Using HagoLaser

HagoLaser Install: The USB Driver Question, Answered Up Front

Switching from EzCad3 to HagoLaser involves a critical USB driver change. This guide explains exactly what happens, how to do it, and how to switch back if needed, so you can get marking today.

26 August 2026 · The HagoLaser team · 9 min read

The Essential Driver Switch for HagoLaser

When you first install HagoLaser, the most common question we get is about the USB driver. Our software needs a specific driver, WinUSB, to talk directly to your JCZ DLC2 controller board. The critical thing to know upfront is this: while WinUSB is installed, EzCad3 will not work on that machine. The two drivers are mutually exclusive. We prefer to say this plainly before you even download anything, because it dictates how you plan your workflow.

For our workshop in Málaga, this was the biggest hurdle when we started developing HagoLaser. We needed a workflow that didn't involve navigating complex EzCad3 settings for every single job, but figuring out the driver situation took time and cost us silver in lost production. This article explains exactly what you need to do, what to expect, and how to switch back to EzCad3 if you need to.

A fiber marking laser is a Class 4 device. The beam and its reflections cause permanent eye damage instantly and silently. The 1064 nm wavelength is invisible, so you never see the beam that blinds you. Laser safety glasses rated for 1064 nm (with an OD suitable for your source power) must be worn by everyone in the room, always. Metal is a mirror; reflections go everywhere. Never leave a running job unattended. Metal marking produces metal fume and fine particulate; extraction with a proper filter is health equipment, not an accessory. Physical interlocks and enclosures are the real safety layer. Software interlocks are a convenience, and they can be switched off – ours can. Never treat software as your protection.

Understanding Your Laser's USB Connection

Most affordable galvo fiber lasers ship with a controller board from BJJCZ (often called "JCZ"). These boards, like the DLC2 generation, are driven by their own software: EzCad3. The board is the actual brain of your laser; your PC sends a list of marking commands over USB, and the board handles the real-time control of the galvos and laser source.

EzCad3 uses a proprietary driver to communicate with the JCZ board. This driver is designed specifically for EzCad3 and is not redistributable, nor can it be used by other applications for direct access. HagoLaser, being a third-party application, needs a generic driver that allows it to send commands directly to the board. That driver is called WinUSB, and it's a standard Windows component.

The Mutual Exclusivity Problem

This is the core of the issue: Windows can only load one driver for a given USB device at a time. So, if the WinUSB driver is active for your laser's controller board, EzCad3 will not recognize the board. Conversely, if EzCad3's driver is active, HagoLaser won't be able to connect. There's no way around this; you need to choose which driver is active depending on which software you intend to use.

HagoLaser is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Beijing JCZ Technology Co., Ltd. (BJJCZ), the makers of EzCad, nor with any laser manufacturer. We do not claim EzCad3 is bad software; it drives the hardware well and it is what the machine ships with. Our complaint is about the daily workflow for jewelry, not the underlying engine.

Step-by-Step: Installing HagoLaser and Switching the Driver

Installing HagoLaser involves downloading our free beta software, running the installer, and then using a bundled tool to switch your laser's USB driver. Here’s the order of operations:

1. Download HagoLaser: Visit hagolaser.com. You'll go through a quick email verification, and then you can download the installer.
2. Run the Installer: Execute the downloaded setup file. Follow the on-screen prompts. The installer will place HagoLaser on your system and install necessary components.
3. Connect Your Laser: Ensure your fiber laser is powered on and connected to your PC via USB.
4. Launch HagoLaser: The first time you open HagoLaser, it will detect that the correct driver isn't installed and will prompt you to run a small utility to switch it.
5. Switch the Driver: The utility, often called Zadig or a similar name, will open. Select your JCZ/DLC2 board from the list of devices (it might appear as "USB LMC V2" or similar, or an unknown device if EzCad3's driver isn't loaded). Then, choose "WinUSB" as the target driver and click "Replace Driver" or "Install Driver."
6. Verify the Installation: Open Windows Device Manager (you can search for it in the Start menu). Look under "Universal Serial Bus devices" or "LibUSB-WinK devices." You should see your laser controller listed with the WinUSB driver.

After the driver switch, HagoLaser should connect to your laser board. The software is free, with a one-year license that you renew from inside the program. It is currently in beta and offered as-is: this is real industrial machinery and the user carries the risk.

The First-Run Wizard: Getting You Marking Faster

Once connected, HagoLaser's first-run wizard takes over. This is the part that makes it usable on day one: it finds your EzCad3 installation and imports your machine's critical calibration data. It does not ship or redistribute any JCZ file; it simply reads what is already on your machine. This includes:

• Your specific focus height from Motors.ini.
• Your existing parameter/pen library from MarkParamlib.ini as material recipes.
• Your galvo correction file (the .cor file).

This means you start with your machine's proven settings, not generic defaults. For more details on this process, you can read our article: Your EzCad3 Settings, Imported: First Run Focus and Pens in HagoLaser.

Switching Back to EzCad3 (If You Need To)

If you need to use EzCad3 again, you will have to revert the driver. This is a straightforward process but requires a couple of steps:

1. Disconnect the Laser: Unplug the USB cable from your laser or your PC.
2. Open Device Manager: Search for "Device Manager" in the Windows Start menu and open it.
3. Locate the Device: With the laser still disconnected, look for "Universal Serial Bus devices" or "LibUSB-WinK devices." You might see an entry related to your laser controller, possibly with an exclamation mark, or it might be gone.
4. Reconnect the Laser: Plug the USB cable back in. The device should reappear in Device Manager.
5. Uninstall the Driver: Right-click on your laser controller device (e.g., "USB LMC V2 (WinUSB)"). Select "Uninstall device." Crucially, make sure to tick the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device." This removes the WinUSB driver.
6. Reconnect Again: Unplug the USB cable, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in. Windows should now detect the device again and, assuming EzCad3's driver is still on your system, it will automatically reinstall the original driver, allowing EzCad3 to connect.

We recommend anyone who needs EzCad3 daily to test this process on a machine where they can afford the driver switch, or ensure they are comfortable flipping the driver back and forth. For a dedicated HagoLaser machine, this is usually a one-time operation.

Our Daily Workflow: Color, SVG, and Speed

Once HagoLaser is installed and running, our workshop's daily workflow is designed for speed and consistency. We draw our pieces in Inkscape as SVG files, using specific flat colors to define operations. The software reads these colors directly from the SVG, eliminating manual layer configuration.

The core colors we use are:

These are defaults, not a rigid rule. Any color can be assigned to any operation in the Colors library. However, using our provided Inkscape palette simplifies things: the swatches are labeled with their function (inner cut, engrave, outer cut).

Designing in Inkscape for HagoLaser

The most common first-run confusion for new users is getting the Inkscape colors wrong. Always use the HagoLaser palette. At the right-hand end of the color strip along the bottom of Inkscape, a small arrow button opens the list of palettes. Select "HagoLaser" there.

We keep one working file, often called 1.svg, loaded in HagoLaser. We design the next job in Inkscape, save the SVG, and then press "Mark" in HagoLaser. The software re-reads the SVG from disk every time it marks, so what you last saved in Inkscape is what goes onto the metal. If you press "Mark" and get the previous design, you simply forgot to save in Inkscape – that's the entire failure mode.

Design in real millimeters. A 20 mm wide drawing will be marked 20 mm wide. The document is your workpiece, not a canvas to scale later. For more on our materials approach, see: One Click from 'Silver 0.8 mm' to a Finished Piece: The Materials Library.

Practical Takeaways for Your Workshop

Getting HagoLaser up and running is primarily about managing the USB driver. Here’s what we’d advise you do first:

• Understand the Driver Choice: Be clear that EzCad3 and HagoLaser cannot run simultaneously on the same machine without a driver switch. If you rely on EzCad3 daily, consider a dedicated PC for HagoLaser or be prepared to manage the driver changes.
• Back Up Your EzCad3 PARAM Folder: Before you make any changes, locate your EzCad3 installation and back up its entire PARAM folder. This contains your machine's Motors.ini, MarkParamlib.ini, and .cor files – your machine's calibration. HagoLaser reads these, but having your own backup is non-negotiable.
• Test on Scrap Material: Always verify settings on scrap material after any software installation or driver change. Even with the imported settings, slight variations can occur, and every machine is unique.
• Embrace the Color Workflow: Once HagoLaser is running, get used to the Inkscape color palette. It’s a fast way to work, allowing you to define complex jobs visually without touching machine settings.
• Check Your Lens and Field Size: Our machine uses a 110 x 110 mm field, which is excellent for jewelry due to its concentrated power. Make sure you know what field size your machine has, as it directly impacts your laser's effective power and marking quality.

The goal of HagoLaser is to simplify the daily grind of laser jewelry manufacturing. Tackling the driver question upfront is the first step towards a smoother, more intuitive workflow in your workshop.