LaserUser.com Forum (formerly RDWorksLab)

I recently noticed a change in the way my software and laser communicate. I used to have all of my work begin from the user origin that I set using the origin button on the Ruida controller. This origin was near the absolute origin, but inset slightly to accommodate an upgraded table. Everything was working fine until the other day when I went to cut a job and noticed that the software is no longer recognizing my set user origin, and is basing everything off of the absolute origin. In the software, the green origin square used to always be near the upper left corner where I have it set on my controller, but now the green user origin box is attached to whatever piece of artwork I draw. This is causing a big problem because I'm using jigs that were made off of my set origin, but now that the laser is working from the absolute origin all the time none of my jigs are lining up. I have reset the origin on the control panel several times, and the problem still persists. I have also deleted and reinstalled my software. I'm currently using LightBurn, but I experience the same problem in RDWorks. Strangely, when I reset the laser, the head always returns to the origin that I set. It just seems like its not communicating this position to the computer software. I am using the same laser as Russ, with the Ruida 644XG controller. Any suggestions on what may have changed that is causing this problem?

Do you cut your jobs directly from RDWorks / Lightburn? Or do you upload them to the laser and start them from the machine's control panel? Or do you save them to a thumb drive and plug that into the laser and load the job from the machine's control panel?

What do you have set in RDWorks for Position [see The Manual, section 4.3] ?

Also take note of "Output Select[ed] Graphics" and "Selected Graphics Position" [see The Manual, section 4.6].

Thanks for the reply Jeffrey. I only used RDWorks to test the system after this problem came up because I usually use Lightburn. In Lightburn I have my Position set as "User Origin." I have a custom table with alignment guides, and I set my user origin at the 0,0 position on my table so if I place something at say the x100 and y100 coordinate, the head would move to that exact position on the table to begin the cut. This worked great for me over several weeks. All of a sudden it started cutting from system origin, which is about 10mm off (in the negative directions) from my table markings. After resetting user origin, the problem persists.

I have also used the "Current Position" setting in Lightburn, and it will start from the heads current position, which is my set user origin, but if I place a graphic in Lightburn to cut at say x150, y75, it will begin cutting the graphic in the corner at my x0, y0 markings. Selecting "Absolute Coords" will allow the graphic to cut at x150, y75, but because its cutting from the system origin, and not my user origin, it's off 10mm from my table markings. (I hope that all makes sense. It's hard to describe it in words.)

To answer your other questions, I am cutting directly from Lightburn itself. When the job is ready to cut I simply hit the start button and it begins. My laptop is connected to the laser through USB. I haven't tried sending the job over and starting from the control panel to see if that works differently. I will test that out tomorrow.

As far as the "Output Select[ed] Graphics" and "Selected Graphics Position." I do not have that option checked, and never have. It outputs everything unless I specifically choose a no output setting on that graphics specific color.

Thanks again Jeffrey. I really appreciate your help.

Jeffrey Aley wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2019 Do you cut your jobs directly from RDWorks / Lightburn? Or do you upload them to the laser and start them from the machine's control panel? Or do you save them to a thumb drive and plug that into the laser and load the job from the machine's control panel?

What do you have set in RDWorks for Position [see The Manual, section 4.3] ?

Also take note of "Output Select[ed] Graphics" and "Selected Graphics Position" [see The Manual, section 4.6].

Keith Bilo wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2019 Thanks for the reply Jeffrey. I only used RDWorks to test the system after this problem came up because I usually use Lightburn.

You're welcome. Unfortunately, I haven't yet switched to Lightburn, so I can't help you with that. I believe there is another forum / website full of Lightburn gurus (and the developer himself). Perhaps you can find it by searching this forum, or perhaps one of the other guys can respond with a link.