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Graphtec Plotter Engineer
Does anyone know of any engineers or companies that fix Graphtec plotters.
One of ours keeps registering an X-axis error when the blade carriage does it’s initial sweep across and back to the origin. It also fires the vinyl forward about 200mm.
Thanks.
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14 Replies
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Have you tried cleaning the front & back media sensors Neil?
They are set a little deep & a wipe across the top might not be enough. Try something like a cotton bud with a dab of iso on it. -
Hi Martin, I’ve just tried that but no difference.
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what error do you get Neil?
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On initialisation the plotter shoots the vinyl forward about 200mm on either of the 3 settings, Roll 1 – Roll 2 or sheet and stops abruptly as it would do if the roll was to heavy.
I then get this message.
" X POSITION ALARM "
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Cover the back sensor?
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does it say ROLL ONE REAR SET or front set. after you put the leaver down
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X.. is that direction of media? cant remember
i know if the carriage is too far to the right it bashes it against the edge and errors
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think X is feed hope iam right
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Check behind the belt that drives the cutting head for any foam pads. The head can sometimes get caught on these. You can remove them because they’re only there for transportation purposes.
Regarding the vinyl moving forward, check the pre-feed settings in the menu on the machine. Also in the cutting software you can override the machine settings and set it from the pc so make sure you know which one your using.
Failing all this phone Steve at Graphtec on 01978 666700. I’ve got 2 fc7000-130’s and he has just finished servicing them an they are running like new now
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The plotter is a CE3000-60 which I’ve had from new.
It’s been working fine up until a few months ago when the problem first happened.
I called Graphtec and they said it sounded like an X axis motor but after posting the problem here to get some feed back I was encorouged to investigate the problem myself.
I took the front off and gave the insides a good clean as there was some dust in it and after this it worked OK for a while and then intermittently on and off.
Basically it goes through the correct set-up as normal when vinyl is put in and the cutting head doesn’t hit anything on its travels but as soon as it reaches it’s origin point where it usually polls the vinyl it sends it thru at high speed and the roller feed stops but the fan keeps running.
Then I get the error message. -
Neil, if your happy taking the cover off yourself then try taking the cover off & initialising it again. Might be as simple as a limit switch that is not closing when the head reaches the origin point, you will be able to see that with the cover off.
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Whereabouts would that be Martin?
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Neil. on my FC4100 there are a few sensors & limit switches but if there is one for when the head carriage is at the limit of travel it will be at the right hand end towards the top of the machine, can’t remember exactly where as it is quite a while since I had my plotter stripped down to it’s bare bones :lol1:
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Thanks Martin, I’ll dissect it tomorrow and see what I can find.
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