RDWorks Upgrade?

[Gary Thompson]

Hi All

I'm new to the forum and still a novice on lasers and RDWorks. This might be a subjective question but I've noticed that most of you use different versions of RDWorks. Are there big differences in the more modern versions?

I'm using v8.01.16 simply because the engineer who came to set the machine up originally told me I'd find it easier. I've, slowly, come to grips with settings in this version and am a bit reluctant to download a more recent version in case I have to relearn a lot of stuff. Any advice on whether some of the new versions would make things easier/harder or should I wait until I'm more proficient?

I read somewhere else on the forum that I probably won't be able to open my existing documents on a newer version - this isn't a big problem as most of the stuff I've been doing so far is saved as dxf files as well.

Thanks for your help.

[Doug Fisher]

You should be able to open your current documents that were created in .16. What you can't do is use an older/lower version number of RDworks to open files created in a newer version. .17 and higher files will not be able to be opened by version .16. v.16 files will be able to be opened by versions .17 to .40.

[Jeffrey Aley]

Most of the versions look and operate similarly. There might be a menu item or two that got moved, but it's not like going from Windows 8 to Windows 10, where you have to re-learn a bunch of stuff.

[Chris Medcalf]

There's really not a lot to gain from newer versions of RDWorks. Bugs seem to get introduced, and old bugs often don't get fixed. There's the occasional feature added, and sometimes things work differently which can improve or upset your workflow. For instance, I stick with v8.01.18, the last version where the 'Cutting after sweeping ' feature works as I like it.

That said, I have a feeling that v8.01.16 was a bit rogue, was quickly superseded. I think it was down to file handling, but it's long ago.

[Pete Cyr]

I am with Chris - I don't see value added upgrading RDWORKs software ver 18 is stable and reliable.

[Tim Mellor]

In the modern era of software to be unable to open the last minor revisions files is unforgivable. If it is a generational upgrade is one thing but this is coding BS.

If the reason to stop an upgrade is this then time to find the alternate.

[Doug Fisher]

If I remember right, the last "significant" upgrade was about .26 although I believe .28 or .30 worked out some kinks in .26. I can't remember why it was significant because it has been so long (I haven't upgraded since .33).

If you haven't downloaded the free full-featured trial of Lightburn, you should. While it isn't fully polished yet, it is getting close. Might as well invest your limited learning time in a software package that is actively being developed and has actual customer support.

[Dave Vigness]

.41 seems to be stable, and Rabbit Laser USA has it. DO NOT download .44! I don't know where I got it as I was scrambling for versions when I decided to switch from Top Wisdom to Ruida. It may not be labeled as such, but it functions like a BAD Beta.

I do know Russ is using .38, so you should feel plenty safe going that far at least.