Time for a new blade? Graphtec CE5000-60

Tue May 25, 2010 3:28 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

The past few days whenever I cut a certain font (Arroyo) I am getting wonky letters on just the smaller size stuff.
I have not changed my blade since I got the cutter new in very late November, but I have not used it constantly.
The big letters in the same font cut fine.
This is cut directly from Corel, font converted to curves.
The #3 pic is about a 4.5" letter, the others are 1.2".
Font cut fine till last week, I use this same font all the time.
The vinyl weeds fine.
I am using about 17 force, if memory serves.
Thanks!
Love....Jill
PS
Sorry if I uploaded offsite pix, but this particular section of the forum doesn't let you load pix.

Tue May 25, 2010 3:36 pm Author: Neil Davey

Check the offset Jill, have you accidentally changed the settings since you last used it?

Tue May 25, 2010 3:37 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

Possibly...you never know what I'll do by accident!

Tue May 25, 2010 3:42 pm Author: Neil Davey

Well at your age......... :wink:

Tue May 25, 2010 3:44 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

Watch it, Davey!

I wonder if it had something to do with me using the pen tool for the first time?
I will have to check all the settings, I think it has to be something like that because it still weeds easily.
With the 4E I could always tell when I needed a new blade. There would be a few golden moments when everything was right, then scratched or cut thru the backing paper.

Tue May 25, 2010 4:50 pm Author: Peter Normington

Jill,
pen does not need offset so that is probably your answer.
The plotter comes with default presets for different tools.
maybe you forgot to change back to knife?

The original blade should last you at least a year, providing its does not get damaged

Peter

Tue May 25, 2010 4:57 pm Author: Harry Cleary

What settings do you use for the pen tool Jill, haven't tried mine yet.

Tue May 25, 2010 5:28 pm Author: Tim Painter

Jill if you zoom in on corel in wireframe do those sections look ok when it's converted to curves.

I only ask as I have had some fonts that look fine large but when reduced untidy nodes are more noticeable.

Just another possibility.

Tim.

Tue May 25, 2010 8:59 pm Author: Alex Pirozek

Jill,
Assuming your design is fine as mentioned previously,
If you check the screen on the plotter it should say which tool is set, as you've used the pen plotter maybe you've set it as pen and not changed it back to 09U (if using the blue blade holder) that is. I've forgotten to change back to 09U in the past with the same errors that you're experiencing.
17 force is still OK for a blade as i normally range from 14 (new blade) to 18-19 for a worn blade although i normally chip & damage the blade before needing that much force for std cast vinyl.

Hope this helps.
Alex.

Tue May 25, 2010 9:16 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

Thanks.
In the morning, I have to cut more vinyl so I will check the settings and report back.
(too tired this evening!)
I know that I had it on Roll 1 not pen.
And I don't think I've messed with anything.
The font is a commercially purchased one, and the nodes are OK. Like I said, the big stuff cuts OK. And the small stuff used to cut fine.
I did see a tiny bit of fuzz on the blade, which I blew off.
But this is the second time it's done this with small letters.
Thanks again for all the advice!

Wed May 26, 2010 4:44 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

OK just turned it on.
My settings (hope I am typing them correctly)
COND 3
NO. TOOL 15V
OFFSET 0
FORCE 20
SPEED 10
QUALITY 1

Wed May 26, 2010 5:01 pm Author: Alistair Richards

Should the tool no not be 09U?

Don't know though, I'm no expert.

Just for comparison, my settings are
COND 4
Tool No 09U
Offest +2
force 18
speed 25
quality 2

I'm using a smart knife and results seem fine.

Wed May 26, 2010 5:21 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

I don't know how my force got to be 20 because I am positive it was at 17.
I had switched to a red top blade holder/60° blade on Roll 2 yesterday for some reflective.
Then I switched back to the regular blue top holder & blade but it was doing the wonky small letters before that.
In scrolling around I see there are a lot more pre-set COND and even 2 PEN settings.
I have to cut 20 yards of material this afternoon and I don't want to goof up!

Wed May 26, 2010 5:43 pm Author: Peter Normington

Jill,
roll 1 is just the way it measures the vinyl
when you have loaded some vinyl try pressing the f1 button, it should then display something similar to what Alistair is saying.
alternative you can restore the factory default, but you will need to read the manual which should be on the disc you got with the machine
or you could leave it on con 3 and change the settings using the f keys

Peter

Wed May 26, 2010 7:07 pm Author: Alex Pirozek

Jill,
Roll 1 setting is the way it measures the vinyl before cutting (measuring the width between rollers only) and not the length. Roll 2 i think measures both width and length (but not sure as i don't really use this setting).

If you have replaced the holder back to a blue one then the tool setting must be on 09U and a 45 deg blade fitted

The red holder is mainly used with a 60 deg blade and i think the 15? setting on the plotter for cutting reflective vinyl or material up to 1mm thick.

Quality setting can be on 2

Blade <> Blade Holder <> Description
CB09UA <> Blue <> 0.9mm Chamfered blade for vinyl & flock
CB15U <> Red <> 1.5mm blade for heavy vinyl
CB15U-K30 <> Red <> 1.5mm blade for sandblast rubber, card & reflective vinyl
CB15U-SP <> Green <> 1.5mm blade for thick card, thick rubber & film
CB15UA <> Red <> 1.5mm blade for thin recycled card
CB15UA-K30 <>Red <> 1.5mm blade for thicker recycled card
CB15UB <> Red <> 1.5mm blade for detailed cutting in thin card
CB30-UC-1 <> Black <> 3.0mm blade for cutting thick materials

http://www.graphtecamerica.com/FAQs/FAQ ... AQ-web.pdf

Alex.

Wed May 26, 2010 7:21 pm Author: Glenn Sharp

Jill,

Have you got the blade holders nipped up tightly in the blade holder, holder ...The holder isn't wobbling about as it cuts is it ??

Wed May 26, 2010 7:37 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

OK I figured out how to change the 9V thingy.
Gonna make a test cut and see.
Holder is screwed in tightly.
I just don't want to flub up 20 yards of 751.
Thanks for all your help.
As you can see, when it comes to stuff like this I am a real idiot.
Being able to paint isn't everything!
:oops:

Wed May 26, 2010 7:54 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

OK no joy.
It is still doing the odd extra bits
(not the best pic, but look at the "e" by the red knife)
Also a pic of the wireframe in Corel so you can see there are no extra nodes.
The inside of the "k" looks weird too.
Maybe I will just stop using this font.
Or stop making it small.

Wed May 26, 2010 8:03 pm Author: Glenn Sharp

is it happening in the same places each time you cut Jill ??

edit just to add....if it is happening in the same place all the time it might be worth converting the font to curves before you scale it and then give it a go

Wed May 26, 2010 8:19 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

Same extra nodes and uneven lines on the same letters.
This happened at first before I learned to size in Corel and was importing GA files, but this is all straight typed in Corel 12 unimported converted to curves.

Wed May 26, 2010 8:21 pm Author: Glenn Sharp

just edited my post as you were typing there Jill....just in case you missed it

Wed May 26, 2010 8:32 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

I'm gonna give it a go with the 20 yards. I do, after all, have a 50 yard roll. What scares me is that the font I need to cut is from the same family.
It might be a riff-raff like its brother.

Wed May 26, 2010 8:37 pm Author: Glenn Sharp

I seem to remember having a similar problem years & years ago with a font that looked ok on screen but when it was scaled down cut a bit raggy

as I say I think we got round it by typing it out and immediately converting to curves before stretching or scaling it

hope you get it sorted anyhoos

Wed May 26, 2010 8:56 pm Author: Peter Normington

jill send me the file
I will see if it is at fault, or the plotter

Peter

Wed May 26, 2010 8:58 pm Author: Peter Normington

Jillbeans wrote:I'm gonna give it a go with the 20 yards. I do, after all, have a 50 yard roll. What scares me is that the font I need to cut is from the same family.
It might be a riff-raff like its brother.

Jill you dont have to go for the full twenty yards, can you not do it in sections?

Peter

Wed May 26, 2010 9:01 pm Author: Lee.Bennett

Hi Jill,

had the same prob the other day, i had accidentally changed a setting. it was the offset.

can't remember what the proper offset value should be, but if you use original grahtec blades the settings are printed on the top of the box.

will post the correct offset settings in the morning if you are still struggling but i am sure you should mot be set at 0.

Thanks,
Lee.

Wed May 26, 2010 9:09 pm Author: Brian Hays

Have you tried lubricating the bearing in the blade holder?

Wed May 26, 2010 9:52 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

Hello again and thanks.
I don't know where to lubricate or even what.
(sounds like a different forum)
File sent to Peter to check out.
It did cut the other stuff OK, 12" letters to fit to a gas station canopy in the morning.
I think it's just that font.

Wed May 26, 2010 10:34 pm Author: Brian Hays

Jillbeans wrote:Hello again and thanks.
I don't know where to lubricate or even what.
(sounds like a different forum)
File sent to Peter to check out.
It did cut the other stuff OK, 12" letters to fit to a gas station canopy in the morning.
I think it's just that font.

The non pointy end of the blade (the one that doesn't cut!) rotates on a bearing in the holder. Sometimes it requires lubricating. Don't know what other forums you frequent! (?)

Wed May 26, 2010 10:37 pm Author: Brian Hays

.....If your blade & offset is ok, it's the most common cause for cut quality problems in my experience. Would be very surprised if it's the blade btw.

Wed May 26, 2010 10:38 pm Author: Peter Normington

Jills plotter is to new to require oiling Brian.
I never done that, even on my first graphtec which lasted years.
Peter

Wed May 26, 2010 10:42 pm Author: Brian Hays

Sorry don't agree Peter. I have known plenty of new machines that have had blade holder problems.

Wed May 26, 2010 10:43 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

Thank you Peter for taking time out of your evening.
I know it cut fine for you, so this has to be something on my end.
The extra nodes are now in a different spot
(see arrow and compare all small "e"s)
When I cut it bigger it was somewhat better but still an odd notch out near the top left of all the lower case letters.
:-?

Wed May 26, 2010 10:45 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

PS
With what do I lubricate it?
I have WD40 and some other stuff.

Wed May 26, 2010 10:47 pm Author: Brian Hays

WD40 should be fine, only a tiny bit. Worth a try even if Peter doesn't agree. :wink:

Wed May 26, 2010 10:49 pm Author: Glenn Sharp

can I just ask in what format it was sent to Peter in?.....was it the proper font in cdr. format or was is exported as an eps or something?

Wed May 26, 2010 11:19 pm Author: Phill Fenton

Can I just pitch in with a suggestion :wave:

Many years ago I had a problem with my cutter (a summagraphics D610) which was distorting lettering and yet was only a couple of years old. Turned out the problem was a loose grub screw on a drive motor to a wheel that connected a drive belt to the rollers. This had worked its way loose and was causing the elongated cuts.

From what I can see of your distorted lettering Jill - I believe a similar problem could be the cause

Wed May 26, 2010 11:31 pm Author: Peter Normington

sounds something like this phil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C85kTwFEymo
edited to say, A valid suggestion, Phil

Peter

Wed May 26, 2010 11:32 pm Author: Jill Marie Welsh

It seems to be a tool setting error.
Peter called (it was great to talk to him and Lynn too!)
I didn't have an F1 button, that's why I couldn't find it.
Earlier in the day I was sure I'd set the tool setting to 9V (or U)
but it was back at 15 again.
I sent Peter the Corel 12 and the font file.
I will eventually know this thing like the back of my hand.
Maybe.
Thanks again!

Time for a new blade? Graphtec CE5000-60

Time for a new blade? Graphtec CE5000-60

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