well we just got our new plotter in , a Roland cx-300, love the machine, but I feel I am doing something wrong, I can't get it to run more than about 8' of vinyl without going off track, and Roland says it will run up to about 45'...
What am I doing wrong here? I line it up to the guide lines, etc and still can't get more than 8' or so...
Thanks for the input,
Shawn
-------------------- Shawn Setzer Signs by Shawn 826 Hwy 47 East, Troy, MO Posts: 241 | From: Troy, MO, USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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how did you get it to your shop? you pick it up, was delivered UPS, OR FREIGHT CO.? do you have it sitting on a level surface? and i would be all over somebodys a** if i spent $3000 and it didnt perform as it is supposed to!!!!!
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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check out the rollers....if they slip even just a bit, the vinyl wont track properly. Sometimes a tiny piece of vinyl or dirt will stick to a roller, and off-tracking happens!
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Shawn..If the guide marks are just two clear decals with marks on them like my CM24 there is a good possibility that they mey not be applied properly. If it tracks off in the same direction every time then you will have to make an adjustment in lining up the vinyl to allow for that.
As Mike says, if the long cuts close correctly then it is not a serious problem.
By the way Mike I like that idea of running half the material and re-aligning. I'll give it a try.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
You say it's new? I suppose you realize that part of the cost of that machine was their tech support. People on this board are good at solvin those kind of questions, but Roland have an obligation to get that thing running, and keep it running, until the warrantee period is over. Make them stick to that!
Just MHO, which is probably worth about what ya paid for it.
[ August 10, 2002, 04:38 PM: Message edited by: Don Coplen ]
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Thanks for the replies guys, I do know that it is a vinyl alignment problem, whay they can build such a nice machine then use human applied decals for the alignment is beyond me!! why can't they put a indention into the machine itself? who knows, I'll find the right spot eventually and put my on mark on it like we had to do with our color camm, but it is a pain in the ass!!
Such is life,
Shawn
-------------------- Shawn Setzer Signs by Shawn 826 Hwy 47 East, Troy, MO Posts: 241 | From: Troy, MO, USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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Dave, it still runs crooked using that method but it's definitely less crooked!
Shawn, I dont know if you'll have any luck doing it this way but you might wanna try using a carpenter's square to get the alignment marks set right. Looking at my Roland plotter, it looks as though I could measure from one end to the electronic eye, then transfer that dimension to the back side of the plotter. It looks like the Roland alignment marks are lined up right at the edge of the electronic eye on the front of the machine. Good luck!
-------------------- "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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i got a pnc-1000 and a pnc-1100, and i get runs of up to 15 feet on either one.....but i gota really watch where i put the vinyl to start with
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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HI I have the same problem with my CX24 and I was thinking that some of the graphtec plotters have that bar in the front that you have to fold the vinyl on it on to itself and then the vinyl becomes very true works great, I might build something like that and I will make it attach to the front of the plotter....does anyone know what I am talking about? any ideas ?? take care
-------------------- Image is everything Rui Batista Hyper graphix custom auto graphix http://www.hyper-graphix.com Posts: 17 | From: New Bedford, MA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Yes Rui..I know exactly what you mean...If your cutter is mounted on a stand and you can pull the vinyl from the back to meet the vinyl at the front and line them up then the vinyl is perfectly aligned..No guidelines needed!
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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HI what you mean ..meet at the front? Do I pull it from the back throught the machine then fold it back under the machine and the stand? I have the vinyl roll holder that slips under the plotter on the back...you know the one that roland sends you with the little wheels, how would I do this. Please help me with your strategy I go nuts when I need to get work done and my vinyl goes crooked.PLease reply.Take care. any ideas on how to build the graphtec thing? Rui
-------------------- Image is everything Rui Batista Hyper graphix custom auto graphix http://www.hyper-graphix.com Posts: 17 | From: New Bedford, MA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Christian.I have never needed to cut 50 yards in one straight cut but I have no problems with 12-15 foot cuts. Just have to know yer machine!
I'd love to see a job that required a 50 YARD cut!!!! Musta paid HUGE bux!!!! LOL
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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boy, thats an idea. If I'm understanding this right, the vinyl doesn't actually go under the machine, just wraps around a bar on the front, say, a few inches frome the body of the machine. If the bar is exactly perpendicular to the machine, and you line the vinyl back up with itself, then you can't go wrong. Gee something I can tinker with and build! I love building useful $#!+ thanks! I'll let ya know if it works............
-------------------- Dave Utter D-utterguy on chat Sign Designs Beardstown, Il. signdesigns@casscomm.com Posts: 777 | From: beardstown, illinois, usa | Registered: Mar 1999
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Well folks I've got it figured out, just that right spot to align the vinyl, I've found that the 2 marks on the plotter were about 1/64" off from one another, a little chrome vinyl strip is going to take cre of that thuogh. Thanks for all the reply's guys...
Much appreciated,
Shawn
-------------------- Shawn Setzer Signs by Shawn 826 Hwy 47 East, Troy, MO Posts: 241 | From: Troy, MO, USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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I've got a Summa D750, and it (like other brands now) has a "roller bar alignment design in the rear of the unit....you can cut like a madman without worrying about the tracking....I thought the Rolland CX line had the same type system?! No?
If not, for $3k you could you could get into a Summa or Graphtec that you could rely on without jimmy-riggin the thing. If it doesn't straighten up for you...you might consider returning it if policy permits and considering a competitive brand.
Maybe there's an easy solution though, eh?
Good luck.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Musta paid HUGE bux!!!! LOL 
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something I can tinker with and build! I love building useful $#!+ thanks! I'll let ya know if it works............
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