Manual Controls and Origin
Manual Controls lets you move the laser head directly from within Light Lane, set a custom job origin, and run a quick laser test. This is useful for setup and alignment. It is not a substitute for checking the generated job in Preview .
Last reviewed March 22, 2026
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Open Manual Controls
Open the Manual Controls panel from the bottom area of the app.
If no controller is connected, the panel shows:
Connect to a controller before using manual controls.
Move the machine
Use the directional buttons to jog the laser head:
- up, down, left, right
- diagonal directions for combined moves
Use the Move Speed slider to control how fast each jog move happens.
Position readout
The panel shows a live X and Y position readout while the machine is connected.
Home the machine
Click Home to send the machine back to its home position.
Custom origin
The Custom Origin section lets you set a job start position other than the machine home:
Set Custom Origin Here- saves the current machine position as the job originClear Custom Origin (Revert)- removes the custom origin and returns to the default
When a custom origin is active, the panel displays its machine coordinates.
Test the laser
Test Laser (Hold) fires the laser while you hold the button.
Only use this when it is safe to do so, pointing at a suitable test surface.
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Still stuck?
Use support for direct help, or start a trial and test this workflow with your own file and machine setup.