Before we begin, please read the following:

Please also consider reviewing this article if terms like IP, Subnet Mask, Host ID and Network ID seem like a foreign language:

Why your IP address matters and describing it in terms that are easier to understand

Also be sure to review this article to make sure you are in the right place for configuring your Ethernet Setup: Connecting A Thunder Laser To LightBurn Via Ethernet

-The Laser Machine still uses a Static IP no matter which connection method you use. This means that even though you physically connect the machine to your network, it may not talk if not configured properly. Your other devices like your TV, Phone, Computer etc are smart devices that utilize the DHCP protocol to receive an assigned IP, dynamically. Your Laser requires a self-assigned static IP.

-You will need to know the login to your Router that Hosts the DHCP server for your network. This will be specific to your router brand, whether it is provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or one that you bought off the internet or at an electronics store. The password may be on a sticker on the router itself or even in this list.

-DHCP range...this is very important. Your router needs to have a set aside set of addresses for its DHCP server usage. The block of address can usually be set up in the router to not utilize the full address space of your network. You must pick an address outside of the DHCP block to assign to your laser. This is to prevent the Laser IP being set statically and then having your phone get the same address dynamically making it so that neither can talk reliably or at all. If  you pick an address inside the DHCP range, the Laser will still communicate but it stands the chance of being unable to communicate in the future.

-Thunder is not privy to your network in's and out's, so in order for you to be successful with this configuration you will need to familiarize yourself with your own network and to provide as much information as possible if you do reach out for help from Thunder.

-Find My Laser - The Lightburn function for "Find My Laser" does not work with Ethernet.

Prework and IP Selection:

You need to complete these steps in order to be able to complete the configuration of the IP properly. If you skip these steps, you will likely have issues.

Find your Router DHCP setup:

Step 1...what is your router's IP address:

Open up a Command Window and run the "ipconfig" command. The default gateway for your connection should be your router IP address.

Type the IP into your web browsers navigation bar. You will likely need to type it out like http://192.168.1.1

Once logged into the router, navigate through the settings. Each brand will have a different look to it and different menu's. You must click through and find the proper section, it is usually under the LAN configuration since it applies to the WIFI and Hardwired connections.

Example from my Netgear Nighthawk Router:

What the address space looks like, visually:

Step 4 Find Available IP's:

Method 1:

You can used a program to scan IP's on your network to see which ones are taken (if devices are powered off, they may not show up). In this example, I used a program called "Advanced Ip Scanner", its free from here.

As you can see, I have many devices on the network. Several that are in the DHCP range (200 to 254) and several that are not. In this case, I could use the default Laser Machine IP of 192.168.1.100 since nothing is showing up on that IP.

Method 2:

If you do not want to use the free IP scanner, you can use your computer to ping the IP address and see if it returns the ping. Notice how I pinged the router IP of 192.168.1.1 and got replies and not the "Destination Host Unreachable" response.  This tells me that the 192.168.1.100 IP is open for use.

IP Configuration:

Step 1: Setting the Laser Machine IP (Only required if changing from default 192.168.1.100):

1. Press the "menu" button on the machine and navigation to the Ethernet IP settings selection. Press Enter.

2. Use the "menu" button to navigate between the IP number boxes. Use the left and right arrows to select a digit and then the up/down arrows to adjust the value.

3. Press enter to save the IP setting.

Press the blue MENU button and then navigate with the Up and Down arrows to Ip Config+ sub menu. Press the green Enter Button	Use the blue MENU button to move between IP boxes. Select each digit in the box with the Left and Right arrows. Set each digit individually with the Up and Down arrows.  Press the green Enter button to save your settings.

Step 2: Lightburn Target device Setup for Ethernet (Required):

When you create a device you can select it as Ethernet and enter the IP. If you need to edit the IP after creation, you can do it from the Edit> Device Settings window in Lightburn.

Lightburn set to 192.168.2.100 (Your Settings may be different)	Laser IP set to 192.168.2.100 (Your IP settings may be different)

Step 3: Ping the laser:

Use the command prompt again to ping your laser.

Start Menu:

CMD Window:

use the ping <ip> command. Put in the IP you selected and entered into the machine, in this example 192.168.1.100 was used.

Ping Results:

Look for the word Ready above the pause button in Lightburn. If it says Disconnected like this picture below, right clicks on the "Devices" Button.

Now it is Ready:

*Note that this section is not 100% complete or detailed, it assumes you kind of know what you are doing.

Skip this unless you really want to dive down the rabbit hole.

You can potentially set up your "Laser Machine" network to be outside of your regular network IP's. You would not have to worry about the machine IP conflicting with the DHCP's IP space and the machines would not be accessible on the main network\internet by devices on the regular Network address space. This is advance, but it is easy.

Basic theory is you set up your computer with Dual IP's addresses, one inside the router IP Network, say 192.168.1.101 and another IP of say 192.168.2.101 both with the subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 to keep them separate.  Then you assign the machine a 192.168.2.100 and update that IP setting in Lightburn. Your computer will see the machines and internet but they will be separate. Both software networks will use the same Hardware.

If you go between using WIFI and Hardwired connections to your network, you will need to assign Dual IP to both your connections. Do not duplicate the IP's.

A bit more information on that here:Dual IP

Ok so you have completed the Pre-work and Configuration steps above but it is still not communicating. It could be the software configuration or even hardware(cable, machine port). See below for some troubleshooting steps.

Basic Troubleshooting:

-User has multiple Devices set up in Lightburn but has not selected the correct one in the Lightburn Laser Control Window.  Rename the Device to have "_Enet" in the name so it is easy to select, delete other unused devices vs just naming them all Ruida.

-Next to the Device Selection there should NOT be a dropdown for a comm port that usually says "(Auto)". That would imply a USB device is selected.

-User did not set up Lightburn Device with the correct IP to match what they set on the laser. Make sure the IP listed in Lightburn matches the IP listed on the Laser Control Screen

Lightburn set to 192.168.2.100 (Your IP settings may be different	Laser IP set to 192.168.2.100 (Your IP settings may be different)

-Pressing enter to save the machine IP settings, double check them again. If you set the numbers but then pressed the "ESC" button, they are not saved

-Replace Ethernet cable or plug directly to your Ruida Controller. Troubleshooting Ruida Communication Issues - Plug Direct to Ruida

-Plug USB to Ethernet adapter as directly into the computer as possible, eliminating Hubs and other converters

-Try a different computer

-Verify no other device is assigned the same IP as your Laser. Turn the laser off and "ping" the IP address you assigned to the laser, it should not respond. Here is a reference video on how to ping.

-Change the Laser Machine IP Address again, like subtract two from it and make it .98

-Unplug the cable from the computer and Laser, plug the cable back in to both

-Then change the LaserMachine IP back to say .100. Then confirm that the computer and Laser are talking in Lightburn.