Excessive tool travel when cutting on the Roland

[threeputt]

We have to cut 1000 equipment labels. Basically it's a manufacturer's name in approximately 7/8" high letters.

We've done this job numerous times but always on another piece of equipment. That equipment is out of service currently.

So wr want to use the Roland Versacam but find that the RIP program seems to create a cutting file that uses excessive tool travel. For example, we're cutting these (33) repeats at a time. But the tool will go and cut a portion of one label, move several inches then cut another part of the label, etc.

This is extremely inefficient and will take forever.

Does anyone know how to "defeat" the RIP's inclination to do this? Or does it have something to do with how the file is put together in the design software?

So you can see the job, I'm attaching a .jpg of several labels.

 

[threeputt]

Ok so I just tried putting only one label in and it still cuts like the R then runs over and cuts the T, then back to another letter etc.

Is that a bit non-normal?

 

[qmr55]

Every Roland I have used/seen used has done that as well. Always wondered about that as well hopefully someone can answer it!

 

[threeputt]

Hooray! Solution...sort of.

For those who might be interested in a work around for the problem:

I figured it might be in the composing software itself, soI went in and isolated a single label and opened it in a new page.

Then methodically I selected the first shape, Control X, Control Alt V, then the second shape etc. (control alt V in my software is Paste Back)

Effectively re-assembling the word in the order I wanted the machine to cut it.

Tried one with no repeats and Voila! it worked. Then tried with 33 repeats and fine, no problems.

 

[randya]

Is there an "Optimize" function for cutting?

 

[Custom_Grafx]

That's exactly the work around I was taught on this forum. There is a thread about it somewhere.

Basically VW goes off the layer stack order.

I am also baffled as to why there is no 'optimise sequence' button in VW. Needs it badly!

It would also be incredibly useful if VW could give you an estimate on the amount of time it would take to do the cutting.

Is there any RIP out there which can do that actually?

For those who might be interested in a work around for the problem:

I figured it might be in the composing software itself, soI went in and isolated a single label and opened it in a new page.

Then methodically I selected the first shape, Control X, Control Alt V, then the second shape etc. (control alt V in my software is Paste Back)

Effectively re-assembling the word in the order I wanted the machine to cut it.

Tried one with no repeats and Voila! it worked. Then tried with 33 repeats and fine, no problems.

 

[Wiggum PI]

ya, VW sucks at that stuff. I used to get some cut vinyl jobs where it would inch itself forward to the end of the file(painfully slowly), before it would go back and cut from the start, no setting changes, didn't seem to matter how the file was layed out...ugh.

 

[Gene@mpls]

Calling Dana...

What say you? Gene

 

[Malkin]

Yep it cuts from the bottom up on the layer stack.
Another method to use is the "send to back" command. Choose the piece to cut LAST, send to back, and continue with all shapes finishing with the one to cut first.