden by default and can be enabled by turning on the Advanced Parameters switch in the parameter settings panel. When the job type is set to Cutting, the following advanced options become available.
¶ 1. Number of passes
Passes determine how many times the laser head repeats the same cutting path. Increasing the number of passes allows for deeper or cleaner cuts, which is helpful when working with thicker or denser materials.
¶ 1.1 Setting Passes
The default value is 1 pass. You can select or manually enter any number from 1 to 10. If a value greater than 10 is entered, the software will automatically set it to the maximum of 10.
¶ 2. Lower the Focus
Lowering the focus adjusts the focal point of the laser so it sits slightly below the surface of the material, helping increase cutting penetration on thicker materials. When the focus is shifted downward, the laser converges deeper inside the material, improving its ability to cut through.
¶ 2.1 Setting Lower Focus
- Toggle on the switch next to Lower the Focus, then enter the desired distance (in millimeters) in the input field.
- Adjustment range: 0–5 mm. You may enter values with up to two decimal places. If a value greater than 5 mm is entered, it will be automatically limited to 5 mm.
¶ 3. Kerf Offset
Because the laser beam has a finite width, the material along the beam path is burned away during cutting. This burned-away width is known as the kerf. If no compensation is applied, the center of the laser beam follows the design path exactly, which can result in parts being slightly smaller than intended, and holes being slightly larger.
Kerf Offset (also called kerf compensation) lets you shift the laser path to account for material lost to the kerf.
¶ 3.1 Setting Kerf Offset
- Toggle on the switch next to Kerf Offset. You can adjust the value using the slider or by entering it manually. The default is 0 mm, and values support two decimal places.
- Adjustment range: –1 mm to +1 mm. Values above 1 mm will be limited to 1 mm; values below –1 mm will be limited to –1 mm.
- Positive offset expands the cutting path outward. This helps ensure finished parts don’t end up undersized.
- Negative offset contracts the path inward, which is useful when you need tight-fitting parts.
¶ 4. Tab generation
¶ 4.1 What Tabs Are
Tabs are small, intentionally uncut segments left along a cutting path. Their purpose is to keep cut pieces attached to the surrounding material during processing so they don’t fall out too early. Tabs are especially useful for intricate designs or when cutting many small parts at once.
¶ 4.2 How Tabs Work
When tabs are enabled, the software briefly pauses the laser or reduces its power at specific points along the cutting path. This leaves a tiny uncut section—your tab—so the piece stays lightly connected until the job is finished.
¶ 4.3 Setting the Number of Tabs
Toggle on the switch next to Tabs to adjust tab quantity and tab power.
- Tab Quantity: Defines how many tabs are added along an entire cutting path. The default is 1 tab.
- More tabs provide better stability and prevent cut pieces from dropping, but too many increase the amount of cleanup and manual trimming required afterward.
¶ 4.4 Setting Tab Power
- Tab Power: Controls the laser output when passing over a tab. The default is 40%.
- Lower power results in stronger, wider, more secure tabs. Higher power creates thinner tabs that are easier to break. However, if the power is set too high, the laser may cut all the way through, preventing a tab from forming.
