LaserUser.com Forum (formerly RDWorksLab)

Dave- you are our resident expert on RDworks- I quit it on V19 and I think that Pete is on 18 or 19 too. To be fair, CorelDraw is a graphics program, kind of a cheaper version of Adobe Illustrator and Lightburn is an integrated laser software with a lot of graphics capabilities. I have spent the last 25 years working with different graphics/signmaking software and there is not one answer I am afraid.

I use v18.
Most of my work is CNC 3D plaques, Shadow boxes or furniture or picture boards for navy activities.
I use my laser to engrave my personal crest on some things I make and occasionally laser engrave names and dates on memorabilia presented as gifts.

I use my laser infrequently. I have lightburn but have not allocated time to use and learn it.
If I am not building things I am typically modeling using Aspire or Zbrush - I spend quite a bit of time working on learning Zbrush

RDWORKs does what I need from a laser. But all of the work is done in some other program and exported to RDWORKSs (Aspire typically).
I use RDWORKS to assign a power and a speed to my cuts and or engravings - nothing more.

While I believe Lightburn is a much better product for most...given what I use RDWORKs for I don't really have a need.

RDWORKS in my case is like a what a screw driver is to a set of twin Holly 4 barrels slaved together.

A lot of it is a combination of the controller firmware, and the RDWorks version. To a certain extent they go hand in hand.

The options and ect. for the laser itself are in the firmware, like the new start delays. But it takes a newer version of RDWorks or another third party software to access that feature. I have no idea how up to date Lightburn is with the Ruida firmware upgrades, but I would not expect them to right on top of it with all the different programs they have to work with. The nice part of the delays, is that once you set them via RDWorks, then anything sent to the controller will use those delays.

The latest version I have of RDWorks for public release from Ruida is .59, and for the 6445G firmware is .30, for the S it's .16. For the 6442 is .67 for both the S and the G, the center pair of digits is different between the S & G.

I have them all on my Google Mod Page if you want to download them. I know there are some HMI upgrades as well, but my control panel is one version to old to be field up-gradable so I don't have them.

Gene Uselman wrote: Fri Dec 31, 2021Yessir. 6442 and 6445

Sure friend intrigued me and I installed the program
but I don't see in the list as per attached picture Ruida controller?

Dave Vigness wrote: Fri Dec 31, 2021 A lot of it is a combination of the controller firmware, and the RDWorks version. To a certain extent they go hand in hand.
The latest version I have of RDWorks for public release from Ruida is .59, and for the 6445G firmware is .30, for the S it's .16. For the 6442 is .67 for both the S and the G, the center pair of digits is different between the S & G.
I have them all on my Google Mod Page if you want to download them. I know there are some HMI upgrades as well, but my control panel is one version to old to be field up-gradable so I don't have them.

Thanks friend I now have the .48 of the software
I saw the .60 version on the site
But I'm not sure if it supports the controller I have
which is RDC6442G-B as per attached photo

As firmware I don't remember maybe I have version .50
if I remember correctly some new version is out
You advise me to upload it, do you know what improves the next version?

I did not understand this thing about the room but it seems interesting you can post me some photos or examples
If it is also possible on my controller I would be happy
to add an IP-Cam to my laser cnc

Savio- I believe there are two versions- one for diode lasers (which it appears you may have] and one for CO2 lasers with controllers like Ruida and Leetro, etc. You may have to request the other version. Gene

Gene Uselman wrote: Sat Jan 01, 2022 Savio- I believe there are two versions- one for diode lasers (which it appears you may have] and one for CO2 lasers with controllers like Ruida and Leetro, etc. You may have to request the other version. Gene

A ok thanks for information
Yes a friend lent me his laptop since I have
remembered that he bought this program.

And he has a little diode laser I did not know that the same program was split into two versions,
I thought that LightBurn simply did not support my laser.

Ok I will ask him if through the supplier he can update the software also for the Co2 laser so I can try

But can you tell me what this LightBurn would have more than RDWorks?

I don't use it because I have Corel, but Lightburn gives you a LOT more design options that RDWorks. I do all my design and layout info stuff in Corel, then dump it to RDWorks for power and cut order and such before it goes to the laser.

>>Ok I will ask him if through the supplier he can update the software also for the Co2 laser so I can try

Lightburn offers a fully functioning trial version good for thirty days that will work on your controller. You should download that to you own computer. Your friend may not be able to update his PC to work with your laser without paying for the upgrade.

Doug Fisher wrote: Mon Jan 03, 2022Lightburn offers a fully functioning trial version good for thirty days that will work on your controller. You should download that to you own computer. Your friend may not be able to update his PC to work with your laser without paying for the upgrade.

I got stuck because I actually installed it years ago
But then I didn't use it anymore because I didn't have time to study the program how it worked so if I reinstall it today on my PC
He tells me that it has expired my friend has an orton and he bought the program and I tried with his laptop I did not know that the licenses were different I simply believed that that program did not support my laser