LightBurn?

[nelsonic]

At present the software we use to create our laser designs is literally in Chinese. I can make it out with my poor Mandarin, but it's basically useless to anyone else and I'm not going to invest any time in creating a tutorial for it.

According to my research, LightBurn (which wasn't available when we bought our laser) is the best in 2021.

https://lightburnsoftware.com/

https://lightburnsoftware.com/collections/frontpage/products/lightburn-dsp

The releases are available on GitHub: https://github.com/LightBurnSoftware/deployment/releases

But the software itself is Closed Source. 🙄 I would obviously prefer it to be Open Source, but at the same time I totally understand why it isn't. If it were Open Source and relied on "donations" the developer would 100% starve. The community of people using the software might donate $20 for it but they almost certainly wouldn't pay the €105 asking price ... I actually think €105 ($120) is a good deal for this kind of industrial control software if it makes life easier. And if it means the Developer can afford to do it full-time to support it into the future, it's great!

https://lightburnsoftware.com/pages/how-the-lightburn-license-works

The forum seem friendly and informative: https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/

Intro: https://youtu.be/BkNeVjbZncc

Todo

• [x] Check if the controller on our laser is compatible (I think it is, but need to double-check!) 🔍
• [x] Download and try the trial version (Windows Machine) - need to block off a T2h for this. ⏳
• [x] "Print" a couple of test pieces, see: #43 🖨️
• [x] Decide if it's worth paying €105.95 for it. 💭

Really wish I had infinite time to do creative things ...

[nelsonic]

This is a photo of the DSP (Digital Signal Processor) unit of our Laser: it's a Ruida 6442

Read more: https://lasergods.com/controller-dsp-identification/

[nelsonic]

For reference, the DSP + Interface costs $375: https://www.cloudraylaser.com/products/cloudray-ruida-controller-rdc6442g-6442s?variant=12906003857459

So let's not break it. 😜

[nelsonic]

Downloaded the Free Trial of LightBurn this evening and it worked flawelessly. 🎉

Going to do a few more tests this weekend. ⏳ My initial impression is that the software is worth every penny of the purchase price. 😍

[nelsonic]

Been using Lightburn for the last couple of weeks and it's been a revelation! 🎉 It's fine for basic 2D design work e.g: #43 🖥️ But I still need to properly learn FreeCAD #35 to do more complex (3D/Furniture) design work ... 💭 Meanwhile my "30 day free trial" of Lightburn is running out in the new year. I will be buying the App and running it on both my Mac Laptop and the Windows Desktop.

[nelsonic]

10 Tips and Tricks for New Laser owners that use LightBurn: https://youtu.be/svqLw94RjYQ

[nelsonic]

£90 ... https://lightburnsoftware.com/collections/frontpage/products/lightburn-dsp

Buying the license in GBP using the UK cash/company.

[nelsonic]

Added the license to the CAD (Windows) PCs. Working well. Closing. ✅

[nelsonic]

https://lightburnsoftware.com/pages/manage-your-license-activations-with-the-license-portal

https://lightburn.cryptlex.app/auth/login

[nelsonic]

All about Lightburn : Interview with Jason from Lightburn: https://youtu.be/Uctq4kuu77I

Worth watching (or listening to) in the background to get the history/context of Lightburn. 💭

[nelsonic]

I consider myself reasonably proficient in LightBurn now. That's more of a testament to Jason's superb software engineering skills than my abilities. The program has the ease-of-use / no-brainer interface of MS Paint and the power/precision we need.

Recent example of a project created in LightBurn: https://github.com/nelsonic/vinyl-record-carry-storage-box/issues/1#issuecomment-1120317357

[nelsonic]

@LuchoTurtle this is the thread that might be relevant to you if you're going to try and use LightBurn for your Battery Bank. 🔋 💭

[LuchoTurtle]

@nelsonic cheers! Hopefully, some of my Blender skills can be ported into Lightburn to get up to speed faster 😛

[nelsonic]

TIL: how to cut a circle down to a semi-circle, 3/4 or 1/4. it's super easy, now that I know! https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/cutting-a-circle-in-half/5968

[nelsonic]

lame.

[nelsonic]

This is lame. But they sneakily don't include the duration of the license on their website! https://lightburnsoftware.com/collections/frontpage/products/lightburn-dsp

[nelsonic]

Wanna keep using the thing that you thought was a one-time payment? Well, there's an "Upgrade Fee" ... 🤦‍♂️

[iteles]

Can we only use this on one computer?

I'm wondering if we can design some stuff during nap time this week with @stephanymtr but it would have to be upstairs (portable). Just wondering if we can install on another computer or if we should move the one it's on up and down.

[nelsonic]

@iteles just download the App and use the 30 day Free Trial on the M1 MacBook Air (that @Stephanymtr is using). Happy to pay for more licenses if needed longer-term.

[Stephanymtr]

Hi! I have downloaded LightBurn. Here are the messages showing on my screen that stops me from doing any work on the program:

[nelsonic]

Yeah, we need to connect the Mac to the Laser and auto-detect the settings. 👩‍💻⚡️