Ruby® – The software for a smoother laser flow
Table of Contents
What does today's laser user need? A workflow that is fast, smooth and easy to work in. A software where design, material selection and production work together without unnecessary steps in between. A system that makes it easier to go from idea to finished product.
Ruby is Trotec's web-based software for laser engraving, laser cutting and marking. The program brings together design, file management, job preparation and machine control in the same platform, creating a more coherent and efficient way of working. The result is fewer manual steps, better overview and a faster workflow throughout production.
What is Ruby®?
Ruby works as the control center - for Trotec laser machines and is developed to bring everything needed together in one system. Here the user can import design files, make simple adjustments, select laser materials, set how the laser should work and then send the job directly to the machine.
Instead of working in several different programs at the same time, the entire workflow is collected in the same software. This makes the work more manageable and reduces the number of manual steps between design and finished production. For many users, this means a simpler way of working where it is easier to maintain structure, save settings and quickly return to previous jobs.
Ruby is also built to work both for smaller productions and for businesses that work more professionally with recurring jobs.
The program handles everything from:
- Importing and editing finished designs
- Create your own designs
- Batch production
- Engrave and mark 1D/2D codes
- Larger production flows where multiple users working simultaneously.
Another great part of Ruby is that the program is web-based. On newer Run on Ruby machines The server part is located directly in the machine, which allows the user to work via the browser without being dependent on a separate computer at the laser. This makes the workflow more flexible and easier to integrate into modern production environments.
Ruby software is also included in several of Trotec's laser machine series, such as Speedy series.
The program will pre-installed in the machines, which means that no separate integration or external connection is required to start using the software with the laser.
Why choose Ruby®?
Ruby is developed as a complete production platform directly integrated with Trotec's laser system. This means that the software not only controls the machine, but also helps organize and streamline the entire workflow around production.
One of the biggest advantages of Ruby is that the program makes it easier to work in a structured and repeatable way. Material settings can be saved and reused, jobs can be organized in libraries, and production becomes easier to standardize over time. For businesses that work with many recurring jobs, they save both time and materials.
Ruby is also designed to work well in interconnected workflows where multiple users and machines work together. For example, one person can prepare jobs while someone else operates the machine, making production more flexible and efficient.
Features such as material database, camera positioning, dynamic data, batch production and queue management make Ruby particularly useful for professional laser production where high precision and consistent results are important. At the same time, the interface is built to be easy to understand even for new users, which means the program works well for both beginners and more experienced operators.
What many people appreciate most in practice is that Ruby creates a more coherent workflowDesign, material selection, production settings and machine control are all gathered in the same system, making it easier to go from idea to finished product with better control throughout the entire process.
From idea to finished product
Ruby guides the user through the entire process, from initial idea to finished product. The workflow is structured to be easy to understand, even for those who have not worked with laser software before.
Idea → Design → Preparation → Material selection → Positioning → Production → Finished product
For example, it could start with you wanting to create a sign, a name tag or a personalized gift.
You import your file into Ruby, adjust the design as needed, then choose which laser material to work with. Then, you place the job on the work surface, check the settings, and send it to the machine.
The advantage is that all steps are in the same software. This makes the process more logical, reduces the risk of errors and makes it easier to go from idea to finished product in an efficient way. Ruby brings together all processing steps in a common workflow, where design, preparation and production can be handled step by step.
Features of Ruby®
Direct import of files
In Ruby, you can import common file formats directly into the software, such as PDF, SVG, PNG, JPG, CDR and AI images with “drag and drop” feature. This allows you to easily import files from different design programs and continue working with them in Ruby. Files can be imported without a printer driver, which means that the older “print to laser” workflow is not needed in the same way.
Design and laser control in the same software
Ruby combines graphic editing and laser control in one system. This means you can create, control and adjust your laser job without having to constantly switch between different programs.
Material database
The material database helps the user choose correct settings for the material to be processed. Instead of manually setting all laser parameters from scratch, you can select the material and the desired effect, such as dark engraving, deep engraving or shallow cutting.
Layer-based work
Ruby makes it possible to work in a structured way with different parts of the design. Engraving, cutting and marking can be separated so that each part of the job gets the right settings.
Print & Cut
Ruby supports extended Print & Cut functionality. This means that the software can use registration marks to detect position, rotation, and any distortion in printed material. Ruby can recognize Print & Cut registration marks even at low contrast.
Job positioning
Ruby makes it easier to position the job correctly on the work surface. With virtual job positioning, the user can adjust size, rotation and placement directly in the software. Existing laser jobs can be aligned live to the product, without manual measurement and positioning.
Bitmap tracing
With bitmap tracing, Ruby can convert image files, such as logos, to vectors. This allows graphics to be scaled without losing quality and allows the user to more quickly create cutting lines from an image.
Multiple users
Ruby is built for multiple people to work in the same flow. One person can prepare a job while another produces it at the machine. Multiple users can work together with different roles and permissions.
Online and offline
Ruby is web-based, but laser parameters, jobs and designs are stored locally. This allows the user to work with the machine even without a constant internet connection. At the same time, the system can be kept up to date via online updates.
Easier design adjustments
Ruby includes the most important design tools that laser users need in their daily lives. You can work with text, graphics, photo elements and simple shapes directly in the software. The user can quickly make adjustments in the integrated workflow and switch between design and preparation when needed.
Multiple machines on the same network
Ruby can connect multiple laser machines in a network. This allows jobs to be distributed between different machines from one computer. On Trotec's Run on Ruby machines, jobs can also be loaded into the machine's integrated memory and processed without an additional computer at the machine.
Material effects
In Ruby you work not only with materials, but also with material effects. This means you choose what the laser should do with the material. For example, the same material can be engraved, cut, marked or processed in different ways.
Quick start and help
Ruby is designed to be easy to get started with. The software has YouTube guides that help the user quickly understand the program.
Rotary engraving
Ruby has a streamlined workflow for rotary engraving, allowing users to create, scale, and place engraving jobs on round objects, preview in 3D, and place multiple graphic elements in precise positions.
Optimization of cutting jobs
Ruby helps optimize cutting jobs to make production more efficient. The software can be used to improve material utilization, skip overlapping cutting lines, and use nesting directly in Ruby, among other things.
Array function
Ruby has an array function that allows you to create, duplicate, and place multiple designs in a job. You can specify the number of duplicates and how they should be arranged on the canvas. The canvas can be filled with a single click.
Work from different devices
Ruby is web-based and can be used operating system independentUsers can therefore create a job on a Mac, continue working on a PC and control production from a tablet.
Sharing jobs and settings
Ruby makes it possible to share jobs, designs, and laser parameters with other users. This makes it easier to standardize work within a team and ensure that multiple people are working with the same basic settings.
Hot Folders and import profiles
Ruby can streamline recurring jobs through “hot folders" and import profilesFiles are saved in hot folders for automatic import, and import profiles can define, for example, material, position and whether the job should be sent directly to the production queue.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ruby®
- Can you make barcodes with Ruby?
- Yes, you can.
- Can you buy Ruby separately from the laser machine?
- No, but Ruby is part of the Speedy series.
- Does the software require high system performance?
- No, Ruby is a simple but powerful program that works on all types of computers.
- Will Ruby come pre-installed if I buy a laser machine?
- Yes, Ruby comes pre-installed on all laser machines in the Speedy series, among others.
