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Tracking problem???
These last few days I have been having problems with my vinyl tracking correctly. Now this problem co-insides with a new batch of vinyl i’ve been using so i’m wonder if this might be it. The said vinyl doesn’t seem to be wrapped around the core as tightly as usual and therefore there is plentyl of movent on the roll. I can’t seem to get it tighter unless I unroll it all and roll it all back up!!!
Could it be the vinyl or is it the cutter, i’ve tried all the normal tricks, at least I think I have!
All help/ideas appreciated, its doing my head in now – i’m only trying to track 2.5M
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9 Replies
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I often have this problem with etch effect and polyester vinyls. I always try and use the feed function on the plotter with the speed turned right down low. Gives the grit rollers a bit more chance to bite before the cutting starts.
You have probably tried this already though.
Best of luck.
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Polyester vinyls eh??
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Lorraine,
Check your rubber pinch rollers. Over time they get quite hard and shiny. give ’em a clean with a bit of spirit. I had the same thing with my fax machine where the paper wouldn’t grip. -
We often get this problem when using a length of vinyl that has not been properly wrapped around the tube.
I usually fix it by standing the tube on it’s end on the workbench – loosen the winding (by rotating the tube) until the lower edge of each circular pass of the vinyl can slip to the bottom and lie flush with the table surface – then rotate the cardboard core in th eopposite direction taking up the slack until it’s all tightly wound around the tube again (I hope this is making sense).
Reload into the machine and voila – it’ll track straight for ten metres again.
My machine is a summagraphics D610 friction plotter – and I find that how the vinyl is wrapped around the tube makes all the difference to the tracking. A brand new roll of 50 metres that has never been unwrapped is never a problem – it seems to be when buying 10 metre lengths that have been manually wrapped around a tube that we get this problem.
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Can someone explain why a friction feed plotter would be affected by how tight the vinyl is on the roll?
I always unroll the required amount before cutting, so that the plotter doesn’t tug the roll and make the vinyl go off line.
Am I missing something here? -
Clean the grit roller with meths and an old toohbrush to loosen any old bits of vinyl that may be attached and remove any residue. I very seldom buy full rolls of vinyl mostly 10-15 mtr roll lenghts at a time and I have never experieced any problems with tracking. What type of backing paper is it ?
I have heard tha certain types of backing paper wont track through summa cutters ? Some times I measure a lenght and cut it off prior to cutting to reduce the drag. Brian 😕 -
After having problems with tracking – I have discovered that when tightly wound (and straight on the roll) it doesn’t give me any problems. This is a fact 😀
However, my colorcamm (which is basicly a roland cutter with a print head added) can not handle a full roll of vinyl without first unrolling the amount to be cut. However in this instance I was of course referring to my Summasign cutter – which can easily unroll a 50m roll of vinyl using it’s friction rollers. If memory serves me correctly, this is the same type of cutter that Lorraine uses.
I am trying to be helpful by passing on my personal experience of the cause of tracking problems with this machine. so less of the sarcasm buster 😆 😆
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Clean the pinch rollers.Mine have snall grooves in them that get filled in with dust and crap. Spirits and a cotton bud work wonders.
Lee
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quote rightsigns:After having problems with tracking – I have discovered that when tightly wound (and straight on the roll) it doesn’t give me any problems. This is a fact 😀
However, my colorcamm (which is basicly a roland cutter with a print head added) can not handle a full roll of vinyl without first unrolling the amount to be cut. However in this instance I was of course referring to my Summasign cutter – which can easily unroll a 50m roll of vinyl using it’s friction rollers. If memory serves me correctly, this is the same type of cutter that Lorraine uses.
I am trying to be helpful by passing on my personal experience of the cause of tracking problems with this machine. so less of the sarcasm buster 😆 😆
Where’s the sarcasm?
It transpires from your reply that some plotters are capable of pulling vinyl direct from the roll. Mine doesn’t (Roland PNC 950).
So I’ve possibly learned something here.
So, less of the jumping to conclusions.
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