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Holding Tabs

Holding tabs (also called bridges or tabs) are small uncut sections left along cut paths that keep parts attached to the surrounding material. This prevents cut pieces from moving during the job, which could cause misalignment, damage, or fire hazards.

Why Use Holding Tabs?

When cutting through material, the cut piece can:

  • Shift position mid-job, causing subsequent operations to misalign
  • Fall through the bed grating or tilt if supported only at edges
  • Collide with the laser head as it moves
  • Catch fire if it falls onto hot scrap below
  • Get damaged from falling or vibration

Holding tabs solve these problems by keeping the piece attached until you're ready to remove it.

How Holding Tabs Work

Rayforge implements tabs by creating small gaps in the cut path:

  1. You mark positions along the cut path where tabs should be
  2. During G-code generation, Rayforge interrupts the cut at each tab
  3. The laser lifts (or turns off), skips the tab width, then resumes cutting
  4. After the job completes, you manually break or cut the tabs to free the piece

Visual example:

Without tabs:          With tabs:
       
    CUT                 CUT  PPP    Tab (uncut)

   PART             PPP   PART       Tab (uncut)

    OUT                 OUT  PPP    Tab (uncut)
       
   (falls out)         (stays in place)

Adding Holding Tabs

Quick Add

  1. Select the workpiece you want to add tabs to (must be a cut/contour operation)

  2. Click the tab tool in the toolbar or press the tab shortcut

  3. Click on the path where you want tabs:

  4. Tabs appear as small handles on the path outline
  5. Click multiple times to add more tabs

  6. Typically 3-4 tabs for small parts, more for larger pieces

  7. Enable tabs if not already enabled (toggle in the properties panel)

Using the Add Tabs Popover

For more control:

  1. Right-click on the workpiece or use Edit Add Tabs

  2. Choose tab placement method:

  3. Manual: Click individual locations

  4. Equidistant: Automatically space tabs evenly around the path

  5. Configure tab settings:

  6. Number of tabs: How many tabs to create (for equidistant)

  7. Tab width: Length of each uncut section (typically 2-5mm)

  8. Click Apply

Tab Properties

Tab Width

The width is the length of the uncut section along the path.

Recommended widths:

Material Thickness Tab Width
Cardboard 1-3mm 2-3mm
Plywood 3mm 3-4mm
Plywood 6mm 4-6mm
Acrylic 3mm 2-3mm
Acrylic 6mm 3-5mm
MDF 3mm 3-4mm
MDF 6mm 5-7mm

Guidelines: - Thicker materials need wider tabs for strength - Heavier parts need more and/or wider tabs - Brittle materials (acrylic) can use smaller tabs (easier to break) - Fibrous materials (wood) may need wider tabs

Tab Width vs Material Thickness

Tabs must be wide enough to support the part but small enough to remove cleanly. Too narrow = part may break free; too wide = difficult to remove or damages the part.

Tab Position

Tabs are positioned using two parameters:

  • Segment index: Which line/arc segment of the path
  • Position (0.0 - 1.0): Where along that segment (0 = start, 1 = end)

Manual placement tips: - Place tabs on straight sections when possible (easier to remove) - Avoid tabs on tight curves (stress concentration) - Distribute tabs evenly around the part - Place tabs on corners for maximum support if needed

Equidistant Tabs

The equidistant feature automatically places tabs at even intervals:

Example: For a rectangular part with 4 equidistant tabs: 

    PPP (tab)

        
(tab)      (tab)
        

    PPP (tab)

Benefits: - Even weight distribution - Predictable breaking pattern - Quick setup for regular shapes

Working with Tabs

Editing Tabs

Move a tab: 1. Select the workpiece 2. Drag the tab handle along the path 3. Release to set new position

Resize a tab: - Use the properties panel to adjust width - All tabs on a workpiece share the same width

Delete a tab: 1. Click the tab handle to select it 2. Press Delete or use the context menu 3. Or clear all tabs and start over

Enabling/Disabling Tabs

Toggle tabs on/off without deleting them:

  • Workpiece properties panel: "Enable Tabs" checkbox
  • Toolbar: Tab visibility toggle icon

When disabled: - Tabs are not generated in G-code - Tab handles are hidden in the canvas - The path cuts completely through

Use case: Temporarily disable tabs to test the cut, then re-enable for production.

Tabs and the G-code Pipeline

How Tabs Affect G-code

Tabs are processed during the path interruption phase of G-code generation:

  1. Original path: Continuous cut around the shape
  2. Tab transformer: Detects tab positions and inserts gaps
  3. Output: Cut path with breaks at each tab location

G-code example (simplified):

; Without tabs:
G1 X10 Y10    ; Cut to corner
G1 X50 Y10    ; Cut along edge
G1 X50 Y50    ; Cut along edge
...

; With tabs:
G1 X10 Y10    ; Cut to first tab
G0 X15 Y10    ; Rapid over tab (or laser off)
G1 X18 Y10    ; Resume cutting after tab
G1 X50 Y10    ; Continue cut
...

Execution Phase

Tabs run in the PATH_INTERRUPTION phase:

  • After: Path smoothing and optimization
  • Before: Final G-code encoding

This ensures tabs work correctly with smoothed paths and don't interfere with other transformations.

Best Practices

How Many Tabs?

General guidelines:

Part Size Weight Recommended Tabs
Small (<50mm) Light 2-3 tabs
Medium (50-200mm) Medium 3-4 tabs
Large (>200mm) Heavy 4-6+ tabs

Consider: - Fragile/valuable parts: More tabs for safety - Simple removal: Fewer tabs = easier cleanup - Part geometry: Complex shapes may need more support

Tab Placement Strategy

Good placement: - Spread evenly around perimeter - On straight edges (easier to remove) - Away from detailed/critical edges - At corners for maximum support

Poor placement: - All tabs on one side (unbalanced support) - On fine details (tab removal may damage) - On tight curves (stress concentration) - Too close together (unnecessary)

Removing Tabs After Cutting

Tools: - Craft knife or box cutter - Flush-cut pliers - Chisel (for wood) - Fine saw for thick materials

Technique:

  1. Score the tab from both sides if accessible
  2. Gently bend the part to stress the tab
  3. Cut through the remaining material
  4. Sand or file the tab remnant flush with the edge

For brittle materials (acrylic): - Use minimal tabs (they snap easily) - Score deeply before snapping - Support the part while breaking tabs to avoid cracks

For wood: - Tabs may require cutting (don't snap cleanly) - Use a sharp knife or chisel - Cut flush, then sand smooth

Troubleshooting

Tabs Not Appearing in Preview

Problem: Tabs are configured but don't show gaps in the preview/G-code.

Solutions:

  1. Check "Enable Tabs" is ON in workpiece properties
  2. Verify tab positions are on valid path segments
  3. Ensure the operation is a cut (tabs don't apply to raster/engrave)
  4. Check tab width is reasonable (not 0 or extremely large)
  5. Regenerate G-code (make a small change to force regeneration)

Part Broke Free During Cut

Problem: Part detached before the job finished.

Causes:

  • Tabs too small for material thickness
  • Not enough tabs for part weight
  • Poor tab placement (unbalanced support)
  • Vibration caused stress on tabs

Solutions:

  • Increase tab width
  • Add more tabs
  • Use equidistant placement for even support
  • Ensure bed is stable and level

Tabs Damaged the Part

Problem: Removing tabs left visible marks or damage.

Causes:

  • Tabs on critical edges or fine details
  • Tabs too wide (hard to remove cleanly)
  • Improper removal technique

Solutions:

  • Place tabs on non-critical edges
  • Reduce tab width slightly
  • Use proper tools for removal
  • Sand/file tabs flush instead of snapping

Tabs in Wrong Positions

Problem: Tabs aren't where you clicked or moved unexpectedly.

Diagnosis:

  • Tab positions are stored as segment index + position along segment
  • If the path geometry changes, tabs may shift

Solutions:

  • Delete and re-add tabs after major geometry changes
  • Use equidistant tabs for consistent results
  • Check that you're editing the correct workpiece

Advanced: Tab Direction

Rayforge calculates the outward normal for each tab to determine the safe direction:

  • Used for advanced toolpath strategies
  • Ensures tabs point outward from the part
  • Accounts for transformations (rotation, scaling)

Normally automatic - you don't need to configure this manually.