Three features that cut setup time for 40k makers

FLUX Inc is a lasertech company.

Established in 2014, FLUX Inc is a pioneer in the field of laser cutting tech. With 190+ partners spread across 70+ countries, users worldwide range from artists, educators, small businesses, and more.
‍Learn more about FLUX Inc.

Beam Studio is the software for FLUX laser cutters.

Beam Studio is a free software and web app for FLUX laser cutters. It runs on desktop, tablet, and mobile and it's used to design, import or export artwork, and send files for laser cutting, engraving, or color printing.
‍Learn more about Beam Studio.

Most Beam Studio users are hobbyists and small business owners. They're not tech experts. They want software that streamlines their workflow.

What xTool and Illustrator got right and wrong.

Before designing, I studied how competitors handled cloud storage. xTool and Illlustrator made file management easy and surfaced useful info like file size and last edit. But users had to dig through menus to find the cloud save option. I wanted Beam Studio to do both well: simple saving and clear file management.

Turning competitor insights into clear flows.

My competitor research showed where other tools confused users: too many steps to save, unclear feedback after saving. I drafted flows that avoided those mistakes. Then I walked through each scenario with the PM to make sure we covered first-time saves, returning users, and error states.

Deciding what to ship now and what to save for later.

I had two weeks. The modal needed to be responsive across three device types so something had to give. I scoped v1 to core file actions only: save, open, rename, duplicate, delete. Nested folders and list view would wait. For desktop, I chose a 720x580px modal so users could see six files at a glance without extra scrolling.

Two weeks meant no time for custom components.

I used Ant Design because Beam Studio was already built on it. No new patterns for engineers to learn. No extra QA for edge cases. I pulled from existing components and focused my time on layout, hierarchy, and interaction logic instead of redesigning buttons.

Making the empty state useful, not just decorative.

Most cloud modals show an empty folder icon when there are no files. That tells users nothing. I suggested showing instructions instead: "Save files to My Cloud to get started". This turns a dead end into a clear next step. The rest of the layout follows patterns users already know from Google Drive and Dropbox, so file management feels familiar from the first click.

Why fullscreen made sense for Boxgen.

Box generator isn't a quick-click tool. Users adjust dimensions, change joint types, and rotate the 3D preview to check fit. That takes focus. A modal would feel cramped. I wireframed a few layout options and pushed for fullscreen so users could tweak settings and inspect the viewport without distractions.

Designed so beginners like Lisa don't need a tutorial.

Box generator has controls and constraints Lisa won't recognize, like viewport navigation and max dimension limits. I added "?" tooltips that explain each option on hover. Viewport controls let her rotate and zoom the 3D preview to check fit before cutting. The layout flows left to right so she naturally starts with settings, then previews, then exports.

"Why do I have to do this every time?"

This was one of the most common complaints in our Facebook group and support tickets. Three steps to select a machine. Every session. 95% of users owned one laser cutter, it made no sense. I proposed a persistent machine button in the top nav. Select once, and Beam Studio remembers.

Lisa knows she's connected at a glance.

The machine name now sits in the top nav bar, always visible. No more wondering if Beam Studio is connected. Green means completed. Red means error. Lisa sees her machine status the moment she opens the app. A future update will let users link machines to their account for health monitoring and usage tracking.