LX2 How to Use the USB Flash Drive for Engraving

Requirements for a USB Flash Drive

How to Convert USB Flash Drive Format to FAT32

1. Open My Computer, right-click the USB drive, and select Properties.
2. Check the File System. If it's FAT32, no formatting is needed. If not (e.g., NTFS), proceed to Step 3.

   3. Right-click the USB drive and select Format.

   4. Choose FAT32 as the file system and click Start. Once formatted, the USB drive is ready for storing and reading .gcode files.

   

   Requirements for Storing .gcode Files in the USB Flash Drive:

   To ensure efficient file retrieval, .gcode files exported from the PC software should be saved in a folder named “LaserPeckerFile”.

   It is important to note that .gcode project files outside this designated folder will not be accessible by the software when using a USB flash drive.

   

   Exporting the G-code File

   Note

   The .gcode project file can only be saved and exported when the LDS PC software is connected to the LX2 machine.

   1. Connect LX2 to the LDS software and click the camera icon in the top right corner to refresh the background.

   

   2. Click the "Auto Measure" button, position the cursor over the material, then click to start the automatic measurement process.

   

   3. Import the file you want to process, and adjust its size and angle as needed.

   

   4. Set the engraving parameters, including engraving size, power, speed, density, passes, etc.

   

   5. After all parameters are set and verified, click the "Preview" button in the bottom right corner. Click "Start Preview", the red crosshairs of the laser will move along the edge of the processing object, and you can preview the processing area on the material surface. After confirming the processing area, click "End Preview".

   

   6. Click "Process" to enter the processing interface. Then, click "Process" to generate the G-code file.We need to wait for the file to finish "Process" before proceeding to the next step. Once the device's movement trajectory appears, the "Process" is complete.

   

   

    

   7. Click "Back" and follow the steps below to locate the G-code file.

   

   • Copy the following path and enter it into your computer's File Explorer. Remember to replace the username in the path below with your actual username.
   • C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\lds\print
   • For example: C:\Users\Kim Su\AppData\Roaming\lds\print

   

   8. If you cannot find the AppData folder, please check if hidden folders are enabled on your computer. AppData is hidden by default.
   - Click on three points to enter the options and find View
   - Select Showhidden files,folders,and drives

   

   

   9. If you are an Apple computer, you can refer to the steps below.(This method can also be used on Windows computers.)

   

   10. In this folder, you will find a print.gcode file. You can rename the file for easier identification (ensure the file name is no more than 30 characters), and then copy the file to your USB Flash Drive.

   Note

   • When the LX2 reads the file from the USB flash drive, the preview of the .gcode file and the engraving parameters cannot be accessed in the LDS software.
   • It is recommended to include parameter information when saving the file name (e.g., engraving content-Laser source-Density-Power-Speed-Pass) for better organization and efficiency.

   

   Engraving via USB Flash Drive

   1. Insert the USB Flash Drive into the back of the machine.

   2. Connect LX2 to LDS software. Before selecting a file for USB flash drive engraving, remember to perform Auto Measure to confirm the focus distance.

   3. Click the USB drive button to open the G-code file list.

   4. Place the material to the base plate. Select the file you want to engrave, click "preview" to preview the engraving area. Make sure the processing area is within the material's range. If the rectangle preview exceeds the material's boundaries, click "Exit Preview," adjust the material position, and preview again.

   

   5. Click "Engraving" to start.

   Note

   Files exported to the USB cannot be re-edited or used for creating new projects. They are only for controlling the machine functions, such as starting, pausing, continuing, or stopping the engraving.