I'm using Orajet 3651 most of the time. Everytime I print dark colors and then cut those areas the vinyl curls up on the edges.
That's using the profile from Oracal for that media. I even tried other profiles using the lower resolution settings in Versaworks and the same thing happens.
This is driving me crazy. I can't even mask the stuff because it rolls up over itself. I've played with heat settings, profiles, etc.
It's normally on colors like black, dark browns or other dark colors.
I can have something print/cut in the same job that is dark on one part and say pink or something which isn't dark and the light area is fine.
Any input appreciated.
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
are you cutting the same day? you need to let it cure 24 hours before cutting because the curing process is creating a slight shrinkage tendancy, but without cuts, it will hold itself together while the solvents escape & it will be more stable to cut at this time. This is another reason I think the cutter built into a printer is less of an advantage then a salesman would have you believe. I guess they didn't tell you about curing before cutting... unless of course they did, you alreadt are, and this is still happening, in which case I'm not sure what could cause that.
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have you tried sending a different file type? we don't use oracal but have not had that problem and print cut all the time, for some reason it sounds like it's dumping to much dark ink, and cutting after printing is not a problem if all else is correct
-------------------- Pete Payne Willowlake Design/Canadian Signcrafters Bayfield, ON
While I don't have a printer I have seen this happen when I spray inks or paints onto vinyl.
When a heavy deposit of ink/paint is laid at the edge the vinyl does have a tendency to curl up while drying. The ink shrinks as the solvents escape thus it pulls up on the vinyl.
More ink is used in dark colors, not only to make the darker colors in the first place, but to make them opaque on a white film as well.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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yes, it is a unique problem to dark inks because of the amount of inks. I guess you could call it "too much dark ink" but if you need a rich black color and opacity, you should be able to print that AND avoid the curl, simply by allowing for full curing before cutting.
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ditto what was said. We print....let it sit a few hours, laminate and then cut. I used to have the same problem alot while printing/cutting in the same operation. Too much ink will temporarily gum up the vinyl a bit.
-------------------- Bruce Evans Crown Graphics Chino, CA graphics@westcoach.net Posts: 910 | From: Chino, CA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hello there Amy....it's been a long time since we talked. I am a Roland tech and there is no way you should have the issues you are having. We are using a 3 mil vinyl and we are printing and cutting at the same time with no issues at all. First issue I would look at is the heaters. It sounds like they maybe set wrong. If you look at the bottom side of the machine and just check to make sure they are set for the right power supply. We have run into that more than once. The other issue I would look at right now is you might have a bad batch of vinyl. I have run into a roll of Oracal that they were selling at a discount and it did not print well at all. Try another type of vinyl and if you have the same issue then the vinyl is good. If you want to email me please do and we can chat more. design@creativeink.ca
And for you Mr. Allan I was one of the most skeptical sign guys out there on the print cut device when I attended the Roland tech school. When I saw 35 of us print laminate and cut a very tough design and it was dead on everytime, I was sold. We use the machine everyday and blow people away with the stuff we are producing.
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