Full Version: Epilog laser startup
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#2]
11 Sep 2006
To: Webquest [#1] 11 Sep 2006
My Epilog doesn't do that. I do lots of short jobs and never miss a dot.
You should call Epilog tech support.
From: Phyllis (TXTWYST) [#3]
11 Sep 2006
To: ALL
my epilog helix 45w is doing the same thing. i've had it for about 4 months now and it never did it until a month or so ago.
peck said to make sure you turn on the laser and let it run for a few minutes before running a job. he also said it's normal for the laser to not fire anywhere from 1-5 seconds on the first job. anything over 5 seconds could be a problem.
peck told me to run a vector job for the first job after turning on the laser and count how many seconds before it starts to fire.
i've been doing that since the problem started and results are all over the place. it was averaging about 1-2 seconds of not firing, but then yesterday it was about 4 seconds.
i think once since i've been testing has it fired right away.
i created a corel file so i always run the exact vector job every time.. with the same speed and power settings.
i'm just going to keep checking mine. what i still don't understand is why it never did it before and then just started doing it out of the blue. after that first job, it fires every time after that.
good luck,
phyllis
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#4]
11 Sep 2006
To: Phyllis (TXTWYST) [#3] 11 Sep 2006
Being a non expert on that problem, it sounds like the tickle is set a little too low. The tickle is supposed to keep the tube ready to fire. (Set too high it will not stop firing.)
As lasers age the tickle sometimes needs to be raised.
You will need to find a real expert to tell you just how to set it.
From: bobkat [#5]
11 Sep 2006
To: Phyllis (TXTWYST) [#3] 11 Sep 2006
What a bunch of baloney! That machine should fire immediately after start-up. How many other laser owners have to "warm up" their laser before it works like it is supposed to? If this was normal, why did it just start happening? You are being fed a line of BS; make them fix your machine.
From: Phyllis (TXTWYST) [#6]
11 Sep 2006
To: ALL
i know every day the laser is "aging," but 4 months old?
i'm not happy with the "keep an eye on it" and for sure not happy with having to run a test EVERY time i turn on the laser... if it keeps it up i will have to say something.
i have plenty of time left on the warranty so i'm not concerned.
bobkat: do you have an epilog?
phyllis
From: bobkat [#7]
12 Sep 2006
To: Phyllis (TXTWYST) [#6] 12 Sep 2006
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#8]
12 Sep 2006
To: Phyllis (TXTWYST) [#6] 12 Sep 2006
I am in agreement with everything you said.
My point is that the tickle may have been set too low when it was made. As I said I am not an expert in this corner of lasers, so their service should, (should), have better answers than to run a fake job first then engrave.
If you ran a job and then two hours later went to use it, do you need the fake job again? That will give more limited possibilities.
From: Webquest [#9]
12 Sep 2006
To: ALL
From: Holly (GRIZGIRLS) [#10]
12 Sep 2006
To: ALL
Just adding my 2 cents...I have an Epilog 35W. It's 9 months old. My 'normal' for this machine is the first lasering job of the day after powering it on does not fire for 3 seconds. Happens every day - but only the very first job. I just re-run that first job for 3 seconds and I'm all set...until I power up the next day...
Some might say that's unacceptable...that it should fire right out of the shoot. I chock it up to my laser needing it's cup of coffee each day... :)
I probably should ask my rep...but thankfully, too busy right now! :) :)
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#11]
13 Sep 2006
To: Holly (GRIZGIRLS) [#10] 13 Sep 2006
Since this seems to be a recurring thing on those lasers, I wonder if the tickle is not activated until you start running a job the first time.
There may be a logical reason for this, or there is a glitch in the firmware.
Wish I knew more about the subject.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#12]
13 Sep 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#11] 13 Sep 2006
I know a few people running Epilogs. I've never heard any of them claim they have problems upon startup.
Next time I'm in their shops, I'll ask.
From: Upacreek [#13]
13 Sep 2006
To: ALL
My Epilog Mini 45 watt needs to be powered on for at least 1 minute before the laser will work. If I start the job sooner, it goes through all the motions, but the laser doesn't work whether it's raster or vector.
I can run the laser all day, shut it off for one minute, then power it back on. If I try to run the job before 1 minute has passed after power-on, the laser will not work.
I was also told by Tech Support this was "normal."
Michel
From: Patty (PDI) [#14]
13 Sep 2006
To: Phyllis (TXTWYST) [#3] 13 Sep 2006
I too have been told its "normal." Normal for the newer models. It was never a problem for my Legend 32 but my start-up time has done nothing but lengthen during my ownership of a Helix 75 watt.
Patty
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#15]
13 Sep 2006
To: Upacreek [#13] 14 Sep 2006
From: Bob (ALLSPORT) [#16]
13 Sep 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#15] 14 Sep 2006
My (8 years +) old Epilog Radius sometimes fails to fire up at first in the morning, then it's right for the rest of the day. Seems to be related to temperature. This first occurred a few years ago and doesn't seem to have got any worse. If it was a new machine I would definitely be chasing a warranty repair, but seeing as the warranty ran out seven years ago I'm prepared to live with it. Maybe a capacitor doesn't like being chilly?
The same problem also appears very occasionally with our GCC (or Laserpro), also typically after a cold night. Life is short - I'll live with that too.
On reliability I have found our Epilog laser to be outstanding. Just one x-axis motor failure in all this time with heavy use and only occasional maintenance. An excellent machine.
From: Ozzy Fox (CLIVEGARAWAY) [#17]
14 Sep 2006
To: ALL
Hi all,
I have an Epilog mini (25 watts), and was told from installation that the first job of the day took 1-2 seconds for the laser to fire, I just run the first job and as soon as it fires I stop, reset and start again, no real drama and it works fine from then on, the interesting thing is if I switch the laser off during the day it doesn't have the same issue when I restart an hour later! It works fine.
regards Clive.
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#18]
14 Sep 2006
To: Ozzy Fox (CLIVEGARAWAY) [#17] 14 Sep 2006
The last two posts have one thing in common, a temperature or humidity issue, maybe. Interesting... Very interesting.
Do they use a fluorescent light source?
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#19]
14 Sep 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#18] 14 Sep 2006
Isn't that 2 issues?
1. Temperature
2. Humidity
(devil)
sorry, couldn't help it...................
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#20]
14 Sep 2006
To: John (ICTJOHN) [#19] 14 Sep 2006
See how poor wording can change the meaning or understanding of what is meant. (Never claimed to be a writer, but usually do understand what I write. Usually.)
From: Upacreek [#21]
14 Sep 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#15] 14 Sep 2006
That's new then. That never made it to my manual.
At least they have it documented now.
Michel