A laser plotter and method for operating a laser plotter for cutting, engraving, marking and/or lettering a workpiece are disclosed. When an irradiation source is activated, a laser beam is directed via deflection elements to a focusing unit. A control unit performs the control on the basis of set parameters and/or a loaded job. The data, in particular job, are received via a computer unit, and a calculation of the path planning is performed offline by the computer unit or externally by a cloud solution or component. The path planning and other data are transferred to a PLC controller or soft PLC, from which at the sampling times, the individual target data, in particular the path planning and other data, such as the speed, are then sent step by step via an industrial bus to at least the modules for axle control and laser control.