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TRAINING:// BASE_KNOWLEDGE

SELF-SERVE FUNDAMENTALS ▸ LEARN THE MACHINES, MASTER THE ZONES

> LEARNING_PATH

If you're starting from zero, follow this sequence. Each phase builds on the last.

I SAFETY FIRST Laser & chemical safety. Material hazards. PPE. Ventilation. What NOT to cut/print. II DIGITAL BASICS File formats (SVG/STL/STEP). LightBurn. Slicers. Vector vs raster. G-code concepts. III MACHINE OPS Hands-on with supervision. Start with CO₂ laser (safest) → FDM printing → CNC → fiber laser → resin → finishing.

> FORGE // LASER_CUTTING_&_CNC

CO₂ Laser Basics 101 START HERE
Zero-to-first-cut. What a CO₂ laser is, how it works, what it cuts (and doesn't). Safety, ventilation, focus, basic settings. Read/watch before any CO₂ laser operation.
CNC Basics 101 START HERE
Zero-to-first-cut. What CNC machining is, basic G-code concepts, workholding, tool selection, feeds and speeds. Safety, zeroing, homing. Read/watch before any CNC operation.
LightBurn Tutorials FREEMFG OFFICIAL
lightburnsoftware.com/pages/tutorials
THE laser control software. Covers setup, layers, cut/engrave parameters, material libraries, camera alignment. Start here for ALL lasers.
Laser Everything FREEYOUTUBE
youtube.com/@LaserEverything
Deep fiber/diode laser channel. Material tests, power/speed settings, galvo vs gantry. Best source for Senfeng-style dual-source machines.
Epilog Laser Resources FREEMFG OFFICIAL
epiloglaser.com/resources
CO₂ laser fundamentals, material guides, sample projects. Epilog makes CO₂ lasers but the principles transfer to any brand.
Shaper Tools Academy FREEMFG OFFICIAL
shapertools.com/support/tutorials
Official Origin CNC training. Tape placement, on-tool design, Studio/AutoPass workflow. Watch before touching the machine.
Laser Safety Guide FREE
laserax.com/blog/laser-safety
Laser class system, enclosure requirements, eye protection. Read before operating any laser.
MATERIAL SAFETY: NEVER CUT THESE CRITICAL
PVC → chlorine gas (lethal, corrosive) | Polycarbonate → toxic smoke/fire | ABS → cyanide gas | Fiberglass → toxic fumes | Teflon/PTFE → neurotoxin (deadly to birds, harmful to humans)
Full chart: atxtable.com → what materials can I cut
> CURATED_CHANNELS
ChalkWatts FREEYOUTUBE
@chalkwatts
Laser engraving for beginners. Free Lightburn Starter Kit and bootcamps.
Bearded Builds Co FREEYOUTUBE
@BeardedBuildsCo
Laser and CNC expert sharing tips to help the community.
Laser Engraving 911 FREEYOUTUBE
@LaserEngraving911
Michael's 10-year shop tips. CO2 and fiber laser engraving guides, tools of the trade.
> LASER_BASICS
Which Laser is the RIGHT Laser? | UV vs CO2 vs Fiber YOUTUBE
youtu.be/aungjXl1H7c
Tour Of My Laser Setup YOUTUBE
youtu.be/wYpYrivsLj8
How I'd Learn Laser Engraving (If I Could Start Over) YOUTUBE
youtu.be/lzSeUAiAglU
Learning to Laser: A CO2 Guide for New Users YOUTUBE
youtu.be/VAXVSNb4WzI
Creating a Material Test Card using LightBurn — OMTech YOUTUBE
youtu.be/iQ-5doCWD78
Ruida Controller Basics — OMTech CO2 Laser YOUTUBE
youtu.be/GLE5-LhT8FE
My Most Profitable Laser Product Ever (Full Story) YOUTUBE
youtu.be/nyyQTM6q8P4
Focusing Your CO2 Laser — Manual and Auto Focus YOUTUBE Focus
youtu.be/dPFcHsHRpQo
Laser Rotary Setup — Calibrating Steps per Rotation YOUTUBE Rotary
youtu.be/2wZhMsy8-54
Acrylic Engraving & Cutting Tips — Perfect Frosted Results on CO2 YOUTUBE Acrylic
youtu.be/F3Cgcyrk6iM
Top 10 Laser Engraving Pro Tips — Acrylic YOUTUBE Acrylic
youtu.be/ZOn8UGkSw2U
How to Use Your Passthrough to Minimize Waste YOUTUBE Pass-through
youtu.be/UewcKTExHUg
Powder Coating With Lasers — Fill Engraving With Vibrant Color YOUTUBE Powder Coating
youtu.be/xOuWrblwhRQ
Laser Cut Hat Patches — Leather, Leatherette and Acrylic YOUTUBE Leather Patches
youtu.be/R8TnrP-YwPc
Top 10 Laser Engraving Pro Tips — Wood YOUTUBE Wood
youtu.be/owQSpQRGPn0
> LIGHTBURN_SOFTWARE
LightBurn Tutorial for Beginners — Everything You NEED to KNOW YOUTUBE
youtu.be/OueWAVqXbZc
LightBurn Basics: CO2 Laser Guide — OMTech YOUTUBE
youtu.be/SFeSFvSKO5s
Machine Origin, Start Positions, and Job Origins in LightBurn YOUTUBE
youtu.be/HNNNsYMIrww
LightBurn — Print and Cut YOUTUBE
youtu.be/2tiNDaVZQHY
Defocusing Your Laser for Engraving and Etching Lines YOUTUBE Defocus
youtu.be/xUIeNe9_WEI
> ADA_SIGNAGE
Trotec Laser: TroLase ADA Bathroom Sign YOUTUBE
youtu.be/yjHof_tZn1o
Deep Dive with Laser Dave: Dimensional ADA Signage YOUTUBE
youtu.be/ELBNfLXpv9Y
> MAINTENANCE
Beam Alignment for CO2 Laser — OMTech YOUTUBE Beam Alignment
youtu.be/M4dTrA25Qm0
CO2 Laser Alignment — Mirror Alignment YOUTUBE Beam Alignment
youtu.be/tFbuOs_98n8
Ramp Test and Optimal Focus for CO2 Laser YOUTUBE Ramp Test
youtu.be/KWrS1MsRoIM
> UPGRADES
Adding a LightBurn Camera to Your Laser YOUTUBE Camera
youtu.be/6v3P3Fz2OUY
Upgraded Air Assist for OMTech CO2 Laser YOUTUBE Air Assist
youtu.be/y08B1v8-q-c
> DIODE_LASER
5 Things New Diode Laser Engraver Owners NEED to Know YOUTUBE
youtu.be/DQbcr6XBhTs
> FIBER_LASER
Top 10 Tips for Fiber Laser Beginners — OMTech YOUTUBE
youtu.be/aQatL5qbTAk
Everything You Need to Know About Fiber Laser Metal Cutting YOUTUBE
youtu.be/rle5BhFFTiE

> LAB // 3D_PRINTING_&_UV_DIRECT

FDM Printing 101 START HERE
Zero-to-first-print. What FDM is, how it works, filament types (PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU), bed leveling, slicer settings, common failures. Read/watch before any FDM print.
Resin Printing 101 START HERE
Zero-to-first-print. What SLA/resin printing is, how it differs from FDM, resin types, safety (PPE mandatory — nitrile gloves, respirator, ventilation), post-processing (wash + cure). Read/watch before any resin print.
MGS Advanced Gunsmithing PAID
65 lessons, 17 units, 765 clock hours. Accredited program covering firearms repair, customizing, barrel work, stock fitting, bluing, checkering, and business operations. Course map, safety rules, grading, and contacts.
Teaching Tech FREEYOUTUBE
youtube.com/@TeachingTech
Best calibration channel for FDM. Printer tuning guides, slicer settings, troubleshooting. The calibration playlist is mandatory.
CNC Kitchen FREEYOUTUBE
youtube.com/@CNCKitchen
Material science and testing. Filament strength comparisons, drying requirements, layer adhesion. Engineering approach to printing.
Prusa Knowledge Base FREEMFG OFFICIAL
help.prusa3d.com
Comprehensive 3D printing fundamentals. First layer calibration, material profiles, maintenance. Applies to all FDM printers.
Uncle Jessy FREEYOUTUBE
youtube.com/@UncleJessy
Accessible resin printing content. Elegoo reviews, settings, post-processing. Good entry point for resin newcomers.
Siraya Tech Resin Guide FREEMFG OFFICIAL
siraya.tech/pages/guide
Official resin settings, mixing ratios, post-cure times. Covers Blu, Tenacious, and blends. Our lab runs their resins.
EufyMake Official Training FREEMFG OFFICIAL
eufy.com/pages/eufymake
UV direct printer (E1). CMYK-W-White-Gloss layering. Substrate prep, AP3155 adhesion. Your YouTube Shorts are proof of concept.
> UV_PRINTING — CURATED
ColDesi Inc FREEYOUTUBE
@ColDesiColman
Custom apparel and DTG/DTF printing equipment. Helps entrepreneurs get into the custom printing business.
UV Ink Fest 2026 — All Sessions FREEREPLAYS
makerasaservice.defyimpossible.tech/uvinkfest
Full replay library from UV Ink Fest. 30+ sessions on UV printing, business, substrates, and workflows.
UV Printer — Printing Acrylic Signs YOUTUBE
youtu.be/7a1uQ5_Dya0
Direct to Film UV Printing — Mutoh XpertJet 661UF YOUTUBE DTF
youtu.be/vlX7T3ry7Ek
UV Printing — How to Get Good Ink Adhesion YOUTUBE Adhesion
youtu.be/heFKAZi_EGU
Direct-To-Film vs. Sublimation Printing — What's the Difference? YOUTUBE
youtu.be/PyqR6g1K4w4

> SURFACE // POWDER_COATING_&_PLATING

Eastwood: Beginner's Guide to Powder Coating FREEMFG OFFICIAL
eastwood.com/powder-coating-hotcoat
Complete benchtop system guide. Surface prep, gun technique, curing, troubleshooting. Eastwood also has a solid YouTube channel.
Eastwood YouTube FREEYOUTUBE
youtube.com/@EastwoodCompany
Visual demos of powder coating technique. Watch before spraying — gun distance, ground clips, oven setup.
Caswell Plating Guide FREEMFG OFFICIAL
caswellplating.com
The benchtop electroplating authority. Plug-n-Plate kits, Copy Cad, nickel, copper, zinc. Instructions included with every kit.
Powder Coating Institute FREECERT PAID
powdercoating.org
Industry standards, technical guides, certification programs. Good for deeper knowledge after Eastwood basics.
Gold Leaf Gilding Basics FREEYOUTUBE
youtube.com → "gold leaf gilding for beginners"
Search this on YouTube. Water-based vs oil-based size, surface prep, application, burnishing. Hands-on skill — video is best format.
HVLP Spray Basics — Fuji Spray FREEMFG OFFICIAL
fujispray.com/tutorials
HVLP fundamentals (same principles for our Tilswall Hornet). Viscosity, thinning, gun setup, technique.

> RESURRECTION // LASER_CLEANING_&_3D_SCANNING

Adapt Laser — Laser Cleaning Basics FREEMFG OFFICIAL
adapt-laser.com
Industry leader in laser cleaning. Technical guides on ablation thresholds, pulse settings, safety. 200W MOPA fundamentals.
Xlaserlab Q1 Training FREEMFG OFFICIAL
Check Xlaserlab support page for Q1-specific training. May include manual, video walkthrough, and settings guide.
Our specific machine — manufacturer training is authoritative. Pulse frequency, scan width, power curves for different substrates.
Revopoint Tutorials — POP4 FREEMFG OFFICIAL
revopoint3d.com/pages/tutorials
Official scanning workflow. Marker placement, tracking patterns, scan alignment, mesh cleanup. Start with small objects, build to full parts.
Revopoint POP4 — YouTube Channel FREEYOUTUBE
youtube.com/@Revopoint3D
Official POP4 demos, setup walkthroughs, and advanced scanning techniques. Watch before the first scan session.
Laser Cleaning Safety CRITICAL
Class 4 laser — full enclosure or laser-safe barriers required. Never operate without proper eyewear (OD 6+ at 1064nm). Fume extraction mandatory — vaporized coatings become airborne. Interlock the area.
Reference: lia.org → Laser Safety Information
Reverse Engineering Workflow FREEYOUTUBE
youtube.com → "Revopoint scan to CAD Fusion 360"
Scan → mesh cleanup → import to Fusion 360/SolidWorks → reverse-engineer as parametric CAD. Search this query.

> QC // QUALITY_CONTROL_&_METROLOGY

Mitutoyo Resource Center FREEMFG OFFICIAL
mitutoyo.com/resource-center
Calipers, micrometers, indicators — how to read them correctly. Metrology fundamentals from the gold standard.
ASQ Quality Resources FREE
asq.org/quality-resources
Statistical process control, AQL sampling, inspection checklists. Build a QC mindset, not just measurements.
GD&T Basics FREE
gdandtbasics.com
Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing fundamentals. How to read engineering drawings with GD&T callouts.
Surface Finish Standards FREE
keyence.com → surface roughness guide
Ra, Rz, RMS explained. Surface finish comparison. What each manufacturing process can achieve.

> CROSS-CUTTING // SOFTWARE_&_FILES

LightBurn Basics FREE
lightburnsoftware.com/pages/tutorials
File import, layer setup, power/speed settings, camera alignment. LightBurn controls ALL lasers in the shop.
Fusion 360 for Beginners FREEYOUTUBE
youtube.com → "Fusion 360 beginner tutorial"
CAD for CNC, 3D printing, and design. Sketch → extrude → export. Free for personal use/hobbyists.
Inkscape for Laser Cutting FREE
inkscape.org/learn
Free vector graphics. SVG creation for laser cutting. Path operations, stroke-to-path, node editing.
PrusaSlicer Guide FREE
help.prusa3d.com → PrusaSlicer guide
Slicer for FDM. Works with Anycubic profile setup. Layer height, infill, supports, temperature towers.

> CERTIFICATIONS_&_ADVANCED

For when you've got the fundamentals and want formal credentials.