Design files for your Thunder Laser CO2 or Aurora
Thunder Laser lists LightBurn as supported across its Bolt and Nova CO2 machines, with its own LaserMaker and RDWorks also named for the Bolt, and LightBurn or EZCAD2 for the Aurora fiber and UV markers. Reticle Red writes for both sides of that range: a native LightBurn test grid for the tube or RF machines, a free EZCAD test card for the Aurora, or AI artwork fitted to the part you are engraving.
By Scott Bedow, Founder & Lead Developer · Published August 3, 2026
Manufacturing manager who runs CO2, diode and MOPA fiber lasers; builds and maintains every Reticle Red tool.
Method — Software lists read from Thunder Laser’s Bolt, Nova, Aurora and LaserMaker pages on October 31, 2026, and the licence tiers and Open versus Import behaviour from LightBurn’s own documentation the same day.
A .lbrn2 straight into LightBurn, or an SVG or DXF for LaserMaker, from the test grid, Box Maker and the Fabricator
Aurora owners get an EZCAD ZIP: a DXF plus a pen table, at the size you type
AI art fitted to your part in the Fabricator, 2–10 credits per generation, priced before it runs
Fill it with AI in the Fabricator Free LightBurn test grid →
Two ways to make a file for your Thunder Laser
Free · no account · no credits
Free templates and tools
For a Bolt or Nova, the free test grid writes a .lbrn2 with each cell on its own layer and its speed and power set, and Box Maker downloads boxes as .lbrn2, SVG or DXF. For an Aurora, the EZCAD test card writes a DXF with one pen per cell plus a CSV of each pen. No account and no credits for any of them.
Free LightBurn test grid →Free EZCAD test card →CO2 settings table →
2–10 credits per generation
Fill it with AI
Paint the art zone on a photo or outline of the part and fire: the art is generated inside that zone, keeping holes and borders clear. On the Download card, pick LightBurn for a .lbrn2, or EZCAD for an Aurora, at the part size you type. The Run Plan shows the engine and the live price before anything runs, and failed AI jobs refund automatically.
Bring a Reticle Red file into a Thunder Laser job
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1. LightBurn: Open, not Import, for the grid
Use File > Open on the test grid .lbrn2 so its layers keep their speed and power. File > Import brings in a project’s graphics only, which is right for SVG, DXF or PNG art but drops the grid’s settings.
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2. LaserMaker: import the SVG or DXF
Thunder says LaserMaker reads more than ten formats, including AI, PDF, SVG and DXF. Download the SVG or DXF instead of the .lbrn2 and import it there.
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3. Aurora: EZCAD2 or LightBurn
Unzip the EZCAD download and import the DXF, then set each pen from the CSV. If you run the Aurora from LightBurn, it is a galvo controller, so check that your LightBurn licence covers galvo machines.
Questions Thunder Laser owners ask
Which software does a Thunder Laser use?
Thunder’s Bolt page lists LaserMaker, LightBurn and RDWorks as supported. The Nova page says it supports LightBurn, and the Aurora page lists LightBurn and EZCAD2. LaserMaker is Thunder’s own software.
Do I need LightBurn Pro for my Thunder Laser?
LightBurn’s own guide puts DSP controllers (Ruida, Trocen, TopWisdom) and galvo controllers (EZCAD2 and others) under its Pro licence, and GCode machines under Core. Check which controller your machine has and confirm the licence with your dealer before buying; Reticle Red files work with either edition.
Why did my test grid lose its speeds?
It was imported instead of opened. In LightBurn, File > Import takes only the graphics from a project; File > Open keeps every layer’s speed and power.
Can I use Reticle Red files without LightBurn?
Yes. Download the SVG or DXF for LaserMaker or RDWorks, or the EZCAD ZIP for an Aurora. Only the .lbrn2 is LightBurn-specific.
Do I need an account?
Not for the test grid, the EZCAD test card, Box Maker or the settings tables. The AI fill in the Fabricator needs a free account, and new accounts get 12 welcome credits with no card.
Production checks before you export
Before the first Thunder Laser job, give every layer your own tested speed and power (only the test grid arrives with values), run engrave and score layers before the cut layer, and frame the job inside the bed. On an Aurora, check that the DXF sits inside the lens field and focus is on the part surface. Run one part on scrap first.
Related guides
Customer quotes
Named Reticle Red customers, quoted from their own public posts with permission. They describe the platform as a whole, not one tool, and they are not ratings.
“I love this software!”
“This is the easiest I have seen.”
“Reticle Red is becoming one of my favorite software to use. It has a lot of tools that many others do not, and approaches things differently to create more consistent results. A++”
“Reticle Red definitely takes the guess work out of your design work with tutorials to walk through the process. I highly recommend it.”
Primary sources
Vendor-controlled pages reviewed on 2026-10-31. Product scope can change; recheck before purchasing or standardizing a production workflow.
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