rdworks file transfer

[Pete Cyr]

Post by Ian Bell » Sun Apr 30, 2017 5:22 pm

I will have a pc located in the same room as my laser so I would prefer to transfer files using ethernet but have a few questions:

windows 10 pc
chinese laser (red & black)

Does the laser connect direct to the pc or can it go through a hub with it's own dhcp assigned ip address
Does it require a crossover cable.
Will rdworks automatically detect the laser for file transfer

Do I need to initially connect the pc via usb for driver installation etc.
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Post by Pete Cyr » Sun Apr 30, 2017 5:48 pm

Does the laser connect direct to the pc or can it go through a hub with it's own dhcp assigned ip address
-You can plug the laser in to a hub or switch or router and use dhcp no problem
Does it require a crossover cable.
-No
Will rdworks automatically detect the laser for file transfer
-Yes if you select a device IP vice USB and it is on the same network - see attached pic (this is also the default address the software like but it could be anything you choose)

port%20setting.png

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Post by Ian Bell » Sun Apr 30, 2017 5:58 pm

Thanks Pete, just what I needed to know, i'll run a network cable via the hub rather than a usb cable - wonder would it be better to assign/reserve a static IP

This is useful as I will be able to sit in the house in the evening and create program files and transfer via the network, and then modify if necessary in the workshop and re transfer. I'll keep the files on my nas so they are accessible from any networked pc.
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Post by Pete Cyr » Sun Apr 30, 2017 7:02 pm

I have a network ...router to switch in my house, to router in my detached garage.
I run my CNC off a desktop in the garage. I run all my design software on a desktop in the house.
I download files to the garage desktop to run on the cnc. I use the garage desktop as a terminal to access and run RDWORKS for my laser. I download rld files from my desktop in the house to the laser via the garage desktop with no issues.
Originally I was operating the garage desktop wirelessly but hard wired it due to slow wireless transfers.

You should have no problems.
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Post by Ian Bell » Mon May 01, 2017 3:01 am

Thanks Kevin i've seen that thread and do expect to see it again when I setup :D

I've still to run the network feed into the shed but I might just hookup a small hub and do local config to check,
Post by David Henry » Mon May 01, 2017 12:41 pm

How far is your shed? I only ask because if it is not close to the house you could use a wireless bridge to hop the traffic to the shed and back. My shed is about 100 ft from the house and I use a wireless bridge to get the data there. My NAS (Network Attached Storage) is in the house along with my main internet connection and router.

You will be happier with the network connection, it is faster than USB over distance and typically more stable. I would assign a static IP address to the laser. Unless your laser is powered on all the time so it is connected to the network when the DHCP lease expires for the IP address. Most of the time, the DHCP server (most likely your router) will attempt to assign the same IP address to a device. However, if the device is off the network for a period of time the DHCP server may assign the IP address to another device. Then when you power on the device again it will get a different DHCP reservation (IP address) which will cause issues with your software in that you will have to search for the device again from the software.

I suggest assigning a static IP address high than 192.168.1.100, say 192.168.1.150 and reserving that address in your router (should be by MAC address). I do this for any device that I connect to remotely across the network, like my security cameras, printer, and laser cutter.

If you have questions please let me know.
Post by Ian Bell » Tue May 02, 2017 4:34 am

My shed is 24ft x 10ft and will be a workshop so I prefer a wired connection for networking rather than the bridge. My setupo sounds pretty much the same as yours re main network and nas etc.

spot on re the static IP, my laser wont be on all the time.

Thanks for the info David all very useful
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Post by David Henry » Tue May 02, 2017 1:41 pm

If you are going to run the cable outside, make sure to use the outdoor cable that is rated for direct burial (if you are going to put it in the ground) or has a UV rated jacket if it will be areal. The regular CAT5/6 cable is not rated for UV and will break down quickly and can damage any connected equipment when the insulation fails.

I would recommend one that is shielded with shielded RJ45 jacks to reduce crosstalk from other electrical wires on the run outside back to the house. It is more expensive, but it does make a difference.

Inside, avoid running the CAT5 along the same path as the electrical cabling. If you use rigid metal conduit for the electrical and ground it, then you can run the CAT5 outside the conduit. I would suggest at least 6" between the electrical and CAT5 if there is no conduit.

Sorry for all the info, but I don't want to give you only part of the information then have something go wrong.
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Post by Pete Cyr » Tue May 02, 2017 5:46 pm

I recommend CAT5E or 6E vice plain 5 or 6 - data rates are very different
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Post by David Henry » Wed May 03, 2017 1:15 pm

Pete, that is true. Most places don't sell much regular CAT5/6 these days. CAT5E/6E are what most places carry in stock. I don't imagine that he will be doing much Gb speeds that would require Cat6E though. Then again, I used carrier grade CAT6E cable in my shop even though I have no Gb traffic in my shop. My wireless link tops out at 300Mbps, with an average speed of 120 Mbps. I don't really have need for anything faster than that.
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Post by Ian Bell » Wed May 03, 2017 2:31 pm

my network traffic will be file transfer, and streaming audio, possibly cctv recording backup so no Gb speeds necessary
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Post by Pete Cyr » Wed May 03, 2017 3:03 pm

I like to maximize the opportunity up front if it doesn't cost any more or require additional effort.
I have over time updated my home network to be Gb - for the sake of allowing the maximum data rate xfere.
I have several cameras I monitor in the Shop when I am eating in the house for the CNC when cutting and I like to download as quickly as the system permits. Cheap and easy if you do it up front but if I never use the max data rate it hasn't cost me any more than if I had used less capable components and wire.
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[Ian Bell]

Just an update on this since the thread rebuild.

I connected my machine using a network hub and a static IP address on the laser.

Rdworks installed on the pc works fine with this address, but occasionally it seems to lose the connection.

changing the settings to auto and re-establishing the port setting works, but it is a PIA

[Hank Morgan]

Yay! I'm in!
I got the laser up and running on my local network.
It was easy enough, especially since there was already an old cat5e cable run from the area where the laser lives to the place my router lives. (about 50 feet)

I used the lasers keypad to give it a "happy" (unused) IP address and made note of the lasers MAC address while I was in there.
Then I reserved a seat on the router's DHCP server for that IP & MAC address combination. Easy.

The hard part was figuring out how to make it work and actually transfer a file... but Pete provided that piece of the puzzle for me in the photo above that shows how to change the port setting from "USB" to "IP". Thanks Pete!

It seems to be working just fine now.