“Diode”, “CO₂”, “fiber”, “gantry”, “galvo” and “GRBL” do not describe the same property. Mixing them is why a correct tutorial for one machine can become useless or unsafe on another.
Three labels to record
- Laser source and wavelength — the part that creates the beam. Common workshop sources include blue diode, CO₂, near-infrared diode and fiber.
- Motion system — a gantry moves a head or beam-delivery system across a bed; a galvo steers the beam with fast mirrors through a lens.
- Controller/firmware — for example GRBL-family GCode, DSP controllers such as Ruida, or a galvo controller. This determines how LightBurn communicates and which controls are available.
A “fiber laser” normally describes the source. A “galvo” describes beam movement. Many fiber machines are galvos, but the terms are not interchangeable. Likewise, GRBL identifies control behavior, not the laser wavelength.
Find the facts instead of guessing
Open the machine manual, rating plate and manufacturer's product page. Record the exact model, source type/wavelength, optical power, controller/firmware and work area. In LightBurn, open Laser → Devices and confirm the selected device profile matches the controller and dimensions. Do not change firmware settings merely to make the profile name look right.