USB Issues with iMAC

LightBurn Software Questions
1

Newly question here:

I have two iMacs and I have successfully connected to a Creality Ender 3 with a laser module with one iMac. The second iMac is connected to a K40 laser with a MonportLaser board. I have had success with both, but every so often I get a problem with the USB connection. It usually comes back after a reboot of the Mac or a power cycle.
However today after successfully using the K40, I can no longer get it to connect. Reboots, swapping USB port, power cycling is not working. So my question is does anyone have a correct procedure for fixing this issue? Is there a secret recipe in bringing up the Mac and then powering on the Laser? As this has happened on two different lasers and iMacs I’m assuming it’s a Mac OS and Lightburn issue. I’ve tried looking through the posts but can’t seem to find a definitive solution. Like I stated earlier it was working fine. I just took a lunch break! it looks like it’s a reoccurring issue, but many of the posts are closed out with no real indication of a fix.

Thanks for any assistance.

2

Typical procedure:

  1. connect and power on laser
  2. Start LightBurn
  3. If not connected, make sure that the port selected in Laser window matches your actual laser instead of Bluetooth or anything else

Note that LightBurn has no role in USB connectivity to the machine and establishment of a serial device. That’s done purely at the OS level. LightBurn relies on OS facilities to access the laser.

3

Thanks so much for the quick reply. I think that must be the method as I’m etching again!

Here’s my review:

  1. Turn Laser machine.
  2. Make sure USB cable is connected.
  3. Turn on iMac and let it boot up.
  4. Launch Lightburn -checking the right USB serial connection.

I think the issue is with the Mac and its USB connected devices detection code. I assume during power up it tries to identify what’s connected on the ports. During this time it actually tries serial devices and detects the laser. After that anything plugged into the USB is probably identified a different way than trying a serial device - USB memory stick etc… Just a guess based on what I’ve scene. It’s a long time since I tried to debug drivers!

Anyway thanks again for helping with the correct steps.

4

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