KB Article: Thunder Laser Bolt Camera Setup & Calibration Guide

Overview

Setting up the camera on a Thunder Laser Bolt differs from the standard LightBurn process. Because the camera lens is pre-set at the factory, you do not need to perform the "Lens Calibration" step (which uses dot patterns or tags). Instead, you will import a factory-calibrated preset from your USB drive and proceed directly to Camera Alignment.

Prerequisites & Materials

• Flat Calibration Board: A piece of material (like 1/8" MDF) roughly 20" x 20".
• Focus Reference: A piece of paper with printed text of various sizes.
• Hardware: The Thunder Laser USB drive and the provided printer cable (USB-B to USB-A/C).
• Connection: Plug the printer cable into the port labeled PC on the Bolt (located above the Ethernet port).

Step 1: Hardware Setup & Focus Verification

1. Remove the Cover: Take the protective cap off the camera lens on the lid.
2. Verify Focus: Place your printed paper on the bed, close the lid, and view the live feed in LightBurn’s Camera Control window.
3. Check Clarity: The lens should be in focus from the factory and is secured with blue silicone to prevent shifting during transit. However, you must verify this. If the image is blurry and you cannot clearly read the printed text on the screen, the lens needs adjustment.
   • Note: While secured with sealant, the lens can be "broken loose" if adjustment is necessary. Carefully turn the lens left or right until the on-screen image is crisp.

Step 2: Importing the Factory Lens Preset

This step replaces the manual dot-pattern calibration process.

1. Open LightBurn and ensure the Camera Control window is visible (Window > Camera Control).
2. Insert the Thunder Laser USB drive into your computer.
3. In the Camera Control window, right-click the preview area and select Import Camera Settings.
4. Navigate to the USB drive and select the .lbcm file named after your machine’s serial number.
5. In the camera dropdown menu, select the model KS5A2361.

Step 3: Camera Alignment Calibration

This process maps the camera's view to your laser's actual workspace coordinates.

1. Prepare the Bed: Place your flat MDF board on the bed. Perform an Autofocus on the material and close the lid.
2. Launch Wizard: Go to Laser Tools > Calibrate Camera Alignment.
3. Engrave the Targets:
   • Select your camera and click Next.
   • Settings: Set the Scale to 140. For the score settings, use 400 mm/s speed and 30% power (or 80 mm/s at 20% power).
   • Click Frame to ensure the pattern fits on your material, then click Start.
4. Capture and Mark:
   • Once the laser finishes and moves out of the way, click Capture Image.
   • Zoom in and double-click the exact center of the four numbered targets (1 through 4) as prompted.
   • Click Finish.

Step 4: Testing & Fine-Tuning Accuracy

If your camera overlay is slightly offset from your actual burns, you can use manual overrides.

1. Click Update Overlay in the Camera Control window.
2. Draw a small shape over the center target on your screen and run the job using Absolute Coordinates.
3. Shift Adjustments: If the physical burn is off (e.g., it hits 0.5mm too far to the left), go to the Camera Control window and adjust the X Shift or Y Shift values.
   • Adding to the X Shift nudges the alignment to the right.
4. Update the overlay and test again until the alignment is perfect.

Key Usage Reminders

• Lid Position: The camera is only accurate when the lid is in the same position it was during calibration (fully closed).
• Height Sensitivity: You must autofocus on your material before using the camera. Because the camera is at a fixed height, accuracy depends entirely on the material being at the correct focal distance.
• Coordinate Mode: LightBurn will automatically switch to Absolute Coordinates when the camera is active to ensure your art is placed correctly.