Putting this here because I solved my issue but didn't get a hit on google when searching for the error I got, hopefully this will help out someone else.
What I did to solve my error:
using zadig from C:\Program Files (x86)\axoloti_runtime\platform_win
Options > list all Devices
choose Axoloti Bulk Interface (interface 2)
Then replaced whatever driver there was with libusbK
libusb-win32 and WinUSB threw errors on a theme of that below libusbK worked for me and hopefully works for whoever stumbles upon this post during their search.
Error in full below.
Windows 7 SP1
Axoloti version : 1.0.12-2-0-g60a2f99 build time : 08/04/2018 20:20:07 CEST
Link to firmware CRC E95BAC96
Status: factory (1.0.12,anon) : OK ( 1.0.12,clean )
Status : home : OK
Status: community (1.0.12,anon) : OK ( 1.0.12,clean )
USB device found
org.usb4java.LibUsbException: USB error 3: Unable to claim interface: Access denied (insufficient permissions)
org.usb4java.LibUsbException: USB error 3: Unable to claim interface: Access denied (insufficient permissions)
at axoloti.USBBulkConnection.connect(USBBulkConnection.java:248)
at axoloti.MainFrame$4.run(MainFrame.java:358)
at java.awt.event.InvocationEvent.dispatch(InvocationEvent.java:311)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(EventQueue.java:756)
at java.awt.EventQueue.access$500(EventQueue.java:97)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:709)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:703)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$JavaSecurityAccessImpl.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:80)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java:726)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(EventDispatchThread.java:201)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(EventDispatchThread.java:116)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(EventDispatchThread.java:105)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:101)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:93)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThread.java:82)
thank you loads!