Professional Laser Control with Full LightBurn Support
Transform your laser cutter with professional-grade control. Smoothieboard v2 works perfectly with LightBurn, LaserGRBL, and all major laser software. Smooth raster engraving, accurate power control, and rock-solid reliability. Perfect for CO2, diode, or fiber lasers. Used by laser cutting professionals worldwide.
Is Your Laser Controller Holding You Back?
Common Frustrations with Stock Controllers:
- ❌ K40 M2 Nano Reliability - Documented 3-6 month failure rates; LightBurn lists it as “no support”
- ❌ Limited Software Compatibility - Many stock controllers only work with proprietary software
- ❌ Slow Raster Engraving - Stock controllers can be significantly slower than optimized alternatives
- ❌ Limited Features - Many controllers lack rotary axis support, network control, or advanced features
- ❌ No LightBurn Support - Stock K40 controllers not compatible with LightBurn
- ❌ USB Connectivity Issues - Long jobs can fail due to USB disconnections or PC power management
For Professional Work, You Need Better Control.
Professional-Grade Laser Control
What Changes with Smoothieboard:
Software Freedom:
- ✅ Full LightBurn Support - All features, all workflows work perfectly
- ✅ LaserGRBL Compatible - Free, powerful G-code sender
- ✅ Any Laser Software - Not locked into vendor software
- ✅ Network Control - Run jobs over Ethernet, no USB cable issues
Quality Improvements:
- ✅ Smooth Raster Engraving - 32-bit precision, no stepping or banding
- ✅ Cluster Mode Acceleration - LightBurn cluster mode support: tested at 3x faster raster engraving (250mm/sec @ 254 DPI)
- ✅ True Grayscale - Proper PWM power control for photographic quality
- ✅ Accurate Curves - Advanced arc interpolation, smooth circles
- ✅ Consistent Power - Precise laser tube control
Reliability:
- ✅ Battle-Tested - 15 years proven in laser cutting applications
- ✅ Repairable - Open hardware, replacement parts available
- ✅ Community Support - Active forums, extensive documentation
Expandability:
- ✅ Rotary Axis Support - Native 4th axis for cylindrical engraving (tumblers, bottles, pens)
- ✅ Camera Integration - Alignment and positioning with LightBurn camera
- ✅ Web Interface - HTTP server for browser-based file upload and job monitoring
- ✅ Drag-and-Drop Firmware Updates - Copy firmware.bin to SD card, automatic flash
- ✅ Multi-Head Systems - Control multiple laser heads simultaneously
- ✅ Air Assist Control - Automated based on job requirements
- ✅ Custom Sensors - 63 GPIO for any addition you need
Works Perfectly with LightBurn
LightBurn is the Industry Standard - If you're serious about laser work, you use LightBurn. Smoothie + LightBurn is the proven combination.
All LightBurn Features Supported:
- ✅ Camera alignment and positioning
- ✅ Rotary mode for cylindrical objects
- ✅ Grayscale and dithering modes
- ✅ Job preview with accurate time estimates
- ✅ Material library (save settings per material)
- ✅ Advanced toolpathing and optimization
- ✅ Network or USB connection (your choice)
“LightBurn + Smoothieboard is THE combo for professional laser work. Stock controller never worked right with LightBurn, but Smoothie is flawless.”
— Laser cutting professional, Etsy shop owner
Also Works With:
- LaserGRBL (free, open-source)
- LaserWeb (web-based control)
- Visicut
- Any G-code sender
Universal Laser Compatibility
Supported Laser Types:
CO2 Lasers:
- K40 lasers (see our K40-specific upgrade page)
- Blue box / Red box Chinese lasers
- Full Spectrum lasers
- Epilog / Trotec (aftermarket upgrade)
- Custom CO2 builds (any wattage: 40W to 150W+)
Diode Lasers:
- Desktop engravers (Ortur, Atomstack, xTool, etc.)
- High-power blue lasers
- Multi-diode arrays
- Custom diode builds
Fiber Lasers:
- Marking machines
- Metal engraving systems
- Custom fiber setups
All Power Levels Supported:
- 5W to 150W+ laser tubes
- PWM or analog power control
- Configurable power ranges
Rotary Axis Support
Expand Your Product Offerings - Add rotary engraving to your laser business.
Engrave Cylindrical Objects:
- Tumblers, cups, mugs
- Wine and beer bottles
- Pens, flashlights, vape pens
- Cylindrical parts
- Baseball bats, rolling pins
Native 4th Axis Support:
- Works seamlessly with LightBurn’s rotary mode
- Simple configuration (just a few lines in config.txt)
- No hardware hacks needed
- Chuck rotaries, roller rotaries, indexing rotaries all supported
Popular Rotary Setups:
- OMTech rotary attachments
- LightBurn-compatible rotaries
- DIY custom rotary builds
- Multi-roller systems for large diameter
Production-Ready Features
For Small Businesses & Etsy Sellers:
Reliability You Can Depend On:
- Run 8-10 hour production jobs without failures
- Network control prevents USB disconnection issues
- Proven in production environments for years
- Open hardware means you can repair it yourself if needed
Professional Workflow:
- LightBurn integration = professional-grade workflow
- Material library for consistent results across batches
- Job queuing and management
- Repeat orders easily - save and reload jobs
Quality Control:
- Consistent power delivery job after job
- Repeatable results for production runs
- No variation batch-to-batch
- Professional quality for client work
Before & After: Engraving Quality
Stock Controller Raster Engraving:
- Visible banding and pixelation
- Poor grayscale reproduction
- Inconsistent power delivery
- Stepped appearance on gradients
Smoothieboard Raster Engraving:
- Smooth gradients, no banding
- Photographic-quality grayscale
- Precise power control
- Professional results suitable for client work
“The quality difference is night and day. My Etsy customers immediately noticed the improvement in engraving detail. Smoothie upgrade paid for itself in 2 weeks.”
— Laser engraving business owner
Laser Resources & Guides
Installation Guides:
Software Setup:
- LightBurn configuration guide
- LaserGRBL setup instructions
- Camera alignment tutorials
- Rotary axis configuration
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will this work with my [brand] laser?
A: If it’s a CO2, diode, or fiber laser controlled via G-code and PWM, yes. Smoothieboard works with K40, blue box, Full Spectrum, Epilog (aftermarket), and custom builds.
Q: How difficult is installation?
A: Similar to any controller replacement. Wire stepper motors, limit switches, and laser PWM control. Most laser owners complete installation in 2-4 hours using our guides.
Q: Will LightBurn work perfectly?
A: Yes. Full feature support including rotary, camera, grayscale, and network control. This is the upgrade LightBurn users recommend.
Q: Can I add a rotary axis later?
A: Absolutely. Native 4th axis support is built-in. Just configure it when you’re ready.
Q: What about air assist / water cooling / exhaust fan control?
A: Smoothieboard can control all of these via the Switch module (included in firmware, no extra cost).
Q: Is $200 worth it for professional work?
A: Ask yourself: What’s the cost of a failed client job from controller issues? What’s the value of using LightBurn properly? Most professional laser users say this upgrade pays for itself quickly.
Ready to Upgrade Your Laser?
Smoothieboard v2 Prime - $200
What’s Included:
- Smoothieboard v2 Prime board
- Choice of TMC2660 or TMC2590 stepper drivers
- Pre-flashed with latest firmware
- Quick start guide
Free Laser Resources:
- Laser wiring diagrams
- LightBurn setup guide
- Power control configuration examples
- Rotary axis setup guide
- Community forum support
Where to Buy:
Upgrade Your Laser Cutter - $200
✓ Full LightBurn Support
✓ Smooth Raster Engraving
✓ Works with Any Laser (CO2, Diode, Fiber)
✓ Rotary Axis Ready
✓ Production Reliable
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