I’m shopping for a 50–60W fiber laser and I’d like to run it from LightBurn over a wired LAN. Candidates so far: Gweike G2 Max (50W), Gweike G3 (60W MOPA + 40W diode), xTool F2 Ultra (60W MOPA), or anything else that fits. I already use LightBurn with a Ruida-controlled machine over Ethernet, and I’d like the same experience with a fiber galvo.
Hard requirements:
Real RJ45 Ethernet on the machine, not Wi-Fi only
Setup without a phone app, Bluetooth, cloud account or internet
Direct LightBurn support (no vendor software in the middle)
Questions:
Which fiber/galvo lasers or controllers are you running in LightBurn over Ethernet? Please include the model, controller and LightBurn version.
For machines that only offer USB or Wi-Fi: is LightBurn USB-only, or does it work over the network too?
Any machines to avoid because they need an app, cloud login or forced firmware updates to work?
Suggestions for other MOPA machines are welcome. Real-world reports (including “it’s USB only”) would help a lot. Thanks!
I don’t know know of a fiber machine that is networked. I’ve had a 60W for close to 4 years now and keep my eye open as best I can for new technology. None of the galvo fiber machines I know of have an Ethernet connection.
Some of the newer UV galvo machines have Ethernet. I’ve never seen one, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. One of the issues with xTool and other Chinese manufacturers is they make a machine, but make it incompatible. Even the compatible with Lightburn machines may have operation, they sell you on, but cannot be access by Lightburn.
My suggestion is to buy from a vendor you trust and specify what source and controller they put into it. This assures you the source is what you want along with the control board.
Spend the extra money on a MOPA type.
You can buy one with stock components and they usually put compatible pieces together.
Most of these are EZCad2 compatible and the newer Lightburn supports EZCad3 from what I’ve read.
The main reason I say stay away from places like xTool and similar, is if a piece breaks you generally have to buy it from them. If they no longer have it, you’re up the creek.
I’d wait until you hear from the peanut gallery, which I am one, to get a better of what’s out there that would fit your needs.
Thank you for your kind and detailed response. You confirmed some of my thoughts, so I think I’ll wait a little longer and definitely check the existing offer again.
Nice! Bit too expensive for me, I think, but nice.
It’s interesting how it became a “NetPort,” like Ethernet is a dirty word — I don’t get it, or maybe there’s some scam hiding behind that too…
I once had a Bambu Lab 3D printer, a P1S or something like that, over which I had a huge argument with the seller and couldn’t manage to return it, but then a buyer came along who didn’t mind that it had no Ethernet.
A few months later Bambu Lab released a new model with “Ethernet” written on it in big letters… as if they’d invented the wheel.
Yes, but as @MikeyH pointed out they may not use it that way.
I have a 2m radio mounted in my console, with it’s display mounted above the mirror.
The connecting cable uses RJ-45 connectors and I sincerely doubt they setup an internet protocol between them.
The video shows them using it as Ethernet and specifically state that’s being used, but also there is included a usb a → Ethernet Adapter. Screenshot from 0:13 seconds into the video.
I suspect it talks through usb, through the adapter to the machine using Ethernet. How it does that, I don’t know or if it’s their specialized software for it.
You can use Cat-5 cable for USB, it is actually much better quality. And allows longer runs without an inline booster. If I had to make a long run with USB, I would get a couple of USB to Ethernet adaptors for each end and run CAT-5/6 cable.
