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is there ways to improve auto registration mark recognition?
Hi All
We are starting to play with contour cutting prints on our FC7000-130. We are using the correct settings for registration mark type and sizes etc. but we are getting some alignment problems. The contour cut is slightly skewed to the printed design.
We are taking care to load the media so the image is square to the feed direction, it recognises the four reg marks, we enter the distance adjust values and then the pen returns to the new origin point but this always seems to be 5-10mm’s out from the corner of the reg mark?
Anyone got any tips and tricks to improve this?
Cheers
Macky -
7 Replies
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Hi,
I use Graphtec CE3000 120 MKII and Wasatch RIP I do not enter any dsitance adjust values, i just select type 1 marks print then load into cutter move to first mark and set origen.
When pen returns to new origen are you pressing set origen button ?
Regards
Russell.
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Hi Russell
I move the pen to within 20mm of the first registration mark and set the origin – it than scans around until it finds the 1st mark, it then proceeds to find the other 3 registration marks OK. After reading the 4th mark it then shows the width and length it has measured between the marks which I can compare to the known dimensions I’ve printed. There is usually some slight difference – ie. on a 5000mm print it might be 3-5mm out (could be the plotter or the printer). After entering the intended dimensions it is supposed to re-calculate things to take this into account and account for the media being skewed. Finally the pen is meant to return to the new origin point directly over the corner of the 1st mark (I don’t manually set it). The problem is that sometimes it can be 5-10mm out and for others it is pixel perfect. I just can’t figure out why I’m getting this variance??
May be I’m expecting too much of it, although I did an 8m by 1.2m contour cut earlier today that had miles of cut paths and it it was less 0.5mm out by the end.
Cheers
Macky -
Are you auto prefeeding the media?
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David, did you sort out the technique for this?
Its a recurring issue for me and one that I have managed to avoid until now – when I have to get it sorted – so I am hunting around to try and find some answers to avoid the inaccuracy.
Is there a step by step procedure you guys use to do the process?
Cheers
Oo
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Owen,
Is the problem the inaccuracy of the cut or locating the marks, if it is locating the marks then what i do is i place a bit of paper over the reg mark then laminate and after laminating you can remove the sticker as i find the cutter is more accurate if not reading through the laminate, also using wasatch do not select option to center on media as this is known to center the print but not the cut. do not know if other rips have similar problems.
The biggest problem that i have found with inaccuracy of cut is related to the way i handle the media after printing, i have a big bench in front of my printer and used to feed the media out onto the bench and leave it there normally still in the printer overnight to dry, now what i do with vinyl i intend to cut is use the take up roller, this stops the vinyl cockling etc and deforming, i also have a take up roller on my laminater and if laminating i use the take up roller, in both cases leave for 24 hours on the roller. using a take up i have never seen a problem with cut alignment but leaving it flat or hanging it seems to introduce problems.
Regards
Russell.
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Have you done a calibration print to check the accuracy of the feed rollers. print a rectangle of a known distance e.g. 500 or 1000mm (set length in the drawing package) and then measure to see the actual printed size. My plotter was out by 3mm over 500, and just needed adjusting on the machine……….
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Yes i have to adjust my linear calibration manually as the rip setting makes no difference, i use -0.25 on paper upto +0.85 on vinyl etc
It seems the best thing is to try and keep the vinyl as it was supplied ie rolled up.
Regards
Russell.
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