Help - Problem cutting with a PLS3.60

[Ideas L]

Hello everyone,

I have an Universal PLS3.60 machine (with a 50W laser) and I found some problems setting cutting parameters.
I am not sure if I am doing anything wrong, but I set the cutting parameters cutting a little piece of material and using it once the laser pass totally through the piece (like I did with my old Versa).
The problem is that sometimes I use that parameter and if the shape is irregular or have diagonals, the laser don´t cut totally. For example for the same material I can cut squares at 100% power, 5.5% speed but if the shape have diagonals I must slow to 3.8% to totally cut the piece.
Anybody can give me any advise? I will appreciate your help!
Thank you,

Rony

[DaveDoesIT]

Originally Posted by Ideas L For example for the same material I can cut squares at 100% power, 5.5% speed but if the shape have diagonals I must slow to 3.8% to totally cut the piece.

Hi Roney,

It sounds like the software is putting out the jaggy lines for the diagonals. Are you vector cutting or raster cutting?

If it is the software then you need to find a way of setting the "join offset" minimum and maximum to make it work for you. The "join offset" is a setting for lines that do not exactly match at the join and the software *should* force a join. Some software will move the end and start points to match and others will add a line to connect it.

I am not familiar with your laser but can you increase the frequency or DPI? That might take care of it.

Dave

[Ideas L]

Hi Dave,

I am vector cutting. I have tried several different drivers for the machine and the soft I am using is the Corel Draw 13. I Will try with the join offset setting, but as the problem remains with different files coming from different people I think that is not the key...

I already try with different DPI parameters but the only good result was decreasing speed to avoid those conflictive parts of the design and wasting speed in the rest of the cutting...

I will advise if the join offset works.
Thanks a lot!

Rony

[DaveDoesIT]

Originally Posted by Ideas L I am vector cutting. I have tried several different drivers for the machine and the soft I am using is the Corel Draw 13.

Hi Roney,

But Corel will be cleaning it up before sending it to the laser. I assume the laser looks like a printer to your computer? That means the file is no longer DXF or Corel or anything when Corel sends it, it will be compiled print commands like...

MoveTo 1.365,3.285 <-- X = 1.365 and Y=3.285
LineTo 2.112,3.193
MoveTo 2.113,4.293

etc...

Not actually as text, but move and draw commands for the "printer."

If Corel is leaving the gaps then that's what is going to be "printed'

If you have a DXF or EPS file of it, try sending it to your laser from another program like CAD or something else that will import the file then send to the "printer." If the same thing happens then we need to think about other possible causes.

Dave

[Ideas L]

Dave,

I understand the idea...but the soft that the manufacturer (and the technical support) strongly recommends is the Corel, that´s why I am trying to not move of it. Maybe I could try with a different version...
The machine is exactly what you said, like a printer connected via USB to the PC.
I thought it could be a driver problem, but I tested 4 different drivers with no improvements...
At this moment my question is "is this the normal way of work of this machine model?" I always set parameters for the whole working area cutting a piece and now apparently each parameter depends of the shape to cut in place to the material...

Rony

[DaveDoesIT]

Originally Posted by Ideas L I understand the idea...but the soft that the manufacturer (and the technical support) strongly recommends is the Corel, that´s why I am trying to not move of it.

Hi Roney,

I am not suggesting you move away from Corel, merely to try another program to send it to the "printer" and see if that fixes the problem. If it does then you need to get on to the Corel tech support to find out why.

You need to use a process of elimination to identify where the problem is. To do that you need to try things to see what happens. It is pointless trying to badger Corel into working if there is a parameter causing the problem.

Until you identify where the problem is there is no point guessing,

Dave

[Ideas L]

Hi Dave,

I´ll try with Autocad and Illustrator...thank you for your ideas!!!
Will advise as soon as I try it!
Thanks a lot!!

Rony

[Ideas L]

Originally Posted by DaveDoesIT You need to use a process of elimination to identify where the problem is. To do that you need to try things to see what happens. It is pointless trying to badger Corel into working if there is a parameter causing the problem. Until you identify where the problem is there is no point guessing,

Hi Dave,

Finally, after several tests, I could contact some people at ULS and after few emails the problem was the driver version. Now I have installed the latest one the uneven cutting issue was solved.
Thank you for your help and time!

Rony

[DaveDoesIT]

Originally Posted by Ideas L Finally, after several tests, I could contact some people at ULS and after few emails the problem was the driver version.

Hi Rony,

Glad you got it all sorted out and thanks for responding back here to let us all know what the solution to the problem was.

Dave