Build your laser growth system from scratch. No prior hardware experience needed — just follow each step in order.
Lay everything out on a clean, flat surface. Cross-check each part against the list before you start building.
The X-axis carriage moves the laser module left and right. You will assemble the motor board, bracket, and laser mount.
Identify the two X-axis components: stepper motor board M1 and the X-axis bracket plate F2. Lay them face-up as shown. Note the direction of the motor rail — the P5 spacer blocks on M1 should face upward.
Insert 4× M5 square nuts (N1) into the T-slots on F2. Position the motor board M1 against F2, aligning the four mounting holes. Insert 4× M5×10 bolts (S1) and tighten with the 4 mm hex key.
Slide P3 and one loose P4 plate onto the motor carriage of M1, sandwiching the carriage. Insert 2× M3×30 bolts (S2) through P3 and P4, and thread on 2× M3 nuts (N2) by hand. Before final tightening, confirm P3 and P4 are parallel to each other.
Before continuing, compare your assembly to the front view shown. Confirm the following:
Attach the laser module L1 (with heat sink) to the laser mount plate P2 using 4× M3×12 bolts (S3) and the 2.5 mm hex key. The focus ring of the laser should face downward (toward the agar plate when installed).
Place the laser mount plate P2 (with L1 attached) onto the front of the X motor carriage M1, aligning with the holes in P3. Insert 2× M3×12 bolts (S3) and thread on 2× M3 nuts (N2). Tighten with the 2.5 mm hex key. The X-axis carriage sub-assembly is now complete.
The Y-axis carriage moves the agar growth platform forward and back. Assembly mirrors the X-axis, with the growth platform P1 instead of the laser.
Identify the second stepper motor board M1, Y-axis bracket plate F3, growth platform P1, and one loose P4 positioning plate. Note that P1 already has one P5 glued to its underside — do not attempt to remove it.
Insert 4× M5 square nuts (N1) into the T-slots on F3. Align the second motor board M1 to F3 and secure with 4× M5×10 bolts (S1) using the 4 mm hex key. Tighten in a cross pattern.
Before mounting the growth platform, compare your assembly to the rear view shown. Confirm the following:
Slide the growth platform P1 (with its pre-glued P5) onto the Y motor carriage, then place the loose P4 on the opposite side. Insert 2× M3×30 bolts (S2) through both P4 plates and secure with 2× M3 nuts (N2). Alternate tightening — keep P1 perfectly level.
Verify the Y-axis sub-assembly before moving on: growth platform is level, both P4 plates are flush, bolts snug but not over-torqued.
Join both carriage sub-assemblies into the acrylic frame. Work on a clean, stable surface — the panels slot together precisely.
Stand one side panel F1 upright. Slot the X-axis bracket F2 (from Phase A) and Y-axis bracket F3 (from Phase B) into the notches on F1. Secure with 5× M3×12 bolts (S3) and 5× M3 nuts (N2) using the 2.5 mm hex key.
Slot the second side panel F1 onto the open ends of F2 and F3. Secure with 5× M3×12 bolts (S3) and 5× M3 nuts (N2). The frame should now feel rigid — check that all four corners are flush before continuing.
Place the control board C1 onto the electronics mount plate F6. Insert a 2 mm washer (N3) under each of the four mounting holes as standoffs to protect the board, then secure with 4× M3×12 bolts (S3) and 4× M3 nuts (N2).
Slide the F6+C1 assembly into the rear slot of the frame (between the two F1 side panels). Secure with 2× M3×12 bolts (S3) and 2× M3 nuts (N2).
Before installing the back panel, locate the Y-axis motor cable. Thread it upward through the small cable hole on F3 — this is important, otherwise the cable will be trapped and you will need to disassemble. Then attach the back panel F5 and secure with 2× S3 + 2× N2.
Slot the front panel F4 into the front of the frame and secure with 2× M3×12 bolts (S3) and 2× M3 nuts (N2). The mechanical assembly is now complete.
Your Mycelian Micro frame is fully assembled. Take a moment to check that all panels are flush, all bolts are snug, and both carriages slide freely. You're ready to move on to electronics and wiring.
Before connecting power and using the laser, confirm each item below. Tick every box to unlock the next phase.
Connect the motors, laser, and power to the control board. Double-check each connector before powering on.
The single Y-motor port on the left edge of the board.
The single X-motor port. The 4-pin JST connector fits one way only — do not force it.
3-pin laser port labeled PWM / GND / 12 V. Connect the laser module cable here.
Barrel jack on the right edge of the board. Connect the included power adapter last.
USB-B port on the right edge. Connect to your computer using the included USB cable.
Connect the X-axis motor cable (from the Phase A carriage) to the X Motor port on C1. Connect the Y-axis motor cable (routed through F3 in Step 16) to the Y Motor port on C1.
Connect the laser module cable to the Laser (PWM/GND/12V) port on the control board. The connector is keyed — align the notch before pressing firmly.
Plug the USB-B end of the data cable into the USB port on the control board. Plug the USB-A end into your computer. You will connect the software in Phase E.
Confirm your goggles are on. Plug the 12 V DC adapter into the barrel jack on the control board, then into the wall. Press the power switch on the control board. The power LED should illuminate.
Set the laser focal distance and run your first boundary trace. The default software parameters are pre-configured for Mycelian Micro — do not change them unless instructed.
In Chrome or Edge, go to funguylab.com/mycelian-app. Select the Printer Control page from the menu. Click Connect via USB in the top bar. A browser dialog will appear listing available serial ports — select the one that corresponds to your Mycelian Micro (typically labeled "USB Serial" or "CH340"). Click Connect. The status indicator will turn green and show Connected.
In the Mycelian Micro web app, open the Printer Control page and enable the low-power beam with the Focus Laser button at the bottom-left — toggle it from OFF to ON. The laser will emit a very low-power beam, and a faint spot should appear on the growth platform surface.
Slowly rotate the focus ring on the laser module body — turn it back and forth while watching the spot on the growth platform surface. Stop when the spot is at its smallest and sharpest. This is the optimal focal point for your setup. Once set, turn off dim light by clicking the button again.
Design your pattern, prepare and inoculate the agar plate, mount it on the print bed, then start your first laser trace.
Switch to the Design Canvas page. Use the shape tools (rectangle, circle, spiral, freehand) to draw directly on the print area, or click Upload SVG to import an existing vector file. The dashed square on the canvas represents the boundary of the print area (38 × 38 mm) — keep your design inside it. Use Transform to resize, rotate, or reposition shapes.
On the right, use the simulator to preview your print before running it. Place the fungal inoculation points — choose where and how many spots to seed on the plate — then click Run to simulate how the growth will fill your design. Adjust the design or the inoculation points and re-run until you are happy with both, then continue to the next step.
On the Gcode Output page, confirm the two print parameters. The defaults are pre-configured for Mycelian Micro on standard agar — only adjust if you have a specific reason to.
Click Export Reference Sheet in the web app (A4 size by default). This outputs a paper sheet showing your design at actual size, including the inoculation point markers. Print it on a standard printer and set it aside — you will attach it to the agar plate in the next step.
Cut out the circular template along the outer boundary line. Turn the sealed agar plate upside down (lid still on). Center the template against the plate base and attach it with a small piece of tape.
Peel the transparent circular sticker from the kit and place it over the template on the plate base, sticky side down. Press firmly around the edges. The sticker protects the template and will be used to fix the plate to the print bed.
Flip the plate right-side up. Open the lid and, using an inoculation loop, inoculate the agar at the marked points visible through the base. Work quickly to minimize exposure. Replace the lid immediately after inoculation.
Place the agar plate (lid facing up) onto the growth platform P1, sticker side down. Press gently so the sticker adheres to the platform surface — this keeps the plate from shifting during the print. The plate should sit flat; if it rocks, check that P1 is level (revisit Step 8).
Remove the petri-dish lid so the beam falls directly onto the agar, then enable Dim Light mode again. The laser spot should land directly on the agar surface — check that it is still sharp and small. If the spot is blurry, re-adjust the focus ring (Step 25) with the plate in position. Turn off dim light when done.
On the Gcode Output page, press the play button in the Path Preview. The machine will trace the rectangular bounding box of your design at very low laser power — just enough to show the laser position without marking the agar. Watch that the trace stays within the plate area. If it goes out of bounds, reposition the agar plate on the printer bed and trace again — do not modify your design.
On the Printer Control page, under Print Job, select Continuous Loop so the machine re-traces your design over and over, steadily guiding growth over the agar, then click Start Print. With the petri-dish lid off, the machine traces your design directly onto the agar surface at the power you set, and you can set a custom run duration. When the job finishes the machine returns to its home position automatically. Keep the machine's enclosure lid closed for the entire print.
Check USB cable is fully seated. Confirm the control board power LED is on. Restart the software and click Connect again. Compatible with Windows 7/8/10/11 and macOS 10.13+.
Adjust the focus ring (Step 21). Ensure agar plate is within 5–10 cm of the laser output. Check that P1 is level and not tilted.
Loosen and re-tighten the motor board bolts (Steps 2 and 7). Check that no acrylic chips or debris are caught in the rails. Verify motor cables are fully seated.
Re-check focus (Step 21). Verify the agar plate was inoculated after (not during) tracing. Ensure plate was kept at room temperature 22–26 °C for at least 24 h.
Still stuck? Email support@funguylab.com — include a photo and we'll help you sort it.