How to get laser cut jigs to align with flatbed printers.

[Nick B]

Hi, this is my first post. We have a laser cutter/engraver (Universal pls6mw) and also several mimaki printers that we use to print logos on promo items. Ive been using the laser machine to cut jigs to hold the units in place on the printers. the only issue im having is that the jigs i am cutting dont seem to align up perfectly with the printers. e.g. a logo printed on a unit at the bottom of the jig will be about .03 inches to the right of a logo printed on a unit placed at the top of the jig. I have tried manually moving the individual logos (anywhere from 100 - 500 per jig) but its a super tedious I have to do it for every single different jig i make. Has anybody encountered this before or know what to do about it?

 

[henryz]

.030" - 1/32 you are saying you don't have this tolerance?

 

[Nick B]

.030" - 1/32 you are saying you don't have this tolerance?

A lot if out units are small, say the smaller ones are around .2" x .3". So if we want to make the logo Fill up a reasonable about of space .03 (or larger, probably sometimes up to .05 or .06) makes a difference. And it's not that when they are being cut that the jigs are a little different Everytime. If I cut the same file 3 times for 3 jigs it will print exactly the same on all 3 jigs, just not the same from one side of the jig to the other.

 

[Superior_Adam]

We use several Mimaki printers as well and laser cut jigs. There are holes on the table that would allow for registration pins. You will need to use these to allow the jig to be sit into the machine straight. If you do not use the registration pins you will have a tough time aligning.