HP Wide Format 54 Plotter/Cutter

[GamecockGrafx]

Anyone have experience with getting a HP 54 Wide Format plotter/cutter to read registration marks/bar code? Have had this machine for about five years. We run FLEXI Rip and up until last week, specifically the Flexi HP edition. The first several years, we relied on the bar code reader to make our cut paths, etc. About a year or so ago, the machine just stopped reading the bar code and threw an error code. From there, I click SEND on Flexi Production Manager to send the cut file to cutter, then have to align head on first registration mark. Here's where the issues start.

Sometimes the cutter picks right up on the small black registration square and things are good to go. Sometimes, it just hovers back and forth, up and down over the mark, but does not read it or pick it up. IF this happens, I stop the whole process, reload, and try again, and usually it works. Today, however, the plotter read the first mark, then went up to mark #2 and never picked it up.

My current job is laminated caldendared vinyl that I need contour cut. Any suggestions on where to start or try?

Thanks,

 

[RonaldChamberlain]

Anyone have experience with getting a HP 54 Wide Format plotter/cutter to read registration marks/bar code? Have had this machine for about five years. We run FLEXI Rip and up until last week, specifically the Flexi HP edition. The first several years, we relied on the bar code reader to make our cut paths, etc. About a year or so ago, the machine just stopped reading the bar code and threw an error code. From there, I click SEND on Flexi Production Manager to send the cut file to cutter, then have to align head on first registration mark. Here's where the issues start.

Sometimes the cutter picks right up on the small black registration square and things are good to go. Sometimes, it just hovers back and forth, up and down over the mark, but does not read it or pick it up. IF this happens, I stop the whole process, reload, and try again, and usually it works. Today, however, the plotter read the first mark, then went up to mark #2 and never picked it up.

My current job is laminated caldendared vinyl that I need contour cut. Any suggestions on where to start or try?

Thanks,

I also want to know, answer of that.

 

[Signstein]

I used to experience this at a previous shop and got into the habit of marking the edges of the vinyl (small tick marks) parallel with the printed reg marks. That just helped me easily line up the vinyl by using the grooves on the plotter. I got pretty good at putting the marks right under the reader. Have you tried the OPOS XY2 setting? Here's an older thread that may help:

Summa off a little bit

Hi all, I'm having a little problem. My summa S160D is a little bit off, it's always cutting just slightly above the print/design, most of the time. It's not like terribly off, only about 0.5mm. However, I'm doing 2 cm in diameter label so 0.5 mm is quite noticeable especially circle with...

www.signs101.com

 

[Printy McPrint-Print]

Have you tried the calibration with the white/yellow/black squares with the same material you printed on? I occasionally have to do this.

I've also had issues depending on what printer printed the marks and the laminate. I've literally cut away the laminate from the barcode before because the cutter couldn't read the marks with it.

 

[ozpall]

is it laminated? the reflections can affect the reading, I put a towel over it while reads the regmark. my Mimaki cg160 its horrible at reading marks.