Generate a focus-ramp SVG to find your laser's optimal Z height. Mount the ramp at the shown angle, cut a straight line, find the narrowest kerf — that's your focus sweet spot.
You mount a piece of material at a slight angle under the laser head, then cut a straight line at a fixed Z height. Because the material rises or falls along the line, different parts of it are at different focal distances. The section with the thinnest, cleanest cut is your optimal focus height.
Print or cut the outline at 100% scale. Use the tick labels to make a wedge-shaped riser out of scrap material at the shown angle. Place your test material on top, cut a straight line at your normal Z height, and measure which tick mark is closest to the narrowest kerf.
Diode lasers typically have a ±1–2mm depth of field. CO₂ lasers are similar. Fiber lasers have a much tighter ±0.3–0.7mm window. The preset for your machine type is a good starting point.
The test grid finds optimal speed and power. The focus ramp finds optimal Z height. The kerf calibrator measures beam width. Together they form the full calibration trilogy for a new material.
If your machine has auto-focus (probe or sensor), you may not need this. But a manual ramp test is still useful to verify or override auto-focus, especially for uneven or transparent materials.
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