I use it to make snap fit gingerbread houses.

@joojaa, the information in your comments is important to making the question relevant to the site. It's still at the edge. Computer-driven equipment generally pushes the bounds of "hand-made" art and crafts. That said, even if it's on-topic here, this probably isn't a good venue for getting an answer. Setup, adjustment, maintenance, and operation of lab and industrial equipment is generally outside the knowledge of most visitors here, so it would be sheer coincidence that someone knowledgeable would come across your question on this site. The manufacturer might be a good starting point.

@fixer1234 yes but i don't want to fix the device, i know how to do that. I dont want to setup the device i also do that. What i need information of how others have seen this issue handled from a crafts persons perspective. I dont think the manufacturer cares one way or another.

@joojaa, it may come down to someone (like you), creating simple user instructions (which might include getting assistance from a trained person, or not messing with certain settings). :-)

. @fixer1234 well assistance by expert is out of the question, instructions yes. But there is only so far i can instruct users not to press auto destruct button even by mistake. We are in the enviable position of being able to throw money at a problems but the user has to be able to manage on their own if we need a expert in the room then that's it, no more laser. But rather i am considering removing the autofocus entirely as that seems to be what everybody around me is doing. But surely there are other open access lasers out there what do they do. but this helps me imrove my question

@joojaa, good job clarifying what you need to know. TBH, it's a good question but it really doesn't fit within this site's scope. What is typical practice and how to instruct or limit users are off-topic. The site focuses on making art & crafts by hand, yourself. Administering equipment in a public setting is outside the scope. Maybe a long shot, but I'm wondering if your question might actually fit on The Workplace site (not what is typical practice for a laser cutter, but how to educate/control users). BTW, it's surprising that autofocus would be such an issue; seems like a natural solution.

@fixer1234 It is exactly your natural tendency to think that auto focus is always is safe that causes the problem. autofocus on cheap machines in not automatic in any sense of the word. Yes it automatically focuses to any underlying surface, if and only if. A) the material is under the probe and B) the material is thick and rigid enough to probe. C) you intended to probe now. Its very easy to misjudge this, or press autofocus button when you didnt intend. Any autofocus when your not in right measurement position basically lifts the laser bed through the machine and all hell breaks loose.

Also the probe in this case makes for a really low clearance. If your object has even a slight warp its going to grab your material and again all hell breaks loose. 2 mm isnt all that much of a bulge in a 1300mm sheet that hasn't been stored super professionally for its entire lifespan.

@joojaa, kinda sounds like disabling autofocus is the logical step. :-)

Yeah, but your working trough my filters there might be more creative solutions out there.

I mean I can rationalize that autofocus is bad because i have had users crying in panic. But im not entirly sure if im objective enough

@joojaa, I don't envy your position. I do think your question is good, but this site isn't the right place to ask it. Are there forums dedicated to laser cutters or maker spaces? The best place to get solutions would be where people in the specialty congregate.

I think the machine is OK for something that would be in a factory in china.

Possibly only used by seasoned machinists