What Makes the B6 60W a Good Starting Point
ComMarker built the B6 around the JPT M7 source — the same laser chip found in machines from OMTech, Monport, and most other reputable MOPA brands. That matters because all the parameter logic developed for JPT M7 machines transfers directly. The frequency range, the 17 waveform chips (pulse widths), the colour-to-frequency mapping — it all applies here. The 60W rating just means you'll be running at lower power percentages than a 30W machine to achieve the same energy density on the material.
The B6 and B4 at 60W share the same source, so everything in this guide applies equally to both models.
Before You Open LightBurn
Get these three things sorted before touching software — they'll save you a frustrating first session:
Set focus correctly
Colour marking is extremely sensitive to focus height. Use the focus tool supplied with your B6, set Z-height to the correct focal distance for your lens, and make sure your test material is flat and level. A surface that's even slightly bowed will give inconsistent results across the burn.
Prepare your stainless steel test piece
Use 304 or 316 stainless steel with a brushed or mirror finish — these respond best to oxide layer colour marking. A polished finish gives the richest colours. Degrease with isopropyl alcohol before marking; fingerprints and oils will affect colour consistency.
Have LightBurn installed and your machine added
The B6 uses an EzCad-compatible controller but LightBurn now supports it directly — add the machine via Device Manager using the BJJCZ (EzCad) galvo driver. Your machine should show as connected before importing any files.
The Parameter Map — Frequency, Pulse Width, and Colour
Before loading a file, it helps to understand what you're actually controlling. Colour marking on stainless steel works by building a thin oxide layer on the surface — the thickness of that layer determines the colour you see. Two parameters drive it:
- Frequency (kHz) — how many pulses per second the laser fires. Lower frequencies tend toward warmer tones (browns, golds, oranges); higher frequencies shift into blues and purples.
- Pulse width (ns) — how long each individual pulse lasts. Shorter pulses deposit less heat per pulse, giving finer oxide layer control. The JPT M7 has 17 named waveform chips covering 2ns through to CW (continuous wave).
Parameter map for the JPT M7 at 60W — frequency sets colour range, pulse width refines it
Loading MOPA Color Studio into LightBurn
The fastest way to get a working layer structure is to import the MOPA Color Studio file — it gives you 28 pre-named colour layers with sensible starting parameters, so you're not building from a blank slate.
Download and import the MOPA Color Studio file
Open MOPA Color Studio, configure your layers, and export the .lbrn file. In LightBurn, go to File → Open and select the exported file. Your 28 colour layers will appear in the Cuts/Layers panel, each with its own frequency and pulse width pre-set.
Assign your artwork to layers
Select each element of your design in LightBurn and assign it to the appropriate colour layer. Each layer corresponds to a different colour output — layer 00 through 27 cover the full spectrum. Assign shapes you want to be blue to a high-frequency layer; shapes you want gold or brown to a low-frequency layer.
Scale power for your 60W machine
Any parameter set developed on a 30W machine needs to be adjusted. As a starting rule: halve the power percentage when moving from a 30W to a 60W machine to achieve similar energy density. Speed stays the same. You'll dial it in from there based on your test burns.
Starting Parameters for the B6 60W
These are starting points — not guaranteed results. Every machine, lens, and batch of stainless steel behaves slightly differently. Run a test burn first and adjust from there.
| Colour Target | Frequency | Pulse Width | Power | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold / Bronze | 20–30 kHz | 100–200 ns | 20–28% | 300 mm/s |
| Orange / Copper | 60–80 kHz | 30–60 ns | 18–25% | 400 mm/s |
| Red / Dark Red | 150–180 kHz | 15–30 ns | 15–22% | 500 mm/s |
| Blue | 300–400 kHz | 4–9 ns | 15–20% | 600 mm/s |
| Purple / Violet | 500–600 kHz | 2–6 ns | 15–18% | 700 mm/s |
What to Expect on Stainless Steel
Running Your First Test Burn
Don't jump straight to a finished piece. Build a simple test grid first — a row of small filled squares, each assigned to a different colour layer. Run the test burn, inspect the results, and adjust from there. A few things to check:
- Colours look washed out or pale — power is likely too low. Increase by 2–3% and re-test.
- Surface looks burned or black — too much power or too slow a speed. Reduce power or increase speed.
- Inconsistent colour across the test piece — check focus first. An uneven surface or slightly wrong Z-height will scatter results before any parameter adjustment helps.
- Colours look right on the screen but wrong in person — normal. The swatches above are approximate guides. Always judge results under consistent lighting on the actual material.
For a deeper understanding of why these parameters produce the colours they do, the stainless steel science guide goes into the oxide layer physics in detail:
Do the ComMarker B6 and B4 60W use the same LightBurn parameters?
Yes. Both machines use a JPT M7 source at 60W and share the same waveform chips and frequency range. The parameter starting points in this guide apply equally to both models. The main variable between them is the work area and galvo head design — the laser physics are the same.
Why are my colours inconsistent across the test burn?
The most common cause is focus. Even a small Z-height error — a millimetre or less — will shift colours unpredictably across the piece. Re-run the focus procedure, make sure your material is genuinely flat, and re-test before adjusting any other parameter.
If focus is confirmed good and results are still inconsistent, check that your stainless steel is properly degreased. Fingerprint oils and surface contamination will cause patchy results even with correct parameters.
Can I use MOPA Color Studio with the ComMarker B6?
Yes. MOPA Color Studio exports a standard LightBurn .lbrn file with 28 pre-configured colour layers. Import it into LightBurn, assign your artwork to the relevant layers, and adjust the power percentages down to suit your 60W machine — roughly half the power of equivalent 30W settings as a starting point.