3D MakerBench

Gauge BenchNew

Laser Gauge Maker

Kerf and fit tests, focus gauges, radius and angle gauges to cut on your own laser. Every cut is kerf-compensated and every gauge is labelled, as SVG or DXF in millimetres.

  • Free
  • No sign-up
  • Private: runs on your device
Gauge
Material and kerf

Cut paths move half the kerf away from each part, so finished sizes are true. Measure yours with the Kerf & fit test.

Kerf & fit test

Cut it, measure the tab’s 20.00 side with calipers, type the reading: kerf = kerf used + 20.00 − measured.

Layout

Parts are laid out in rows 3 mm apart, no wider than this (your bed or scrap).

Red = cut, blue = engrave (single line). Grey fill = the finished parts.

How to make laser cutting gauges

  1. Start with the Kerf & fit test in the material you cut most. Measure the tab, type the reading, press “Use as kerf”.
  2. Pick a gauge – focus block, radius set or angle set – and set its sizes.
  3. Download SVG or DXF. In LightBurn (or RDWorks, LaserGRBL) set the red layer to cut and the blue layer to line engrave / score at low power.
  4. Engrave first, then cut, so parts don’t move before their labels are done.

Reading the tests

  • Kerf: the tab is drawn 40.00 × 20.00 mm. Cut with kerf K, measure the 20 side as M: your real kerf is K + 20.00 − M. A tab that measures exactly 20.00 means your kerf is right.
  • Fit: slot widths are thickness + the label. The snug slot gives your press-fit offset; real sheets vary, so measure the thickness too.
  • Focus block: stand it on the material and bring the nozzle down to the step for your focus distance. Engrave a test on each neighbouring step height to see which is sharpest.
  • Ramp test: lay a scrap on the bed, lift one end by the height you entered and focus at the middle (0). Engrave the strip: the thinnest part of the long line is at your true focus, read in mm above (+) or below (−) where you focused. The scale itself blurs towards the ends – that is the point.

Frequently asked questions

What is kerf compensation?

The laser burns away a thin line of material (the kerf, often 0.08–0.2 mm on a CO2 laser). With compensation on, every cut path is moved half the kerf away from the part, so outlines come out at full size and holes and slots are not too wide. Set the kerf to 0 to get the plain drawing.

How do I measure my kerf?

Cut the Kerf & fit test with the kerf you think you have. Measure the short side of the test tab (drawn as 20.00 mm) with calipers and type the reading in. The tool works out your real kerf (kerf used + 20.00 − measured) and puts it in the kerf box for you.

Which slot is the right fit?

Push the test tab (cut from the same sheet) into the slots. The label of the slot that holds it snugly is your fit offset: use slot width = thickness + that number for press-fit joints, and one or two steps wider for a sliding fit.

Will the files import at the right size?

Yes. The SVG is in millimetres with 1 unit = 1 mm, and the DXF is R12 with $INSUNITS = 4 (mm). Cut lines are red on layer CUT, engraving is blue on layer ENGRAVE.

Is the text real text?

No, and that is on purpose: every label is a single-line path, so it engraves as a quick line (no fonts needed on the laser PC). Engrave it as a line / score, not as a fill.

How accurate are the gauges?

The drawing is exact: radii, slot widths and angles are checked to 0.01 mm and 0.01°. What you cut depends on the machine – measure a gauge you trust against it, and run the kerf test on each new material.