Full Version: Dummy With New Epilog Laser Needs Help
From: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#20]
29 Mar 2007
To: Larry B (PALMETTO) [#17] 30 Mar 2007
Hi Larry,
So far it's great. Been at it for about seven hours now. Only problem I'm having is getting things lined up. I've never used Corel Draw before and it's taking me an average of two to three wasted attempts each time I try something new to finally get a good one. Been doing different sized small annodized aluminum labels to try and learn. I tried using my Signmaking program (Flexi-Pro V.8) but that didn't work as well as Corel. But I'll hang in there. It's just too much fun to let a little thing like not knowing what i'm doing stop me.
I bought PhotoGrav. Haven't installed it yet. Been busy unpacking the laser. Looking forward to giving it a try though. Happy to hear you're having good results with it.
From: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#21]
29 Mar 2007
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#19] 29 Mar 2007
Hi Harvey,
He asked me what I thought he could get for it and I told him I didn't know, but without a working Dongle it will greatly reduce the value as whomever bought it would have to purchase a new program from NH or accept a used/refurbished one for $682.00. Or perhaps someone that already owned one would be interested.
He mentioned a figure of $4,000.00 and reminded me that it had very, very, little use. I told him I would check. One just went for $4,550.00 on eBay with the same Gravostyle 98 with the same colored Dongle (Yellow) that worked. I honestly don't know what he'd let it go for. He has decided that he wants to buy a Vision engraver like the one that Chuck bought at the ARA Trade Show last month, and the IS400 is just taking up space at his shop.
He truly feels that NH stuck a knife in his back (his description was much, much, more colorful) but is beginning to think that maybe he should just salvage what he can and move on. If anyone were interested in his machine I'll ask him if I can pass on his phone number and they can deal directly with him. If they end up getting a good deal, I'll take a large Latte please :O)
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#22]
29 Mar 2007
To: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#20] 29 Mar 2007
On my machine I set the page to the table size.
Then I work in the upper left corner of the page and place the item against the upper left rulers.
From: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#23]
29 Mar 2007
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#22] 30 Mar 2007
Harvey,
That's what I've been doing. Problem is that sometimes the top or left side will get chopped off, and everything looks centered in Corel Draw, but it comes out off-center, (little to the left) when engraved. I have been putting the file in the top left corner, and then nudging it just a little to the right and down. This is working, but i shouldn't have to do this. any ideas?
From: Goodvol (JIMGOOD) [#24]
29 Mar 2007
To: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#23] 29 Mar 2007
Don,
Are you sure your Corel Draw file is truly zeroed at the top left corner? Take a look at your rulers and make sure they reflect zero in both directions. If not, drag the corner of the ruler (you'll see a vertical and horizontal line follow your cursor) and place it on the upper left corner of your workspace. Then you will truly be at 0,0.
I hope this helps.
Jim
From: Tony (ANTE) [#25]
30 Mar 2007
To: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#23] 30 Mar 2007
Don,
Check that your origin is set at 0,0 (as Jim has suggested).
To do this, set page to size of your table bed 24 X 12. Click on the ruler and page will pop-up where you set your origin at 0,0 or you may set it at 24" in x and 12 in y direction, however when placing your work on page you will have to use negative value in y direction. To check that you have rulers in absolute 0,0 positions draw a vertical line about 1/2" high and place it in 1 or 2" in x and y direction, than draw another line in horizontal direction and place it to intersect with first (you will have + sign). Send it to laser and after lasering verify that it is engraved at in correct location.
Tony
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From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#26]
30 Mar 2007
To: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#23] 30 Mar 2007
Make sure that the things in your Corel drawing are not touching or going over the edge of the drawing. Keep them inside the edge of the drawing.
If you need to engrave right to the edge of an object then you could take a piece of cardboard and vector cut a shape that matches the shape of the object to be engraved. Then place the object in the cardboard and engrave on it. Put the vector on one layer and the engraving on another layer and just turn off the printing icon for the layer you're not printing at the moment.
This method lets you place the object anywhere on the table and also helps align any odd shape that might not be square, so doesn't align well in the corner.
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#27]
30 Mar 2007
To: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#23] 30 Mar 2007
I have found that I need to keep edge lines at least .003" off the edges in Corel or it sometimes puts out negative numbers.
Is your laser truly homing to the proper 0,0 each time?
From: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#28]
30 Mar 2007
To: ALL
Thank you all for your help. I will continue looking back on your suggestions as I learn more about this. What I have tried was to set my workspace in Corel Draw to the size of my substrate, and then when I send my graphic to the engraver, I again set the size in the Print Driver to the size of my substrate. This is working perfectly!! I have tried six different things and every one has turned out great. When I am more experienced I will go back and try to do it the recommended way (setting size to 24"x12") But for now It Works!!!
Thanks again to all.
EDITED: 30 Mar 2007 by HIGHDESERT
From: Larry B (PALMETTO) [#29]
30 Mar 2007
To: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#20] 30 Mar 2007
Don..basic principle..use the Align & Distribute feature. It's under Arrange on the menu bar at the top. I set my Corel page to my laser table top size as default. I then design my project inside a rectangle of the size I want the finished piece to be. I use the Align & Distribute feature to align the rectangle to the upper left corner. (that's home position as a default in the machine). You can also use the same feature to align all your objects to each other as you require.
If your working with text, I set my text up in inches in lieu of points. That just makes more sense to me. (Cntl + J) will get you there, click on text and down in the bottom of that screen is the option to reset it.
Hope this helps
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#30]
30 Mar 2007
To: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#28] 30 Mar 2007
When I first got my laser I set the laser sheet size to the full bed size, and set Corel to a document size the same. So both are 12x24. I then set all the defaults in Corel to that so if I open a blank page it always opens as a 12x24 page.
I find it just so much easier to work in Corel as if I am looking into the bed on the laser. So if I place something 1 inch to the right, it lasers one inch to the right of the rulers in the laser. For me at least, it is a way of visualizing on the Corel screen exactly what I will be working on physically in the bed of the laser. And I've never had any surprises, or forgotten to change the size setting in Corel or the driver, since they always match.
From: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#31]
30 Mar 2007
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#30] 30 Mar 2007
From what you have written........... am I to understand that if you create a nametag 1 x 3 you have to send a file 12 x 24 so you know where on the bed the laser will go?? or am I reading this post wrong!
My software shows me where the laser head is on the table and where I placed the 1 x 3 job on the bed.
How could you ever do a knife blade ???
Am I off base on this one ????
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#32]
30 Mar 2007
To: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#31] 30 Mar 2007
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#33]
30 Mar 2007
To: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#31] 30 Mar 2007
When I do an odd shaped object I make a fixture to hold the object in an exact location on the table, so it won't move and so I can stick one after another in the holder and get the engraving in exactly the same spot each time.
For example, if I'm doing one or a few of something I'll make a template using scrap cardboard. I draw an outline in Corell that matches the outlkine of the object, and then I draw the engraving I want on the object within that outline, in the appropriate spot. I then stick a piece of cardboard into the laser against the corner where the rulers meet and I vector out that outline. I remove the scrap of cardboard from the carboard sheet and place the object into the hole I just cut. Then I run the laser again, this time sending the raster engraving info, and it engraves it exactly where I drew it on the drawing. If I want to do another one I pick up the object, drop the next one in the hole in the carboard, hit "Go" and a second one is engraved exactly the same as the first.
From: Larry B (PALMETTO) [#34]
30 Mar 2007
To: UncleSteve [#18] 30 Mar 2007
From: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#35]
30 Mar 2007
To: Larry B (PALMETTO) [#29] 30 Mar 2007
Larry,
I followed your suggestions and it worked perfectly. I tried several different things at different sizes and they all worked.
Thank you very much for the great tip.... I love It....
From: Larry B (PALMETTO) [#36]
30 Mar 2007
To: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#35] 31 Mar 2007
From: Don (HIGHDESERT) [#37]
31 Mar 2007
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#30] 31 Mar 2007
Dave,
Thanks for the help. Your advice has worked very well.
I appreciate it very much.
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