Graphtec contour cut issues

We had this issue when cutting large numbers of bumper stickers for a client on our FC8600-130, we turned the print so that they are cut with the longer side of the image on the vertical y-axis, and this worked for us.

 

I had a run of 2k to do, after batching out a 5'x8' section of them and having issues, I just opted for 5'x1' groups, and set the plotter up to read the next set. If nothing else, smaller batches keeps from costly mistakes like running out of lam halfway through a print, misaligned plots, someone accidentally cutting off the print right next to the reg marks, etc...

 

Can you do a full reset and retry? My guess is a memory issue on the graphtec controller itself.

 

1 update firmware - test
2 factory reset - test
3 try using prefeed
4 perform distance adjust in the advanced menu in service mode - test again

 

Want to avoid this?

Create all print/cut jobs inside of illustrator using cutting master. Export print files with registration marks and ONLY use flexi to print the file. Run the cut from cutting master to your graphtec. The only issues you will run into are with the language on your machine if your switching between cutting master and flexi a lot. Change all your cutting to come out of illustrator from now on and you will have very few issues.
Flexi prints OK
Flexi cuts OK
Flexi Print/cuts like crap (you will always have issues with your buffer and resetting your machine/ maybe 2 days / maybe 2 months later)

 

Not the best option but after struggling with resetting my machine for years when a cut would go bad we have switched to this method. ALL cuts come from cutting master, print/cut or just cut. The plotters are not connected to flexi anymore and it's been over a year since I had to reset one of the plotters.

 

I use Corel and Onyx and I have somewhat the same experience. It may not be streamlined, but having full control of the process is beneficial to me. Plus I can print something, store it forever, and still plot it without simulating a print just to get the plotter to behave.

 

Signlab here. Graphtec fc 7000-100. No problems unless I ran a long plot on small items. About 4' was max. Larger items could go a little further. All done in sl.

 

DO NOT let Flexi make the crop marks. This is where your problem lies. Create artwork with cut line however you want. INSIDE ILLUSTRATOR create the cut layer and print layer. Create crop marks INSIDE OF ILLUSTRATOR WITH CUTTING MASTER. EXPORT crop marks and print layer and drop file into flexi production manager. USE cutting master to cut the print/cut file from illustrator. ONLY use Flexi to print the file. Don't let it make crop marks, don't let it even know it's a print/cut file.

 

I'll very much agree with BIG here, can't speak for flexi in this workflow, but Onyx was just awful at streamlining the cut marks in, corel could handle all aspects of the cut contour and has more control options.

 

I usually use cutting master, but I started using onyx - Mainly for large runs... I like how in onyx with intermediate marks you can rotate them, with cutting master if you have rotating marks you're not able to rotate it. I printed a full roll of print and cut and I had to re-wind it since CM didn't let me rotate... Thats the onlything I don't like about using CM4, and I don't get why it doesn't allow it in the first place. I do find it more accurate than onyx though.

 

Rotating marks? As in print a 5'x4', that can't be rotated to a 4x5 to cut?

I know that if I made art in corel, sent to onyx, print, lam, then place on my plotter, it was always upside down, and I'd either have to rotate the file or the material. I finally figured I could have all onyx prints rotated 180 by default and now it jives just fine.

 

Yes. If you print with just the corners cutting master allows you to rotate anyway. However if you print with marks every 12"... It won't let you rotate at all. I can see it being sideways screwing it up, but it should at least let you rotate it 180.

I started printing rotated in onyx to fix that issue at home. My work onyx is on 12 and it doesn't have the print the other direction option.... Though I'm sure I could do it with a quick set. It's more of an annoyance so I haven't cared too much!