Getting DSP Controller Info In LightBurn
Thunder Laser gantry systems utilize a custom-ptrogrammed Ruida DSP (Digital Signal Processor) controller. LightBurn includes a built-in diagnostic utility that pulls lifetime operational stats, job history, and hardware data directly from your machine’s mainboard.
This tool is incredibly valuable for tracking tube wear, auditing job runtimes for billing, or gathering diagnostics for the Thunder Laser support team.
How to Access the Diagnostics Window
With your Thunder Laser powered on and connected to your computer:
Open LightBurn.
Navigate to the top menu bar.
Click Laser Tools→ Get Controller Info.
Diagnostic Data Breakdown
The status window displays real-time data directly from your machine's physical memory
| Statistic | Description | How to Use It |
| Total 'on' time | The cumulative hours your machine has been powered on. | Helps track overall machine life and total idle duration. |
| Total job processing time | The total lifetime duration the machine has spent actively running jobs. | Use this milestone to schedule routine mechanical maintenance (cleaning and lubricating linear rails). |
| Previous job processing time | The exact duration spent on the single most recently completed laser job. | Perfect for tracking exact production times for customer billing or benchmarking against LightBurn's software estimates. |
| Total job 'laser on' time | The total cumulative time the laser tube has actively fired. | Crucial for maintenance. Track this number to monitor the lifespan and degradation of your tube over time. |
| Total job count | The grand total of individual jobs executed by the controller. | Useful for production tracking and volume auditing. |
| X Total travel | The cumulative horizontal distance traveled by the laser head (measured in meters). | Tracks belt tension, motor load, and rail wear on the X-axis. |
| Y Total travel | The cumulative vertical distance traveled by the laser head (measured in meters). | Tracks belt tension, motor load, and rail wear on the Y-axis. |
| Mainboard firmware version | The specific factory firmware release flashed onto your Ruida mainboard. | If you ever contact Thunder Laser Canada Support for a technical issue, our team will often ask for this version number. |
Troubleshooting
If the Get Controller Info option is grayed out, fails to open, or displays an error, check the following:
Verify the Connection State: Your laser must be powered on and actively communicating with LightBurn. Look at the Laser window panel in the bottom right of LightBurn. If it says Disconnected, the software cannot query the mainboard.
Confirm Device Profile Selection: This specific diagnostic tool is exclusive to Ruida DSP gantry systems. Ensure you have selected your gantry device profile in the dropdown menu in the Laser panel. If the active profile is set to a Galvo system (which uses a JCZ controller) or a generic GRBL profile, the Get Controller Info feature will be hidden or grayed out.
Check the Hardware Interface: If you are connecting via USB, try a different port or cable. If you are connected via Ethernet (LAN), ensure your computer's IP address is correctly configured to communicate with the machine's network.
💡 Need Help? If you are experiencing persistent connection drops or cannot pull your hardware data, please reach out to the Thunder Laser Canada support team.
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