My plotter has the knife style blade that rotates as it encounters a radius. However sometimes it fails to rotate and drags sideways across the vinyl making a real mess. The plotter has been sitting for 5 years or so and I just got it up and running recently. It only does this occasionally but it seems to be getting more frequent lately. Thanks for any help.
Posted by Gene Golden (Member # 3934) on :
Kurt, What brand plotter?
Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :
something is probably dirty or needs to be lubricated
[ November 14, 2005, 06:34 PM: Message edited by: Michael Boone ]
Posted by Kurt Silva (Member # 257) on :
Gene, it's a Vinyl Express plotter. I think it is Sign Warehouse's hybrid machine. I picked it up used several years ago. I called Sign Warehouse for help but said that unless I registered as its new owner....at a cost of $240.00... they could not help me. I just wanted to know if I needed a new blade holder but, nope, couldn't advise me unless I did this registration thing. Wha? Thanks
Posted by Kurt Silva (Member # 257) on :
Michael, I've never used a plotter so I'm a little ignorant regarding maintenance. I bought it used with no manual. Should I try a little oil on the blade shaft?
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Kurt. You could try a little WD-40 on the blade shaft, but I'd stay away from oil. Oil will attract dust and dirt and eventually make the situation worse, I would think.
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Curt, Dave is right, stay away from oil. I would even be a little concerned with WD-40. If you use anything, I would suggest 90%+ isopropyl alcohol first, then WD and oil would be my last choice. I assume that it's a friction fed plotter with a drag knife? If so, a good cleaning should solve the problem. If it's a tangential cutter, the problems may be deeper and require a little operating.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Howard Keiper (Member # 1250) on :
Get a new holder. You're in twilight zone no matter what "fix" you come up with. hk
Posted by Gene Golden (Member # 3934) on :
Kurt, That's why I asked. In the Gerber plotters, there is a "plastic-toothed chain" that drives the rotation of the knife. It is connected onto a sprocket. If that "chain" loses its "teeth" it will cause the balde to stop rotating properly.
There could be a similar problem with the Vinyl Express machine. Look for the device that causes the blade to rotate!
Another possible fix: There is a replacement blade holder system for the Gerber which will allow you to cut in DRAW mode instead of the "tangential" mode that you described. It allows the holder to remain static while the blade rotates inside the holder. You cut in draw mode! It was called TurboCut. I would imagine there are similar tools available for other machines.
[ November 15, 2005, 12:33 PM: Message edited by: Gene Golden ]
