Outline Cuts off

[captainron19]

Just wondering if I am missing something with Flexi. I have a JSI P24 cutter and when it comes to cutting graphics and text (large and small) everything cuts fine. Words cut perfectly and the blade always makes the vinyl cut exactly at the exact spot to complete the word.

Yesterday I cut some words for a vehicle with an even black outline. I placed the black outline vinyl on and then put the gold colored letters on top (used a wet application) and the words didnt appear to line up correctly in the outline.

I actually had to cut 2 letters at a time with a pair of scizzors and put them in place. It just seemed that when trying to overlay the entire word on the black outline it did not line up properly.

I thought there might be a problem with the cutter (not making exact cuts) but each individual word and graphic I send to the plotter cuts fine.... its just when i want to make a layered outline.

Am I missing a setting in Flexi maybe when sending it to the plotter?

 

[bob]

Just wondering if I am missing something with Flexi. I have a JSI P24 cutter and when it comes to cutting graphics and text (large and small) everything cuts fine. Words cut perfectly and the blade always makes the vinyl cut exactly at the exact spot to complete the word.

Yesterday I cut some words for a vehicle with an even black outline. I placed the black outline vinyl on and then put the gold colored letters on top (used a wet application) and the words didnt appear to line up correctly in the outline.

I actually had to cut 2 letters at a time with a pair of scizzors and put them in place. It just seemed that when trying to overlay the entire word on the black outline it did not line up properly.

I thought there might be a problem with the cutter (not making exact cuts) but each individual word and graphic I send to the plotter cuts fine.... its just when i want to make a layered outline.

Am I missing a setting in Flexi maybe when sending it to the plotter?

Different media feeds at different rates. This is compounded by the fact that different cut patterns will also end up with different overall feed rates. This is because the more times the plotter has to move the media back and forth, the more opportunity for feed error build up.

It doesn't matter just how carefully you've calibrated your plotter, there necessarily always is a difference between the logical dimensions of a job and the physical interpretation of those dimensions made by the plotter.

The difference is tiny but adds up over any significant length and/or significant difference in media motion between layers. The result is exactly what you're experiencing, layers that don't exactly line up.

Since this primarily is a media feed issue, you can mitigate this somewhat by rotating the cut jobs such that the X axis of the work in on the Y axis of the plotter. Assuming the job lends itself to this. In other words, try to have the long side of your job in the direction of carriage movement, not media feed.

Failing that, if you want near to perfect registration you have to do exactly what you're doing; apply the top layer a piece or two at a time.

 

[captainron19]

Thanks Bob

I guess this past job I really noticed it a lot because of the 2 different types of vinyl I used..... 3m Black for the outline and Gold Leaf Turn Vinyl for the letters