Bearded Builds Laser Wiki¶
Welcome. This is our free laser knowledge base — practical guides from the shop floor at Bearded Builds Co. We cut and engrave custom plaques and gifts every week, teach LightBurn, and share what we learn so you can get better results without wasting material.
Use the search bar at the top (or press Ctrl+K / Cmd+K on most setups) to jump straight to a topic. Or browse by section below.
What you'll find here¶
| Section | Start here |
|---|---|
| Machines | Laser types · Focus & alignment · Ventilation & safety · CO₂ maintenance · Fiber basics · UV lasers |
| Materials | What you can laser · Starter settings · Fiber metal marking |
| LightBurn | LightBurn basics |
| Troubleshooting | Common LightBurn errors · CO₂ problems · Fiber problems |
| Safety | Eye safety & fire · Common mistakes |
| Buying guides | Laser buying guide · Gear we use |
| Projects | Engraving a plaque · Rotary engraving |
| Business | Pricing laser work · Finding customers |
| Reference | Glossary |
How we write these pages¶
- We favor safe, accurate guidance over long lists of unverified numbers.
- Machine-specific power/speed numbers belong in your test grid — we explain the method and leave room for settings you have proven on your machine.
- Safety notes use callouts so they are hard to miss. Read them before you fire the laser.
New to lasers?¶
- Read Laser types so you know which machine does what.
- Skim What you can laser — especially the materials you should never cut.
- Walk through LightBurn basics for your first job.
- When something breaks, check Common LightBurn errors.
Go further¶
Primary next step
Master LightBurn¶
Structured LightBurn training from Bearded Builds — skip the scattered YouTube rabbit holes. Lifetime access with updates.
Also: Shop custom plaques · YouTube · Course hub