You’ve completed your LightBurn project and are ready to send it to the laser. However, if the parts are cut out immediately, they may shift or fall out, which can be especially inconvenient when working with small details. The solution is simple: add tabs (bridges)—small connections that temporarily hold the parts in place until you’re ready to remove them.

This guide will walk you through the process of adding tabs in LightBurn and setting them up correctly.

Before using tabs, you need to disable Beginner Mode in LightBurn.

✔️ Go to: Edit → Settings → Display & Units
✔️ Disable “Beginner Mode”

Once this is done, the tab tool will appear in the sidebar, allowing you to add and adjust tabs.

Tabs are set per layer (colour), meaning you need to configure them for each cutting layer separately.

1️⃣ Double-click on the layer in the layer panel.
2️⃣ In the layer properties window, find the Tabs/Bridges section.
3️⃣ Enable Tabs by checking the corresponding option.

You can now choose between automatic or manual tab placement:

• Auto mode: LightBurn will distribute tabs evenly based on predefined settings.
• Manual mode: Allows you to place tabs exactly where needed to avoid visible marks on the final design.

I always use manual placement to keep the tabs hidden behind design elements.

Important: I never place tabs on internal slots or joints, as they interfere with assembly and make fitting parts together more difficult.

The two most important settings:

• Tab size – 0.5 mm, which works well for most materials (3mm, 1/8″).
• Laser power on tabs – 5-10% of the cutting power. This keeps the connection strong enough to hold parts in place but weak enough to break easily when needed.

These settings ensure the parts remain secure without making them difficult to remove.

1️⃣ Select the tab tool from the sidebar.

2️⃣ Click on the cut path where you want to add a tab.
3️⃣ A red marker will appear, indicating the tab position.

🔹 To move a tab, drag it along the cut path.
🔹 To delete a tab, double-click on the red marker.

For most parts, 2-4 tabs are enough. Larger parts may require more.

If you prefer automatic tab placement:

1️⃣ Enable Auto Tabs in the layer properties.
2️⃣ Adjust the spacing and number of tabs per shape.
3️⃣ LightBurn will generate green markers where the tabs will be placed.

Automatic mode works for simple shapes but may require manual adjustments for better results.

Adding tabs in LightBurn is a simple yet effective way to keep parts secure during laser cutting. I prefer manual tab placement and never use tabs for internal slots, as they complicate assembly.

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Happy cutting!