Hello, new user

[John Vivian]

Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas/Happy New Year.
Just for identification my name is John and I live in Chatsworth, Los Angeles County, USA.
Have been using a laser I bought second hand on eBay many years ago. Had no instructions but business partner at the time, with experience, got it running and we used it for many (like 18) years. Finally computer (old XP) failed and cannot get it running again (Topwisdom board).
Bought new blue OMTech USB570a 60 watt 20X28 machine, just got it installed (set up) powered, set focus, ran OMTech test, laser fires, cuts test panel but booklet attached does not explain how to load drawings. Has RDWorks installed, RDC6442G controller.
I have used both USB and Eathernet cables to hook machine to computer but computer does not find or recognize machine. Computer is running Windows 11.
I am sure there is something simple I am missing in set up or instruction to upload drawing to machine, I have reset the x and y coordinates to top right corner and run test successfully.
If one of you experienced folks would be so kind and willing to enlighten this frustrated individual, I would be most appreciative. I do really well with pictures and watching visual demonstrations; but, sometimes miss the most important sentence in a paragraph.
Hope I can contribute something in future.

[Pete Cyr]

Are you hooking the Ethernet directly to the laser?
Using Ethernet you must assign an up address ......typically you would enter an address in the laser key pad ( on the laser). And enter the same ip address in rdworks. In rdworks you must select choose between USB and ip address......there is a test function to validate connectivity.

We have a revised rdworks manual. viewtopic.php?f=107&t=3507
While this manual version is probably older than the software you are using it will help you understand terminology of/in rdworks.

757-544-5201. If you want to call for specific help

Be sure to backup your vendor settings. They are easily lost and a pain to obtain with out backup.

[John Vivian]

Hi Peter:
Thank You for the reply.
I am hooking machine directly to computer and have gotten it to communicate. Actually drew a box in Rd Works and sent it to laser and it cut the square. So I now have communication and must learn the graphics to modify import drawings so I can engrave and cut.
Will download manual and CAD. Hope is is not to different from my other programs. As I have imported a drawing I have completed a first step.
Thank you for your help, will holler when I get stuck.
Happy New Year, John V.

[Pete Cyr]

If you have familiarity with other CAD software or drawing programs I would do all the work in those rather than RDWORDs.
RDWORKS is a terrible drawing program. RDWORKS imports a variety of file formats but *.ai seems to work best for me.

I only use it to assign power, cut and or scan to my work.
Much better software for the laser is Lightburn - you may want to evaluate that after you get more comfortable using the laser and understand what kind of work you are going to use your laser for

[Gene Uselman]

Lightburn is really developing fast- the drawing capabilities are actually very good and the last update [1.3] includes a feature where you can log your own hotkeys to mimic whichever graphics program you like. I have used the same graphics program for 25 years professionally and you get really used to certain combinations of keys. And it is cheap. Gene

[John Vivian]

Pete and Gene:
Thanks for the tips and suggestions. Very much appreciated.
Am now talking to machine and actually got a test file loaded and cut. Now figure out parameters, colors layers, priority etc.
Agreed RDWORKS is terrible for drawing, not the least bit intuitive.
Have discovered I can use my go to (comfort) CAD program and save in early version of ai and then import to RDWORKS to print to laser.
Still working out layers and priority as workaround, split drawing into colors and upload one at a time to cut/engrave is cumbersome.
Thanks for your help, will become a worthwhile journey. John V.