RDWorks .rld Converter: LightBurn, SVG, DXF and back (Beta)

Open RDWorks .rld projects and Ruida .rd jobs without RDWorks as LightBurn, layered SVG and DXF files with their layer settings, and turn LightBurn, xTool or SVG designs into .rld projects.

Opens: RLD, RD, LBRN2, LBRN, XCS, XS, SVG
Saves: LBRN2, SVG, DXF, RLD, PNG

Convert

RDWorks project, Ruida job or design

Choose a file… or drop it here

.rld, .rd, .lbrn2, .lbrn, .xcs, .xs, .svg · up to 200 MB

Replace file

An RDWorks project (.rld, V7 or V8) or Ruida job (.rd) to convert to LightBurn, SVG and DXF; or a LightBurn (.lbrn2, .lbrn), xTool (.xcs, .xs) or SVG design to turn into an RDWorks project.

Options

Convert RDWorks files to

For .rld and .rd uploads: all three formats come from the same conversion; pick one if you only need that file. LightBurn, xTool and SVG uploads always become an RDWorks project.

More options

Engraved areas in .rd jobs As a pictureAs scan lines

A job only holds the scan lines of engraved areas, not their shapes. As a picture they engrave the same way in LightBurn; as lines you get the job's own scan lines. Projects (.rld) are not affected.

Add a legend to the SVG

Lists every layer with its settings below the drawing, on its own layer. Delete it before cutting.

Laser bed for new RDWorks projects

Only for LightBurn, xTool and SVG uploads. xTool and SVG designs keep their distance from the top-left corner of the bed, so pick yours (also for LightBurn projects made for a machine with its origin at the back or on the right).

Bed width (mm)

The width of your laser's work area, as set in RDWorks.

Bed height (mm)

The height (depth) of your laser's work area, as set in RDWorks.

Your files are deleted after processing.

Tell us how this tool could be better

RDWorks files without RDWorks, and designs for RDWorks

RDWorks is the Windows program that comes with most Ruida-controlled CO2 lasers, and years of jobs end up as .rld projects that nothing else opens. LightBurn cannot import them, and RDWorks does not run on a Mac. This converter reads .rld projects and Ruida .rd jobs directly and rebuilds them for LightBurn, as a layered SVG and as a DXF. It also works the other way round: upload a LightBurn, xTool or SVG design and get an .rld project that RDWorks V8 opens.

What you get

You upload	You get
An RDWorks project (`.rld`, V7 or V8)	a LightBurn project (`.lbrn2`), a layered SVG, a DXF and a preview picture
A Ruida job (`.rd`)	the same, rebuilt from the moves in the job
A LightBurn (`.lbrn2`, `.lbrn`), xTool (`.xcs`, `.xs`) or SVG design	an RDWorks project (`.rld`) and a preview picture

Choose a single format under Convert RDWorks files to if you only need one file.

From RDWorks to LightBurn, SVG and DXF

Layers stay layers. Every RDWorks layer becomes a LightBurn layer in its colour, in RDWorks' processing order, named after its mode and colour ("Scan #FF0000").
Settings travel with them: speed, minimum and maximum power of lasers 1 and 2, passes, air assist, output on or off, scan interval and direction (X or Y, one way or both ways), ramp effect, independent output, seal (as overcut), laser open and close delays with through power (as LightBurn's Cut Through), dot and perforation modes, frequency, scan-then-cut layers (as LightBurn's Scan+Cut), and for pictures negative and direct (grey-level) output.
Shapes: curves, lines, Béziers, groups and virtual arrays (every copy drawn out), at true size and at the same place on the bed. Text arrives as the letter outlines RDWorks saved, so it looks the same without the font. Pictures are embedded in the LightBurn and SVG files.
Ruida .rd jobs hold moves, not shapes: cut paths come back as lines, and engraved areas as a picture that engraves the same way (or as the job's own scan lines, under More options), with each layer's speed, powers and air setting.

Settings RDWorks has and LightBurn does not (pen and U-axis moves, blank areas, overstriking, lasers 3 to 6) are left out, and the result says which ones the file used.

From LightBurn, xTool or SVG to RDWorks

Every layer becomes an RDWorks layer with its speed, powers, passes, air assist, output, mode (scan, cut, dot or perforation, scan-then-cut), interval, scan direction, ramp, overcut and Cut Through settings. RDWorks has 20 layer colours and orders layers by colour, so a layer may get a different colour to keep its place in the processing order; the result table names the source layer of each. Shapes are written at true size; text without outlines is outlined, and pictures become RDWorks pictures.

Positions: LightBurn measures from the front-left corner of the bed, like RDWorks, so designs stay where they were. xTool and SVG designs keep their distance from the top-left corner of the bed; pick your bed size under More options.

Open the result

LightBurn: File → Open the .lbrn2 file (LightBurn 1.0 or newer). The layers are in the Cuts / Layers window.
RDWorks: File → Open the .rld file in RDWorks V8.
Inkscape, Illustrator, CAD: open the SVG or DXF; both are in millimetres.

Supported files

RDWorks V7 and V8 .rld projects (checked with files from RDWorks 7 and 8, up to 8.01.72) and .rd jobs from RDWorks and other programs. A few early RDWorks 7 files use an older layout and are refused with an explanation. New .rld files are written the way RDWorks 8.01.72 saves them and have been opened in it.

Power and speed: read this before cutting

Settings are copied exactly as they are in the file. They belong to the laser the project was made for: another tube, wattage or lens needs different values. Check every layer and test on scrap first.

Privacy

Your file is only used for the conversion. The upload is deleted as soon as the conversion finishes, and the converted files are deleted automatically after 30 minutes, or immediately when you click "Delete now". The file is never sent to anyone else.

RDWorks is software by Ruida Technology; LightBurn is a trademark of LightBurn Software; xTool is a trademark of xTool. This converter is independent and not affiliated with any of them.

Frequently asked questions

Can LightBurn open .rld files?

No. LightBurn has no importer for RDWorks projects. Upload the .rld file here and download a .lbrn2 project: every RDWorks layer becomes a LightBurn layer with its speed, powers, passes, air assist, mode and scan settings, in the same order.

Can I open an RDWorks file on a Mac?

Yes. RDWorks only runs on Windows, but the conversion happens here, so it works from any computer. Open the result in LightBurn for Mac, Inkscape or any program that reads SVG or DXF.

Which RDWorks versions are supported?

RDWorks V7 and V8 .rld projects, checked with files from RDWorks 7 and 8 up to 8.01.72, and .rd jobs. A few early RDWorks 7 files use an older layout and are refused with an explanation.

What is the difference between .rld and .rd files?

An .rld file is the RDWorks project with shapes, text, pictures and layer settings. An .rd file is the job RDWorks sends to the laser: moves and laser settings only. Both convert; from an .rd job, cut lines come back as lines and engraved areas (engraved text too) as a picture or as scan lines.

Can I turn a LightBurn or SVG design into an RDWorks file?

Yes. Upload a LightBurn .lbrn2 or .lbrn project, an xTool .xcs or .xs project or an SVG drawing and you get an .rld project for RDWorks V8, with one RDWorks layer per layer of the design and its settings.

Are the layer colours the same in RDWorks?

When possible. RDWorks has 20 layer colours and processes layers in an order set by their colour, so a layer may get another colour to keep the order of the design. The result table shows which layer of your design each RDWorks layer came from.

Are my files kept?

No. The upload is deleted as soon as the conversion finishes and the converted files are deleted automatically after 30 minutes, or immediately when you click “Delete now”.