EASY! Swap Between LightBurn and Ezcad FAST

In this episode we'll learn how to swap back and forth between LightBurn for Galvo and Ezcad 2 quickly, no reinstalling or uninstalling anything!
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0:00 - Intro
0:56 - Uninstall LightBurn USB Driver
2:03 - Ezcad Test and Tips
2:59 - Replace LightBurn Driver with Zadig
4:21 - LightBurn Test and Tips
5:16 - Final Thoughts
5:30 - Outro - Supporting the Channel
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[@bluegizmo1983]

It's actually MUCH easier to switch back and forth between the two drivers than what is shown here... All you need to do (this is assuming you've already used the ezcad2 driver and the lightburn driver at least once each), don't uninstall the device/driver, all you need to do is right click on it in device manager and select "update driver", then click "Browse my computer for drivers", then click "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer", it will show a list containing only the two drivers you've used (in my case, "Laser Mark Control Board V2 [USB]" and "Lightburn/BJJCZ EZCad2 Controller"). You can easily swap back and forth without uninstalling and without Zadig.

[@LaserEverything]

Nice, pro tip in the comments. 💯

[@thesignspecialist1067]

Well now this just made my night. After removing the driver and expecting the BJJCZ to reappear and hustling for a few days, now I can move on with life and never look back to Ezcad! Unless I get that 3d galvo...

[@HouseMadeUS]

Bro you just saved the day here, thank you!!!⚡

[@overthalineproductions270]

In your opinion, which is better for laser engraving metal / fire arms?

[@jezzalinko]

omg thankyou, the converter doesnt keep the pulse settings so i have to manually add it in and need to be able to have ezcad open to see it so needed to sort out drivers or else it opened in a demo mode which wouldnt let me see the settings

[@loops01]

Nice series, looking forward to the rest of them :)

[@LaserEverything]

Glad to hear it! Thank you!

[@BigHWorks]

This one is 5 1/2 minutes packed FULL of insights and very detailed information. I recommend a new user like me watch it 3 times and capture ALL the details and every poiint made. Thanks Alex and LE crew for making these available. BTW, I am gladly an LMA supporter and suggest others do the same. Laser Everything is the Bomb!

[@LaserEverything]

Thanks so much, and appreciate you taking the time to watch it! Thanks for the support on the LMA as well, you help make this content possible!

[@shaunwallis1501]

all these vedio is amazing making it so easy well done

[@LaserEverything]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Adriangarcia-oh7em]

Love the videos I just have a question, what if I have never installed EZcad I only installed lightburn software, do I still need to install ezcad drivers??

[@RCREVIEWS101]

too much back and forward for me, getting a laptop for LightBurn and done with it, good vid, helped on my decision !

[@LaserEverything]

That's always an option 😅

[@mischiefforge2020]

Does that work? I've got the computer that came with my laser and a separate desktop.

[@heidielliott5176]

Do I have to do this part?? I am setting up a new laser that I have never used ezcad

[@tiffsdecorandmore]

I’m getting my first fiber laser soon from Aeon what if I don’t have ezcad?? Do I need to start with it or can I just start with lightburn? Kind of confused

[@garyh7397]

Looking forward to your videos and using Lightburn on my 50w JPT. I will definitely be signing up on the masters link. I decided not to install Ezcad2 after receiving my laser, rather, waiting on the release of Lightburn. Am I correct simply using Lightburn from the get go will be fine, or do I need to concern myself with settings used by Ezcad as you mention in this video? Thanks.

[@dubmfg]

You will, at a bare minimum, need to snag the setting from the COR file included with your EZCAD config - or transcribe them from screenshots that may come with the lens

[@LaserEverything]

While it's easy to import some of the config in ezcad that was likely set up by your laser manufacturer you shouldn't have any problem starting right out with lightburn. We operate through the tutorial series as if you were setting up the device completely fresh and talk about how to handle that.

[@garyh7397]

@@LaserEverything - thanks, I did join your community today. I downloaded a few things but haven’t had a chance to view them.

[@tonyb9785]

It also looks like there is a .exe in the LightBurn Program Files to install the driver LightBurn needs. C:\Program Files\LightBurn\EzCad2Driver\dpinst-x64.exe

[@thegenxproject5941]

Trying to follow along and now have all kinds of issues. Is there some way to just use lightburn for my fiber instead of having to try to get it to go back and forth with ezcad?? Or did I pay $90 for galvo add on lightburn for nothing?

[@user-gp8bp2xb5n]

We are converting a SALE laser from Inkscape to lightburn while making this change we are not getting the list device options in Zadig as required. Any suggestions?

[@TeamSteeleFitness]

Just got my 60 watt mopa...when i opened lightburn it won't find the device and lightburn says i have to pay $90 for glavo? I already have it for C02 DO I need this before i can use lightburn to control my fiber?

[@freddyfredsville5033]

how do i lower power down on lightburn ?? i had ezcad worked well but lightburn will not let me lower power? it does it on screen but actaully engraves same power>?

[@bedrockrose]

Total newbie here. I’m about to receive my fiber laser and plan to use Lightburn. Watching these set up videos (thank you!!). Question: Can I just begin with Lightburn and skip any EZCad set up altogether? This video and previous seemed to imply I should get some of the settings from my EZCad configuration to input in my Lightburn configuration??

[@bedrockrose]

Also now watching Basic Lightburn Device setting and it is mentioning import COR file from EZCAD set up. This furthers my question about whether I should first set up EZCad2 before converting my new laser to Lightburn?

[@LaserEverything]

So you can absolutely skip to lightburn directly. The issue is, the lens will give you a bit of potential skew/stetch/warp/scale sizing issues if you don't import a corfile that's tuned for the lens it was tuned with (usually comes on a flash drive with the laser, but not all vendors tune it for the lens on the machine or offer it). This can make squares look like round rectangles, or trapezoids, or circles look like eggs, and those shapes can come out much bigger/smaller than setup in the software without being tuned. Thankfully lightburn just released a new calibration tool (it still needs work, but it gets you 90% there) to help with this. the scale needs a bit of tuning, but the rest of it works fantastically. We released a video on that in this last week, and should help if you want to skip ezcad entirely.

[@bedrockrose]

Thank you. I’ve received my laser, and Cloudray did seem to calibrate my two lenses on the flash drive, so I’ve got directly to Lightburn, loaded the CORfile and am officially beginning to laser a few things. Still so much to learn, very grateful for your channel!

[@joshua_24.15]

I'm having trouble switching between ezcad and lightburn drivers. After uninstalling the driver for lightburn I checked to see that the device manager showed my machine with the ezcad driver active, however when I open ezcad I get an error saying "lmc hardware version error". Any idea how to fix this? Looking forward to learning lightburn but I have a lot of ezcad files I still need to be able to run.

[@LaserEverything]

I might try uninstalling the driver that's on there now and using the one from our website instead at www.lasereverything.net/downloads

[@corvetteflorida]

In the short time I have had my fiber laser, I have accumulated a TON of EZCAD .ezd files to use with it. So will LightBurn use these files natively?

[@LaserEverything]

I haven't heard of any plans for LightBurn to support or convert ezd files unfortunately. It also seems ezd files are somehow encrypted. I know a few smart people who have been trying to work it out but have not heard of any successes. If we hear about something we'll definitely be covering it on the channel.

[@johnny0110]

I have the LMCB DLC Ver. 1 listed in my device manager but Lightburn does not see it when I search for new devices?? Laser is on and Windows sees it. Any ideas??

[@LaserEverything]

DLC is the Ezcad 3 controller, which is not currently supported by LightBurn, waiting on news. Will update on the channel when I hear something.

[@Bad_iv89]

settings set for engraving materials is the same like in ezcad?

[@LaserEverything]

The software fields appear differently and may be found in different places, but they should be essentially the same parameters.

[@johnny0110]

DO you need to go from EZcad 2.5 to Lightburn?? Im using version 3.0.

[@LaserEverything]

Unfortunately LightBurn doesn't currently support Ezcad 3 but they're working on it. Hoping for some news soon.

[@javieruriel]

i have a laptop wich i wasnt able to cennect to the laser usig lightburn do you have any video explaining that issue?

[@LaserEverything]

If the laser is compatible with ezcad2 or another supported controller, you would want to start at the beginning, with driver install using LightBurn. If this process doesn't work, you can also relaunch the LightBurn installer, and on the last page of installation, it asks if you wish to install the galvo driver, and DSP driver which are both optional. You can install the galvo driver on that page, and is also stored with the installed files. If its not driver related, you'll want to make sure the cable and any extensions/hubs are behaving. you may need to bypass/remove any hubs and connect directly to the laser in some cases.

[@argentimaginationjewlery6020]

Hi Alex I’m David Leask, i’m a metalsmith and jeweler. I contacted you previously about problems using EZcadd 2. I have a 60W Galvol Fiber Laser. Model Lasers Only, JPT MOPA M7. I initially loaded Lightburn into my computer and then I loaded EasyCadd2. I ran light burn on 6 projects with great success. I tried to run EZCadd2 with no success receiving error messages . I deleted light burn and EZCadd and reinstalled EZCadd 2 and the driver from your website. I tried to run easy cadd but the Laser won’t start. The soft ware shows that it’s running but no laser light. The trace position led light works. I was running the programs on windows 7. I have been having problems with the computer. I ordered a new computer with windows 11. I want to start from scratch. My question is what is the best soft ware to run. I would like to run Lightburn. Can I run the laser with out the EZCadd2 dongle? The applications I will be using the laser for are cutting out sheet metal parts, up to 18 gauge. The alloys are gold, silver, brass, copper. pewter and steel. I will be doing deep engraving carbon steel. I will also be rotary engraving gold and silver rings. Do you think Lightburn would be the best fit for my application? It looks like Lightburn has better support to get me up to speed faster. I’m having bad back problems that have made it difficult to work. That is why I bought the laser. It will help with labor and design. It has been a start and stop process. I will need to take better notes so I don’t set lost in the minutia. David Leask Artisan Silversmith direct.me/argentimagination

[@scottstewart5455]

Following the steps on the video. Trying to open ezcad again I'm getting message that the software is open but I don't see it.

[@LaserEverything]

Happened to me occasionally unrelated to lightburn, a long while ago. Eventually swapped out my ezcad for a fresh copy I think something was corrupted - but a PC restart would be a short term fix.

[@charlesmccarty5209]

When I pull up Zadig and it opens - I am not able to select anything - it is just blank white in the drop downs - any advice?

[@charlesmccarty5209]

I tried re-downloading the ezcad files from lazer everything and they will not install successfully.

[@LaserEverything]

You need to go to options, and then show all devices!

[@trollwerks]

new user here. Why would I need to use EZCAD if I have Lightburn? Serious newb question. Are there things EZCAD does that Lightburn does not?

[@LaserEverything]

It's a great question, and honestly we also use lightburn 99.9% of the time, so we totally get it. Ezcad has an integrated tool for doing lens corrections, where all you need to do is let it run an outline, and you then take measurements and it processes the needed correction measurements. We cover this in future episodes of the crash course. The same can be done on lightburn, but is a little bit more fiddley since you have to do the corrections manually, adjusting, retesting, adjusting, retesting, until you are within a reasonable range of correction for an acceptable mark. That said, it turns into a situation of, how much extra time you want to spend on doing that process to avoid switching back for a few minutes, and also preference. Ezcad also has some utilities that simply aren't available in lightburn yet in any form, such as flymark, and automations. This may and hopefully changes as the Lightburn team continues to make huge strides and updates. Lastly, for troubleshooting. If you're having an issue that doesn't seem to go away with normal troubleshooting, you can swap to ezcad as a functional software alternative to test and determine if its a software issue, config issue, or maybe hardware issue. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but is what comes to mind for us the most.

[@MsUniquememories]

Help!!!! I uninstalled the USB driver from Device Manager but when I went into EZCAD I got "Failed to open lmc driver" therefore can no longer get to the param tab and view. I downloaded Zadig but when i search for Devices, all I see is USB Receiver (Interface 1) and USB Receiver (Interface 2). Help!!!!!

[@LaserEverything]

Another method, is to go into device manager, and manually install the ezcad2 driver from the ezcad2 folder. After that, when you launch lightburn, at the end of the install process, it will ask if you wish to install the lightburn galvo driver. Doing so will have the device use the lightburn driver. To switch off lightburn to ezcad, you can then uninstall the lightburn driver from device manager, and it should default to ezcad2 driver that you first installed. To swap back, can use zadig or run the lightburn installer again to get to the galvo driver install.

[@stanislawreymer77]

Hi Alex, I followed your steps but still got an error on EzCad (it says 'Can not find dog). Is there a reason for this?

[@stanislawreymer77]

I also have the latest driver for EzCad installed

[@LaserEverything]

Dog stands for dongle and by dongle they mean laser. Typically it means the connection to the machine is bad or broken somewhere. Remove any USB hubs/extenders and try swapping your USB cable. Use the drivers from www.lasereverything.net/downloads and be 100% sure the machine is turned on as it wont work otherwise.

[@stanislawreymer77]

@@LaserEverything Thanks! I think I misunderstood and thought that I would be able to switch between lightburn and EZcad seamlessly. But I believe that at each switch you will need to go into device manager / use zadig to enable the switch?

[@jerrygotsch1122]

Tried the driver swap and now nothing shows after scanning in device manager. Tried installing new EZcad drivers and nothing is taking now.

[@LaserEverything]

Is your machine plugged in and turned on? Make sure to check under USB devices to make sure the lightburn USB drivers have been completely uninstalled.

[@obsidianet]

Ok, I'm new and dumb and drinking from a firehose. EZcad2 is free and Lightburn is $120. Is Lightburn worth it?

[@LaserEverything]

Yes, 110%

[@corvetteflorida]

​@@LaserEverything Just out of curiosity, how so? Personally, to manually redo all of my EZcad designs in Lightburn would be a major case of HEARTburn. Which appears to have to be the case, since there is no conversion program, and as best I can tell right now Lightburn does not accept EZcad files natively (which in my opinion, is not all that smart of the Lightburn developers and marketers, IMHO). So perhaps you have a video describing what exactly would be gained, functionality wise, with Lightburn compared to EZcad? I don't care about compatibility with other types of lasers, so that does not figure into the comparison. I only have the galvo fiber laser, and seriously doubt I will ever use anything else. And even if I did, I sure wouldn't want to have to trashcan all those EZcad designs anyway and start over from scratch. So in a nutshell, the improvement in usage with Lightburn over EZcad would have to be HUGE. And in case anyone is wondering, EZcad does not have any sort of export function to export it's native files to a different format. At least in version 2. So that is not an option. So how has anyone who has had an EZcad only fiber laser machine long term with LOTS of EZcad designs gotten over what I consider as a major hurdle like this? As best I can tell, the ONLY two options are to either stick with EZcad, or manually create all of your EZcad designs all over again to be used in Lightburn.

[@mikesanchez5955]

I had to turn my laser off and back on before it picked it up. Just FYI

[@LaserEverything]

Thanks for sharing, good to know!

[@TheNutthouse1]

Ezcad doesn’t work after doing all these steps.

[@LaserEverything]

If it’s not working, check and see if lightburn is. If lightburn works for your galvo, ezcad won’t, and you’ll need to circle back in the steps if you need ezcad2 working. The drivers can’t coexist installed together and run at the same time sadly. If the drivers failed to swap in the process, that would be my first test to check. Next, when turning on the laser, make sure it appears in device manager. From there, you can also manually uninstall the driver, and reinstall the ezcad2 driver by restarting the device and adding it again.

[@TheNutthouse1]

@@LaserEverything OK so you can’t get out of lightburn and then into ezcad. Cause I thought that’s what was said in the video that you could close one down and use another. Maybe I misunderstood but yes, I followed the video, and I had to do this multiple times for the “ready” to come up on lightburn.

[@lordfordification]

If i had any hair left i would be pulling it out