Not printing straight lines

Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:55 am Author: Dave Bruce

When my Roland prints a straight line it is distorting it so it looks like it has been pinched in places, any ideas as to correct it? Lines are 2mm wide.

Cheers

Dave

Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:03 pm Author: DavidRogers

It wouldn't happen to coincide with the areas that when the material has buckled UP slightly with the heat?

If the material is closer to the head the spread will be slightly reduced.

if it's not that...dunno!

Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:52 pm Author: Gavin MacMillan

what direction are the lines going? Could be a dirty encoder strip

Gavin

Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:15 pm Author: Shane Drew

you printing uni or bi directional?

how much does it print before it narrows..... the width of the head?

How many passes are you printing. 4 or 8?

if you print 4, does it print better with 8 pass?

what colour are the lines? one colour or made up of all 4?

Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:26 pm Author: Andrew Ritchie

I would also say that its a dirty encoder strip.
Easily cleaned with a dry lint free cloth.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:40 am Author: Dave Bruce

Thanks guys, I cleaned the encoder strip and tried again, but still no joy. The narrow points are on both horizontal and vertical lines, printing bi directional 8 passes.

Cheers

dave

Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:49 am Author: Gavin MacMillan

Hi Dave, is it in the same places each time? Did it move after cleaning the encoder strip... maybe you missed a spot or didn't get the back?

Can you post up a pic, is the test print ok?

G

Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:03 pm Author: Dave Bruce

That's interesting it seems to be at the same point on the file, but not the printer, so there must be a communication problem, is that right?

Dave

scan in portfolio thread

Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:25 pm Author: Gavin MacMillan

Very odd, how were the lines created?

Want to fire over the file and I'll try it here for you?

G

Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:39 pm Author: Dave Bruce

created in Signlab 7

File on its way

Cheers

Dave

Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:11 pm Author: Gavin MacMillan

E-mailed you Dave.

It printed perfect though so if anyone else has an idea?

G

Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:24 pm Author: Chris Wool

shane has a point

are you doing bi directional as i did have a small file once that printed correct in uni dir not in bi, misshaped small circles.

chris

Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:53 pm Author: Dave Bruce

tried everything now Chris, but no joy

Dave

Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:49 pm Author: Chris Wool

have you tried a different make of vinyl can be any make or light colour
only need to print say the middle part.

chris

Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:01 pm Author: Dave Bruce

I have tried it on clear and white, different makes. sent it to someone else who printed it fine.

dave

Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:18 pm Author: Nick Minall

when you print it is it always exactly the same? all identical?

Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:27 pm Author: Chris Wool

how were the lines created are they single line with pen width or a oblong with fill

Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:47 pm Author: Dave Bruce

oblong with fill then welded to the curves

Cheers

Dave

Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:17 pm Author: Chris Wool

then welded to curves

i think as dave rolands hinted that the straight lines are not straight lines.

out of interest go in to the drawing and select lines that should be straight and see if they are curves but look straight.
i think that different outputs and rips may see them slightly differently.

chris

:oops:

just looked at the other thread and steve has similar ideas.

Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:27 pm Author: Steve Morgan

Just found that this thread is going on elsewhere. I think the problem could be the nodes. SignLab seems to introduce nodes in strange places when you weld lots of bits together. I would be inclined to check to see if you've got curve nodes where you should have straight nodes or curve to straight nodes.

Steve

Sun Nov 23, 2008 2:18 pm Author: David Rowland

not i seen this thread, it starting to make sense...

Rob, you really do need to enable posting of JPG's for all paying members, sorry to shout like this but it so easy to do and then we wont have two threads on the same thing.

I am presuming it is something to do with how the file is Imported into SignLab, if other people are printing it okay then I am presuming the file is 'generated' from a family tree software as EPS then imported into SignLab where is miss-interpreting the lines.

Perhaps the person who can print it okay, post up the file so DaveB can download it and use that instead at his rip level.

Sun Nov 23, 2008 2:30 pm Author: Dave Bruce

Dave please read all the thread, I created the file in Signlab sent the signlab file to another sign company and they printed it OK (so they say) but don't know how they printed it, ie from Signlab or through another rip.

Cheers

Dave

Sun Nov 23, 2008 4:21 pm Author: Dave Bruce

All sorted now, see other thread.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to offer advice, just another example of how this site is invaluable.

Cheers

Dave

Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:09 am Author: Gavin MacMillan

I printed it from signlab p&c rip with no probs. Did you get it going on your own printer in the end Dave?

Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:12 am Author: Dave Bruce

Yer thanks Gavin, printed fine eventually after the polygon conversion, just don't understand how you printed it ok from the original file and I couldn't, makes me think SL is a bit suspect.

Cheers

Dave

Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:30 am Author: Gavin MacMillan

Yeah, I read the other thread. Only thing I can think of is that I had to import it rather than open it, maybe because you have done a more recent update or something? Maybe the importing altered the nodes?

Just checked, they have come in as polyarcs... can't remember what the other threat said now though!

Not printing straight lines

Not printing straight lines

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