Laser engraver deal? Maybe.

[toxo]

OK. Brain is still fried. I think the difference was the first time I saved and d/loaded 7z. Which is why there were files in the program. After deleting everything I d/loaded again but opened with 7z which brought me to the interface asking where to extract to. From that list of files I installed driver.exe after ignoring the thing saying it couldn't do it.

When I first got the key and inserted it in the console I got nada. No pictures, nothing. I did later and assumed because of installing driver exe. Anyway still no .exe showing on the files on the key. At this point I had to go lay down in a darkened room.

This morning I felt brave enough to face it again. And I nearly fell down when I clicked Diao with no .exe and the interface came up. Took a while to find out how to change to english but the interface on the screen isn't the same as in the handbook.

print screen doing nothing.

Worked out how to get image in the interface but can't resize beyond what's there in the window approx 10mm. If i wipe to put in new parameters it won't let me input anything.

[mikesc]

Print screen doesn't say it is doing something , but it saves a copy of the screen somewhere , I'll fire up a win machine to see if I can find out where ..
Yep..handbook shows software version v1.0
Key has version v2.0...with the fonts bug.
To resize an image in the software on the computer..go to the width box or the height box box..( the height and width ratios are locked, you can unlock them..don't ).
"Wipe" one of the boxes..don't wipe both at once..put the figure that you want into the one that you wiped..then without touching the other box..click in the picture area ( not on the picture, just in the area..The other box will change to a new figure which is in ratio to the one you altered.
This does not change the image itself, just the size that it burns at..if you want to save it at this size..click on the "floppy" symbol button and it will be saved into the same folder as diao.exe ( your computer is hiding the .exe part from you, we can deal with that another day :)
This resized image is not in the picture folder on the key, unless you copy it to there ( and if you do you'll have to give it another name or it will overwrite the original..example if you have an image called 12.bmp..and you make it 4 times bigger in the computer, it will save to the computer, it won't call it 12.bmp, it will give it a name with a large number , like 156782563.bmp..change it to 12BIG.bmp..or "whatever.. and copy it into the picture folder.."if you want that image in the key....leave the key in the computer, copy that image into the "picture" folder on the key..Then when you unplug the laser from the computer and plug the key into the laser, the larger image will be in the folder that opens when you click the folder icon on the touch screen....it will be at the bottom of the list, to get to it touch the down arrow on the touch screen.
Because of the "bug" if you want text..or text and a picture, you'll have to do that in another software "paint" or whatever you have..save it as a.bmp and copy it into ether the picture folder on the key, or the picture folder inside the main folder that has diao.exe etc in it..

Experiment..

Bear in mind that the software on both the key and the folder on your computer uses a definition of 500DPI..so ..if you want to make an image that is 2 inches width when lasered , you have to create an image which has 1000px across..The bigger your images..the longer they take to burn..If you use the "discreet" setting ( it is the most accurate , it is the one to use for photos ) it will take even longer..If you make images with the resolution that people normally use for.. the web ( 72DPI or 96 DPI ) they will be very very small..Unless you "resize" them .which you can do in the software on the computer, if you do what I said earlier about only click in the one box, not both..You can use both, but if you do, you have to unlock the "ratio"..Normally you would not want to..at least not until you have got used to using the software..

Remember always use the eye protection, and don't allow the dogs, kids, anyone else in the room where it is working, because if they look at the burning spot, they'll damage their eyes..permanently.

I suggest making it a box with protective sides..If you know any welders, get some of the green plastic strips that they make "welding pen" curtains from ( not the red ones, the frequency of this laser needs the green, the red does not protect at this frequency ) ..make a frame box big enough to keep over the machine ( with about 10 cms clearance top , and around the sides..) and the use that plastic to fill in the top and all the sides..Then you can leave it working without worrying about who looks at it..Better again is to cut a hole in the back and ventilate ( with a small computer fan and an old computer power supply ) with a tube to outside..Especially if you are burning things that give off poisons, like PVC, acrylic, plastic "leather", or chrome tan..Ventilate anyway, whatever you burn...And be careful when burning as some things can catch fire easily..corrugated cardboard is particularly good at catching fire..

Meanwhile..if I can find either the v1.0 software ( no bugs ) or another that works..I'll let you know.. :)

Btw..if your machine is hiding the .exe part of some files from you, then it is probably hiding some other file types on some other files..so..be extremely careful about what you click on in emails..you can get viruses , trojans, or get hit by ransome ware very easily if you system is hiding things from you sometimes..you may already have a virus somewhere, I know of quite a few that hide what is after the dot on some files, and they do not do it on every file..The diao.exe file is "clean" as is the driver.EXE..and the various.dlls included are ..at least on mine they are, as my "home brew" protection has not triggered since installing this laser on any of the 3 machines that I have the software on.

Edited September 22, 2019 by mikesc

[toxo]

48 minutes ago, mikesc said:

Print screen doesn't say it is doing something , but it saves a copy of the screen somewhere , I'll fire up a win machine to see if I can find out where ..
Yep..handbook shows software version v1.0
Key has version v2.0...with the fonts bug.
To resize an image in the software on the computer..go to the width box or the height box box..( the height and width ratios are locked, you can unlock them..don't ).
"Wipe" one of the boxes..don't wipe both at once..put the figure that you want into the one that you wiped..then without touching the other box..click in the picture area ( not on the picture, just in the area..The other box will change to a new figure which is in ratio to the one you altered.
This does not change the image itself, just the size that it burns at..if you want to save it at this size..click on the "floppy" symbol button and it will be saved into the same folder as diao.exe ( your computer is hiding the .exe part from you, we can deal with that another day
This resized image is not in the picture folder on the key, unless you copy it to there ( and if you do you'll have to give it another name or it will overwrite the original..example if you have an image called 12.bmp..and you make it 4 times bigger in the computer, it will save to the computer, it won't call it 12.bmp, it will give it a name with a large number , like 156782563.bmp..change it to 12BIG.bmp..or "whatever.. and copy it into the picture folder.."if you want that image in the key....leave the key in the computer, copy that image into the "picture" folder on the key..Then when you unplug the laser from the computer and plug the key into the laser, the larger image will be in the folder that opens when you click the folder icon on the touch screen....it will be at the bottom of the list, to get to it touch the down arrow on the touch screen.
Because of the "bug" if you want text..or text and a picture, you'll have to do that in another software "paint" or whatever you have..save it as a.bmp and copy it into ether the picture folder on the key, or the picture folder inside the main folder that has diao.exe etc in it..

Experiment..

Bear in mind that the software on both the key and the folder on your computer uses a definition of 500DPI..so ..if you want to make an image that is 2 inches width when lasered , you have to create an image which has 1000px across..The bigger your images..the longer they take to burn..If you use the "discreet" setting ( it is the most accurate , it is the one to use for photos ) it will take even longer..If you make images with the resolution that people normally use for.. the web ( 72DPI or 96 DPI ) they will be very very small..Unless you "resize" them .which you can do in the software on the computer, if you do what I said earlier about only click in the one box, not both..You can use both, but if you do, you have to unlock the "ratio"..Normally you would not want to..at least not until you have got used to using the software..

Remember always use the eye protection, and don't allow the dogs, kids, anyone else in the room where it is working, because if they look at the burning spot, they'll damage their eyes..permanently.

I suggest making it a box with protective sides..If you know any welders, get some of the green plastic strips that they make "welding pen" curtains from ( not the red ones, the frequency of this laser needs the green, the red does not protect at this frequency ) ..make a frame box big enough to keep over the machine ( with about 10 cms clearance top , and around the sides..) and the use that plastic to fill in the top and all the sides..Then you can leave it working without worrying about who looks at it..Better again is to cut a hole in the back and ventilate ( with a small computer fan and an old computer power supply ) with a tube to outside..Especially if you are burning things that give off poisons, like PVC, acrylic, plastic "leather", or chrome tan..Ventilate anyway, whatever you burn...And be careful when burning as some things can catch fire easily..corrugated cardboard is particularly good at catching fire..

Meanwhile..if I can find either the v1.0 software ( no bugs ) or another that works..I'll let you know..

Btw..if your machine is hiding the .exe part of some files from you, then it is probably hiding some other file types on some other files..so..be extremely careful about what you click on in emails..you can get viruses , trojans, or get hit by ransome ware very easily if you system is hiding things from you sometimes..you may already have a virus somewhere, I know of quite a few that hide what is after the dot on some files, and they do not do it on every file..The diao.exe file is "clean" as is the driver.EXE..and the various.dlls included are ..at least on mine they are, as my "home brew" protection has not triggered since installing this laser on any of the 3 machines that I have the software on.

My God man! Your brain must be at least twice the size of mine. I'm gonna have to print this and ingest ingest it bit by bit. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the help and perseverance. I don't know what was closer, sending it back or chucking it in the bin. If I can make it work the excitement will come back. The thing seems to have the power required. Dogs dinner beckons. I'll have a go later. Thanks again Mike.

[mikesc]

Let me know which version of windows you are using it with..and then I can hook mine up to the same version so as to be exactly "in step" , if I haven't already done what it is that you might get stuck with. I've got animals (ours) and others* , and family to feed here to, so I'll look in later, or tomorrow..

*Looking after ( feeding etc ) some animals for friends who are away ATM..Got to drive over there and do the evening feed...Already recorded the rugby* to watch over night or tomorrow.

Each match in Japan is broadcast live here on free TV. ( TF1 ) ...so I have the "box" recording it for us to watch at our leisure..currently watching France v Argentina as I'm typing.. Ireland v Scotland and the other matches is / are for later. :)

Began working with computers in the early 70s ..it gets to be second nature after a while..my son is better than I am..He began at age 5..was born in 93.

Edited September 22, 2019 by mikesc

[toxo]

My dogs start telling me off If I haven't started cooking their minced rabbit by 5.30pm.

This comp is W7 sp1.

The size window thing didn't work. Once I wipe one of the boxes it won't allow any input at all.

This (I have a girl friend who's all wolf) printed at 60 x 90 inches. actual size = 60mm x 90mm imported from elsewhere.. A bit sooty cos I smudged it but at least now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[mikesc]

"The size window thing didn't work. Once I wipe one of the boxes it won't allow any input at all. "
That is weird..I can do that on win7 sp1 ulti and on win7 sp1 home premium..buggrit.

OK ..What drawing programs do you have installed that you are comfortable with..?
Hopefully I have at least one of them on windows..Photoshop ? Gimp ?

"but at least now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. "

Don't look into the light.. :)

[toxo]

Just paint on the laptop.  I have fireworks  which I love on the vista machine but don't think it'll copy over. Maybe d/load gimp.

[mikesc]

I don't think that fireworks would work..paint might get you started..But Gimp ( now that they have released version 2.10 is really worth getting ) as is inkscape, and krita, also paint.net, and if you really want amazing software that costs nothing, get blender..if you do a lot of photography get darktable ( like lightroom , but free and IMO better )..I'll try and work up a "how to" beginning with importing an image and changing it's size ready for passing to the laser software '( either in windows or on the key or both ).. in Gimp ( or something ) for you...kept simple..for beginners..

Not now though..it is 03.40 here ( watching Caligula ( Opera ) done by live singers and marionettes, in Italian, very well done, recording it too ) going to feed the cat ..look in tomorrow, later today..

[mikesc]

Quote

"hide extensions for known file types"..put an X in it..then click apply and OK..now look at diao.exe and pei_zhi.ini ..they should now show their "extensions"..

Paul..I just realised..when I said to do what I put in that quote box..I steered you 180° wrong..Comes of posting when tired..

That "box" should not be ticked..untick it by clicking on it again..then click OK.

now your diao.exe will show the .exe part

and all other files on you computer will show their extensions..windows caught me out again, with it's stupid stupid stupid "hide extensions for known file types" being pre ticked..Untick it ..and apply and OK.

 

Corrected step by step..

Quote

"OK I presume that the key is in the computer and you are using windows explorer to see what is on the key..so..stay in windows explorer on that folder..go to "organize"..click it..go down to "folder and search options" click it..you'll land in "folder options"..click the tab that says "view"..scroll down to "hide extensions for known file types"..if there is an X in it, ( probably will be ) click the box to get rid of the X..then click apply and OK..now look at diao.exe and pei_zhi.ini ..they should now show their "extensions".."

The rest might start working better once you have done that too.

Edited September 26, 2019 by mikesc
Corrected previous instructions re win( all ) "hide"/"unhide" extensions