The Piburn rotary accessory is engineered for precision, speed, and ease of use, making cylindrical engraving more efficient than ever. Whether you’re working with tumblers, glassware, or stainless steel bottles, mastering the setup and operation of your rotary is key to producing consistent, professional results.
In this guide, we’ll walk through every step of using the Piburn V with your laser engraver, including machine setup, alignment, testing, and best practices for optimizing rotation and image quality.
Perfect for users working with machines like the OneLaser X Series or Hydra Series, this guide ensures your rotary work starts off right.
1. Connect the Piburn V to Your Laser Engraver
Before any engraving can happen, you need to connect the rotary accessory to your laser machine correctly and safely. This setup step is essential because the rotary temporarily takes over the Y-axis function of your engraver. Improper connections can cause skipped steps, stuttering, or even hardware damage.
In this section, you'll learn how to locate the correct connection port, shut down your machine safely, and plug in your Piburn V properly. A clean connection sets the stage for smooth and accurate rotary motion from the start.
Steps to connect your rotary to laser machine:
Step #1: Identify the correct Y-axis connection port.
On most CO₂ laser engravers, the rotary replaces the Y-axis stepper motor during use. Locate your Y-axis motor connector on the machine's controller or motion board.
Step #2: Power down your laser machine.
Always turn off and unplug the machine before making any hardware changes. This protects the controller and avoids short-circuiting or miscommunication with the stepper drivers.
Step #3: Plug in the Piburn V rotary.
Connect the rotary’s stepper motor plug into the Y-axis port. Ensure a firm, tight connection, loose plugs may result in stuttering motion or failed jobs.
Tips & Tricks:
- Label your connections (Y-motor vs. rotary) to simplify future switch-outs.
- Use a controller with rotary toggle support to avoid manually switching wires every time.
2. Place and Level the Rotary Inside the Machine
Getting your rotary positioned correctly is a major factor in how well your engraving turns out. Alignment and leveling prevent skewed images, uneven depth, and wobble during rotation.
Whether you're engraving a straight-sided tumbler or a handled mug, it's crucial to make sure the rotary is aligned parallel to the laser gantry and leveled to the laser bed. In this section, we’ll cover how to place your rotary, adjust its height, and prepare it for a variety of object shapes and sizes.
How to Place Your Rotary?
Step #1: Position the rotary parallel to the gantry.
The rollers should run perfectly perpendicular to the X-axis rail. Misalignment here leads to skewed engraving results.
Step #2: Use leveling feet or shims to match bed height.
Some materials (e.g., mugs with handles) require custom leveling. The Piburn V offers adjustable legs to fine-tune height and balance.
Step #3: Ensure the rollers are clean and smooth.
Debris or oil on the rollers can lead to slipping. Wipe down the rollers before each use, especially if you’ve engraved coated tumblers or glassware.
Tips & Tricks:
- Use a digital level or angle gauge to align both sides of the rotary evenly.
- For tapered objects, elevate one end of the Piburn to ensure flat rotational travel.
3. Secure the Object on the Rotary
Your object needs to sit firmly on the rotary for the laser to engrave cleanly and consistently. If it wobbles, slips, or rotates unevenly, you’ll end up with blurry, skewed, or double-engraved artwork. That’s why this step focuses on spacing the rollers properly, aligning the object to the laser path, and ensuring stable rotation. From glassware to metal tumblers, each material and shape has its quirks.
Here, we’ll show you how to get the object perfectly centered and secure so your design stays sharp throughout the engraving process.
What to Consider?
1. Choose the appropriate roller width.
Adjust the spacing of the rollers to match the diameter of the object. Most items should rest naturally between them without shifting.
2. Align the object’s center to the laser beam.
Use your laser pointer or framing function to check that the engraving area is parallel to the X-axis and centered for optimal rotation.
3. Ensure stable, balanced rotation.
The object should rotate freely without wobble or bounce. For odd shapes or heavier pieces, use counterweights or tape to stabilize movement.
Tips & Tricks:
- Use masking tape as a visual guide for aligning designs.
- For mugs with handles, position the handle so it avoids interference with roller rotation.
4. Adjust Rotary Settings in the LightBurn
Hardware setup is only half the equation—now it’s time to configure your software for rotary mode. Getting this part right ensures your designs scale and rotate correctly across cylindrical surfaces. In LightBurn and similar programs, you’ll need to enter details like roller type, object diameter, and steps per rotation. Dialing in these settings helps prevent stretched images, mismatched alignment, or missed details. This section explains how to enable rotary mode, enter accurate measurements, and fine-tune resolution settings so the laser performs exactly how you expect it to.
How to Adjust Your Rotary in LightBurn?
Step #1: Enable rotary mode.
In software like LightBurn, toggle on “Rotary Setup.” Choose roller type and input the roller diameter and steps per rotation (as specified for Piburn V).
Step #2: Input the correct object diameter.
Measure the engravable portion of your item and input this into the rotary setup to ensure accurate scaling.
Step #3: Adjust job dimensions and DPI.
Rotary jobs often benefit from slightly higher DPI (300–400), especially on powder-coated surfaces or glass.
Tips & Tricks:
- Use a test pattern or bounding box to simulate engraving boundaries before starting.
- Save rotary profiles for repeat jobs—this speeds up workflow and reduces errors.
5. Focus and Frame the Job
With your rotary and object in place, it’s time to check focus and alignment—two steps that dramatically impact the quality of your final result. Focusing ensures that the laser hits the material cleanly, while framing verifies that your artwork is properly aligned and won’t engrave off-center or off-surface. In this section, you’ll learn how to set the focus point on a curved object, use your laser’s framing tool, and manually rotate the cylinder to confirm alignment. These precautions can save you time, materials, and frustration down the line.
What Should Be Noticed?
1: Focus on the highest point of the object.
Use autofocus or manual focusing tools to align the laser beam precisely with the top surface of the rotating item.
2: Frame the engraving job.
Use the laser’s framing function to run the outline of your job without firing. This ensures alignment is perfect before starting.
3: Rotate the object manually to check beam alignment.
Slowly rotate the cylinder to ensure the beam stays on track and doesn’t drift or curve due to improper leveling.
Tips & Tricks:
- Use a dry-erase marker to mockup placement on the object before engraving.
- Always use the lowest section of the laser lens for the shortest focal length and cleanest results.
6. Run a Test Engraving Pass
Jumping straight into a full engraving job without testing is a risk you don’t need to take. A low-power test pass lets you check how your material reacts to the laser, reveals any issues with movement or alignment, and gives you a preview of image clarity. In this section, we’ll walk through how to run a quick sample at reduced power, what signs to look for in terms of slippage or misalignment, and how to adjust your power and speed settings based on the test. A few extra minutes here pays off big.
How to Run a Test Before Engraving?
Step #1: Use a low-power pass to test depth and clarity.
Set power to 10–20% and run a grayscale or text sample to see how the material reacts.
Step #2: Check for slippage or ghosting.
Look for signs of misalignment or repeating patterns. These may indicate improper tension or weight distribution.
Step #3: Adjust speed and power settings.
Increase or decrease power/speed depending on how the material responded. Harder surfaces like stainless steel often require slower speeds and higher power.
Tips & Tricks:
- Use a sacrificial blank for testing before engraving expensive products.
- Log material settings for future projects and consistent output.
7. Start the Full Engraving Process
Once your test pass looks good, you’re ready to run the full engraving. At this point, every detail—connection, alignment, settings, and testing—should be in place. But there are still a few best practices to follow for safety and efficiency. This section explains how to start the job properly, monitor early motion, and let the job finish without interruption. You’ll also find tips for safe operation, like using your enclosure’s safety features and checking rotation during the initial passes. Let the machine do the work, but keep an eye on it early on.
8. Post-Processing the Finished Item
The engraving is done—but you're not quite finished yet. Post-processing ensures your final product looks clean, professional, and ready for presentation or sale. Depending on the material, you may need to let it cool, wipe away residue, or apply a finish to bring out the contrast. This section covers basic cleanup procedures, inspection tips, and enhancement methods that make your engraved items stand out. Whether you're creating for clients, storefronts, or personal use, these final touches help turn a raw engraved item into a polished piece.
Conclusion
The Piburn rotary accessories expands what your laser engraver can do—making it a vital tool for anyone working with cylindrical products. From stainless steel tumblers and mugs to glassware and wine bottles, this rotary system offers unmatched control and precision.
By following the proper steps for setup, alignment, and parameter calibration, you’ll unlock high-quality rotary engraving that looks professional and consistent. Whether you're a first-time user or scaling up your business with a OneLaser machine, the Piburn V helps you engrave smarter and sell faster.
