Smoothieware detected automatically. Arc support included. Hardware testing is more limited than GRBL.
Light Lane auto-detects Smoothieware over USB and generates firmware-specific G-code. The output has been tested against real Smoothieware open-source firmware code with thousands of test cases. Arc fitting (G2/G3) works. Serial transport works. Real-hardware testing across different Smoothieware board revisions is more limited than our GRBL coverage, so edge cases on specific boards may exist.
- Auto-detects Smoothieware firmware at connection time via firmware probe.
- G2/G3 arc support. Optional arc fitting produces smaller G-code files for curved paths.
- G-code tested against Smoothieware firmware source code. USB transport works, with limited physical hardware testing.
How Light Lane works with Smoothieware
Smoothieware uses a float-based power range from 0 to 1.0, with 4 decimal places. Light Lane maps all internal S-values to this format automatically. S0.7500 in your G-code means 75% power. You do not configure the S-range manually.
Smootieware supports G2/G3 arc commands. If you enable arc fitting in Settings, Light Lane emits arc commands for curved paths instead of small linear segments. This produces cleaner cuts with smaller G-code files. Arc fitting is marked Experimental. Turn it off if you see unexpected path behaviour.
For emergency stop, Smoothieware supports realtime feed hold (!) and soft reset (0x18), the same as GRBL. Status polling with ? also works, giving live machine position during a job.
G-code output has been tested against the Smoothieware open-source firmware code with thousands of test cases. Serial transport works in our testing. We have not tested across a wide range of physical Smoothieware boards and revisions. If you find an issue, report it and we will investigate.
What Smoothieware support includes
- Auto-detection of Smoothieware firmware at connection time.
- S-value output as 0-1.0 float with 4-decimal precision to match Smoothieware's power input format.
- M3 constant power mode for laser control.
- Send-and-wait line-by-line streaming with 8-second minimum timeout per command.
- Status polling with ? for live machine position during a job.
- Realtime feed hold (!) and soft reset (0x18) for emergency stop.
- Realtime jog commands for manual machine movement.
- G2/G3 arc support when arc fitting is enabled in Settings. Marked Experimental.
- Dry run mode traces the full path without activating the laser.
- Material test grid with Smoothieware-compatible G-code output.
Smoothieware technical specs
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baud rate | Caller-supplied | Varies by board configuration. Check your Smoothieware config.txt for uart0_baud. |
| Laser power mode | M3 constant | No M4 dynamic mode. Power is fixed per line. |
| S-value range | 0-1.0 float | 4-decimal precision. e.g. M3 S0.7500 for 75% power. |
| Streaming mode | Send-and-wait | 8-second minimum timeout per command. |
| Arc support | G2/G3 (Experimental) | Supported by Smoothieware. Enable Arc Fitting in Settings. |
| Emergency stop | ! then 0x18 | Feed hold, then soft reset. Same as GRBL. |
| Status polling | ? command | Returns real-time machine position. |
| Hardware testing coverage | Limited vs GRBL | G-code output tested; fewer physical machines tested than GRBL. |
Light Lane and Smoothieware in practice
Connection, test grid, and pre-stream checks on a Smoothieware machine.
- Port selector with Smoothieware firmware detected.
- Material test grid for dialling in speed and power settings.
- Pre-stream check before sending the job.
Smoothieware FAQ
Has Light Lane been tested on physical Smoothieware hardware?
G-code output has been tested against the real Smoothieware open-source firmware code with thousands of test runs. Serial transport works in our testing. We have not tested across a wide range of physical Smoothieware board revisions. If you find an issue on a specific board, report it with the log output and we will investigate.
What baud rate does Smoothieware use?
The serial baud rate is configurable in your Smoothieware config.txt file. Look for the uart0_baud setting. 115200 is common but not universal. Select the matching baud rate in Light Lane's port settings before connecting.
Why does my G-code show values like S0.7500 instead of S750?
Smoothieware uses a normalized 0-1.0 power scale. S0.7500 means 75% power. This is the correct format for Smoothieware. Light Lane maps all power values to this range automatically for Smoothieware output.
Can I use arc fitting with Smoothieware?
Yes. Smoothieware supports G2 and G3 arc commands. Enable Arc Fitting in Settings. It is marked Experimental. If you see unexpected path behaviour or machine errors, turn it off and Light Lane will fall back to linear segments.
Does Light Lane support Smoothie2 or community Smoothieware forks?
Light Lane targets the original Smoothieware firmware protocol. Smoothie2 and community forks may use a compatible command set, but they have not been specifically tested. The G-code output follows standard Smoothieware conventions, so it is likely to work, but transport behaviour on newer boards may differ.
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Next steps
Validate one real workflow in Light Lane, then move to the most relevant guide or feature page.
Last updated February 21, 2026