Advice on Controller Upgrade

[Tyeten (Alex Cunningham)]

Hello,

I met with the Lightburn team back at Bay Area Maker Faire and we discussed upgrading my TL-410C controller with a RuiDa bases system. This was so that I could use the Lightburn software of course. I am now at a point that I really need to upgrade my controller. I have this cutter Mophorn Laser Cutter 130W CO2 Laser Engraver 55x35 it has a MYJG150W laser power supply and the TL410C controller. What recommendations would you give me on upgrades? I am all ears. Please!

Thank you,
Alex Cunningham

[LightBurn (Oz)]

The TL-410C should actually work with the most recent release of LightBurn. Not all features are supported yet, but we have a 403c here that we’ve made good progress with, so if you can hold on a little longer you might not have to do the switch. Download the 0.9.06 release and try it.

[Tyeten (Alex Cunningham)]

I would like to upgrade my controller to better interface with the Lightburn software plus I need to replace my controller keypad anyways because the screen died on it. I am comfortable with rewiring and long as there is a straight forward wiring diagram.

[LightBurn (Oz)]

In that case, the Ruida 6445G is really nice - large screen, same functionality and price as the 6442G (about $350).

[Tyeten (Alex Cunningham)]

@LightBurn

Ruida 6445G

And that will work with my 2DM542-06 stepper drivers? or should I replace those as well? I want the best possible control over my cutter. It is a large cutter and jitters easily.

[LightBurn (Oz)]

If they’re standard step / direction drivers, it should yes. I don’t recognize the model, but I can’t see that being much of an issue.

[Tyeten (Alex Cunningham)]

I went with the

Cloudray Ruida CO2 Laser DSP Controller RD RDC6442G for CO2 Laser Engraving and Cutting Machine

from Amazon next day is so nice!!!

[Tyeten (Alex Cunningham)]

Oz,

The stepper drivers are working but are not calibrated properly for the new controller. Any advice? These are the drivers I have https://www.amazon.com/WaveTopSign-Stepprt-2DM542-06-Engraving-Cutting/dp/B07KXKCD66

[LightBurn (Oz)]

This might help:

How are steps calibrated?

That’s fairly easy, though it depends on whether your controller uses “step size” or “steps per mm”. They’re used for the same thing, but the calculation is a little different. 80 steps per mm is 1/80mm per step. If you tell the machine to make a cut that is 100mm across, but it comes out to 150mm, your ratio is 150/100, or 1.5. You would divide your steps/mm by that number, or multiply your step length by that number, to get the correct answer. So, if your machine used 80 steps/mm, you woul…

In Edit > Machine Settings under the X axis and Y axis settings is a step-length value that you’ll likely need to change.