New Laser DSP controller card LO-R5!

[Tech_Marco]

Folks:

I have made a deal with Ruda to be their main distributor in North America. The R5 is based on RDC6442G and a custom made LaserWork is included with the package. The software is more sophisticated and come with many powerful tools. It is one of the powerful and affordable DSP controller in addition to the AWC series.

For the next few weeks, I'll make a deep exploration on the new DSP R5 and will try to collect more technical data so that a comparison between the AWC608 or LO-X7 could be clearer.


Regards,
Marco

[tele]

How is the evaluation going ? Can we get some preliminary results ?

I guess the most important part will be the LaserCAD vs. RDWorks comparison.

The controller hardwares must be about the same value, I think.

Which one is better in your estimation ?
I'm gonna buy a controller very soon, and I can't choose between AWC608 and X7 and RDC6442 .

[Tech_Marco]

I am a little bit busy recently so I haven't had time to do 'intensive' testing but did a preliminary testing on the new DSP - R5.

Personally speaking, I like the sophisticate layour of RDWorks (LOWorks for LightObject ) but I do love the simplicity of the LaserCad as well.

Following are a few major difference between the two card that I found from the tests:

The interface of RD seems a bit of complicate than the LaserCad but with many features that LaserCad used to leak of. For example, one features is to delete duplicate lines that we hardly can see when a file is converted from Corel to Illustrator. That feature has been added to the LaserCad lately, so no big deal now (was). However, I found that the "PPI" feature was removed from the RDWorks. Mr.Xiao (the President of RD) said that it could be added per my request.

The R5 seems to have 'deceleration' so that it runs smoother for big machine with higher drag. I was told that the R5 support "gray scale" engraving but when I tried it on regular CO2 laser, I didn't see the effect. I talked to Mr.Xiao and he told me that the feature only available when running "RF" laser. The delay on CO2 won't be able to show the grayscale effectively on the engraving. I don't have RF laser so I can't proof. If anyone has a RF laser and want to try the R5, I can offer discount for you to try and write back the result as a trade.

I talked to a few manufacturers in China who used both card on their machine. For small machine, they didn't care much. But for the big machine they tends to like the RD better. Another good thing about the R5 is that it seems supporting Servo motor better than the AWC608 or the X7. Again, I don't have the servo so I can't tell. But some folks reported that the AWC608 ran ok with their servo machine.

Changing parameters on the R5 seems a little bit more friendly. You don't need to RESET once a parameter is changed. Unlike AWC608 or X7 where you have to press "RESET" to take new parameters in effect.

Dither: RD only provide preset resolution on the dithering but LaserCad allow to change the pixels size.

I have attached the R5 software on the download section and you folks may give it a try. Even though you can't run it on a machine, you can look at the feature of the software and see if you find something new or something you want to add it to the LaserCad.


Marco

[TheSniper]

I have attached the R5 software on the download section and you folks may give it a try. Even though you can't run it on a machine, you can look at the feature of the software and see if you find something new or something you want to add it to the LaserCad.


Marco

Is their a way to be able to run LO/RD Works on a machine with the X7 controller?

Having just purchased an X7 controller I was unaware of the software differences. I realize their are pro's/con's to both.
-S

[purloiner]

I talked to a few manufacturers in China who used both card on their machine. For small machine, they didn't care much. But for the big machine they tends to like the RD better.

Hello Marco

What is meant with "small" and "big" machine?

My CO2 laser has a work area of: 1220x610 mm (48x24").

Would this be classed as "small" or "big"?

Thanks

[purloiner]

I have attached the R5 software on the download section and you folks may give it a try. Even though you can't run it on a machine, you can look at the feature of the software and see if you find something new or something you want to add it to the LaserCad.

Marco

I have one of these units on the way to me. Is there a manual for it?

[DonL]

I have attached the R5 software on the download section and you folks may give it a try. Even though you can't run it on a machine, you can look at the feature of the software and see if you find something new or something you want to add it to the LaserCad.

Marco

I would like to be able to save settings for cutting and engraving - example Engrave Acrylic, Engrave Painted Stainless, Cut Plywood, Cut Acrylic
Like RDWorks, When you chage the cut or engrave settings you can save the settings with a name to make it easy to recall.

Another good feature to add would be Use U Axiz for Rotary So you can set the UM and Speed and leave it And what would be nice is to have an option to enter the diamiter once the table has been configured. So if you buy the LO Mini Rotary, you can enter the basic settings that will always be the same for all users then if I put a 100mm water bottle you can enter 100mm and get a good engrave every time.

uaxis.JPG (8.51 KiB) Viewed 3484 times

These features will make the difference when I am ready to buy another controller later this year. If The changes are made I will buy another LO-X7 and all the updates so all my lasers have the same controller and can use the same files, if not then I will get a laser with the RD controller that uses RDWorks and reimport the Corel Files and use the old laser just for one type of job or sell the LO-X7 and replace it with an RD controller.

[Telrad]

I agree the layer color labels would be a great addition for both software. As it is, it can be confusing to quickly remember what each layer is set up for without a label. It would be easy to do by just having a label pop up when the mouse is over it and the label could be changed in the layer settings panel.