What's inside
- Fiber laser software: the quick buying decision
- EZCAD: the compatibility-first choice for marking
- LightBurn: the easier design environment, with a compatibility caveat
- CypCut: for cutting sheet, not ordinary engraving
- Head-to-head by real buying situation
- File formats: what imports well and what can go wrong
- Setup and ownership realities
- Bottom line
- Related Guides
- Fiber laser software: the quick buying decision
- EZCAD: the compatibility-first choice for marking
- LightBurn: the easier design environment, with a compatibility caveat
- CypCut: for cutting sheet, not ordinary engraving
- Head-to-head by real buying situation
- File formats: what imports well and what can go wrong
- Setup and ownership realities
- Bottom line
- Related Guides
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If you are choosing fiber laser software, EZCAD is the safest default for conventional galvo marking machines, LightBurn is the easier design-focused alternative for compatible galvo controllers, and CypCut is the specialist choice for flatbed fiber laser cutters—not a substitute for marking software.
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What we cover
- Fiber laser software: the quick buying decision
- EZCAD: the compatibility-first choice for marking
- LightBurn: the easier design environment, with a compatibility caveat
- CypCut: for cutting sheet, not ordinary engraving
- Head-to-head by real buying situation
- File formats: what imports well and what can go wrong
- Setup and ownership realities
- Bottom line
- Related Guides
Fiber laser software: the quick buying decision
| Software | Machine type it actually runs | Typical controller or hardware | Common file input | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EZCAD2 | Galvanometer fiber, CO2, UV and some other laser marking systems | JCZ LMC-series marking cards and compatible galvo hardware | AI, PLT, DXF, SVG, BMP, JPG, PNG, TIF and text | Broad compatibility with established marking machines |
| EZCAD3 | Marking systems built around supported EZCAD3 controllers | JCZ EZCAD3 control hardware | Common vector, bitmap and CAD imports; exact support depends on version | Newer installations needing advanced control features |
| LightBurn | Supported galvo fiber, CO2 and diode machines; not every fiber controller | Compatible galvo or DSP controller, depending on machine | SVG, DXF, AI, PDF, PLT, BMP, JPG, PNG and others | One interface for design, layout and laser operation |
| CypCut | Flatbed fiber laser cutting machines with moving heads | FSCUT cutting-control hardware and supported motion systems | DXF, DWG, AI, SVG and other CAD/vector imports depending on release | Sheet-metal cutting, nesting and machine motion control |
The important distinction is machine architecture. A galvo marker moves mirrors to position a focused beam over a relatively small field, while a flatbed cutter moves a cutting head across a sheet and controls piercing, gas, height and motion. Software designed for one category cannot normally operate the other simply because both machines use a fiber laser source.
EZCAD: the compatibility-first choice for marking
EZCAD2 remains common on desktop and industrial fiber markers because many machines were supplied with a JCZ marking card and an EZCAD license. It handles serial numbers, logos, vector outlines, hatch fills, barcodes, QR codes, rotary attachments and variable text workflows. Its familiar weakness is the user interface: it is functional rather than polished, and designing a complicated layout is often easier in CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape or CAD software before importing the artwork.
EZCAD2 is usually the least risky option when replacing a computer on an existing machine. Before purchasing a license or changing software, identify the marking card inside the cabinet. A machine advertised as “EZCAD compatible” may still require a particular JCZ card, USB security device, parameter file or manufacturer-specific configuration.
EZCAD2 versus EZCAD3
EZCAD3 is not simply a free upgrade that can be installed over every EZCAD2 machine. It uses its own supported controller ecosystem and may require a controller replacement, license, wiring changes or machine reconfiguration. It can be attractive for a new machine or a system needing more advanced axis and automation options, but preserving a working EZCAD2 installation is often cheaper than converting an older marker.
For ownership, save the original installation files, license information, machine parameters, lens correction files and backup copies of working projects. Those files can be more valuable than the software installer if a computer or controller fails.
LightBurn: the easier design environment, with a compatibility caveat
LightBurn combines layout, editing and machine control in one workspace. Its layers, alignment tools, node editing, text handling, image preparation and reusable libraries are often easier for occasional users than the traditional EZCAD workflow. It can be especially useful when a shop operates several supported laser types and wants a similar design experience across them.
LightBurn can control certain galvo fiber marking machines, but the word “certain” matters. A fiber source alone does not establish compatibility. The controller, galvo interface, device definition and LightBurn license mode must all be supported. Some machines sold with EZCAD use hardware or firmware that LightBurn cannot control directly.
Check the exact controller model rather than relying on a seller’s phrase such as “works with LightBurn.” Also confirm whether the required galvo features—such as hatch settings, rotary operation, autofocus integration or a particular axis—are supported in the intended configuration.
LightBurn is generally strongest when the operator spends significant time preparing artwork and wants fewer trips between design software and marking software. EZCAD may remain preferable where a production line already depends on its tested parameters, macros or manufacturer support.
CypCut: for cutting sheet, not ordinary engraving
CypCut belongs to the flatbed fiber cutting category. It prepares sheet layouts, controls a moving cutting head, manages lead-ins and lead-outs, supports nesting-related workflows, and coordinates operations such as piercing and cutting. It is commonly associated with FSCUT control systems and machines using compressed air, oxygen or nitrogen as assist gas.
That makes CypCut the right direction for a 1,500 × 3,000 mm sheet-metal cutter, for example, but the wrong choice for a 110 × 110 mm or 200 × 200 mm galvo marker used to engrave tools, tags or promotional parts. CypCut can import vector CAD geometry, yet importing a file is not the same as being able to drive the machine that produced it.
Flatbed systems also need machine-specific settings that marking programs do not manage in the same way: pierce delay, cut height, nozzle size, gas pressure, corner power, acceleration and material thickness. A CypCut installation should therefore be selected together with the machine’s FSCUT controller, cutting head and source power, not as an isolated application.
Head-to-head by real buying situation
| Your situation | Most sensible starting point | Why | What to verify first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existing galvo marker already running EZCAD2 | Keep EZCAD2 | Lowest compatibility and downtime risk | Backups of card drivers, parameters and license files |
| New galvo marker; beginner designs frequently | LightBurn, if supported | More approachable layout and editing workflow | Controller model, license type and rotary support |
| Production marking with established recipes | EZCAD2 or EZCAD3 supplied with the machine | Manufacturer-tuned parameters and support may matter more than interface | Exact controller, source, lens and automation requirements |
| Cutting stainless or mild-steel sheet | CypCut with a compatible FSCUT system | Built for motion, piercing, assist gas and sheet workflows | Bed size, source power, cutting head and post-processor |
| Mixed shop with unsupported or unknown hardware | Use the manufacturer’s supplied software first | Software compatibility cannot be inferred from the laser wavelength | Control-card label and an official compatibility list |
File formats: what imports well and what can go wrong
For logos and line art, SVG, AI, DXF and PLT are common exchange formats. DXF is useful for CAD geometry but can introduce scale, unit and duplicate-line problems. SVG may contain effects, clipping masks, strokes or fonts that a laser program interprets differently. PDF and AI files can also depend on embedded fonts or application-specific features.
For marking photographs or shaded artwork, PNG, JPG, BMP and TIF can be imported, but the software must convert the image into a laser-relevant pattern such as dithering, grayscale power or thresholded black and white. A high-resolution photograph does not automatically produce a good engraving.
A reliable import workflow
- Convert text to outlines when the destination computer may not have the same fonts.
- Set the drawing to real-world dimensions before exporting.
- Remove hidden layers, duplicate paths and unnecessary clipping masks.
- Export a simple test shape alongside the artwork to check scale.
- Measure the imported rectangle before cutting or marking valuable material.
Setup and ownership realities
Start by recording the machine’s current lens, field size, focal distance, speed, power, frequency, hatch spacing and pulse settings. Do not assume a parameter copied from a 110 mm lens will work on a 300 mm lens: the spot size, working field and effective energy density change.
For a new setup, use this sequence:
- Identify the controller, laser source, galvo head, rotary axis and lens.
- Install the exact driver and software version recommended for that hardware.
- Load or recreate the manufacturer’s calibration and machine parameter files.
- Test focus and field alignment on inexpensive scrap.
- Run a small power-and-speed test matrix before production work.
- Save the successful settings with material, thickness and lens details.
The first problems are often not software bugs. Dirty protective windows, incorrect focus, loose rotary wiring, damaged USB cables, duplicated vectors and an uncalibrated field can all look like control errors. Fiber sources and galvo systems have few conventional “consumables,” but protective windows, nozzles on cutting machines, filters, lenses and assist-gas components require inspection or replacement. Keep dust away from the lens and never change optical components without following the machine maker’s safety procedure.
Bottom line
Choose EZCAD when proven compatibility with an existing galvo marker is the priority. Choose LightBurn when the controller is explicitly supported and a better design workflow will save operator time. Choose CypCut when the machine is a CNC flatbed fiber cutter using a compatible cutting-control system. The decisive specification is not merely “fiber laser”; it is the controller and machine architecture behind it.
