Full Version: Grrr...Why does this happen?-Vectors Off Position

From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#1]
 17 Jan 2007
To: ALL

Hi all,
I am lasering on wood, rastering text with a red vector to outline it. I have done a couple of these this afternoon and now, for some reason, the outline has shifted off the text by about 1/16th of an inch.
What the heck is up with that?
I checked my lens and it's in secure. Could the mirrors have gotten out of alignment? Like I said, I did a couple of these ornaments and then all of a sudden, kaflooie (that's actually an industry term for those of you "lay people" out there B-) ) the text was all screwed up.
Any advice, as always, is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Becky

EDITED: 19 Jan 2007 by DGL

From: JHayes55 [#2]
 17 Jan 2007
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#1] 17 Jan 2007

Email me the file as you have it and I will take a look.
Maybe morning before I can do that though.

From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#3]
 17 Jan 2007
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#1] 17 Jan 2007

Sounds like the laser has lost its home location. I would check that first.

Dave

From: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#4]
 17 Jan 2007
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#3] 17 Jan 2007

Becky,

It sounds like your vector speeds might be to fast maybe try to slow the vector down.

From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#5]
 17 Jan 2007
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#1] 17 Jan 2007

It sounds like the system lost track of where it was.

That is usual mechanical, or encoder. It is rarely software.

A stiff spot or stiffening oil will not show up till you just pass the limits of the motor;s power.

Check for free motion with the power off, a hard spot will give trouble.

Of the many possible causes mentioned in previous threads:

From: Rodney Gold (RODNEY_GOLD) [#6]
 17 Jan 2007
To: ALL

Why are you using a vector outline around rastered text? It will slow things down in terms of cycle time tremendously. If your raster text is not good , you most likely have a problem elesewhere that needs to be solved (like motion system slop or the like)

From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#7]
 17 Jan 2007
To: Rodney Gold (RODNEY_GOLD) [#6] 18 Jan 2007

Rodney-
I use the vector outline just as a matter of preference. I don't have to because the raster looks fine. I just like the way it looks. It gives the finished product a little more depth and dimension. I don't do it for large runs, just the smaller onesie/twosies.
Thanks
Becky

From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#8]
 17 Jan 2007
To: ALL

And the winner is.....
laserman....
It seems as though my vector speed may have been too fast. That was the first solution I atttempted and it seemed to have fixed it.
However, I was a bit vexed at why it just started doing it "all of a sudden" The other pieces ran at the same setting, same material, same design with no problem.
So I will look into some of the other issues that were mentioned.
Thank you all so much for your help. I really appreciate it.
Thanks
Becky

From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#9]
 18 Jan 2007
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#8] 18 Jan 2007

The first hint that there is a slight binding is that high speed vectoring starts to show problems, next the high speed rastering shows it, usually very near the vector in happening. Then you have to reduce speed even more as it gets worse.

At least it gives you the luxury of still performing work while searching for the problem.

From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#10]
 18 Jan 2007
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#9] 18 Jan 2007

What do you mean by slight binding?

From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#11]
 18 Jan 2007
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#10] 18 Jan 2007

Any stiffness in the movement of the lens box on the rails.

If it went off in the X position, be sure that the X moves freely and with no more drag than the Y. (For most of the reasons for binging you will probably find that both axises (spell check said this was right?) are slightly stiff, just that one went a little stiffer.) If it is lubrication or dirt buildup, be sure to do the same thing that fixed the bad axis, to the good axis as preventative maintenance.

As I have mentioned before, after time the oil in the bearings of the motors themselves can get very stiff, especially the one exposed at the drive shaft. I have fixed many motors in my lifetime just by cleaning out the old oil and putting in a good grade of oil. (Burned out air conditioner fans through the tiny motor on a FAX machine that drove the paper cutter. This included precision motors on professional tape recorders, I would have expected the motor manufacturers to know better.

From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#12]
 18 Jan 2007
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#11] 18 Jan 2007

Harvey-
Thanks for the explanation. I barely know that my car needs oil so I am not so mechanically inclined. I did clean the laser this weekend and maybe bumped something out of whack.
I will try to look at the bearings and the motor and drive shaft, provided I can find where the h$!! they are without wrecking my machine.
Thanks, as always for your help Harvey!!
Becky

From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#13]
 18 Jan 2007
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#12] 18 Jan 2007

Wish I knew more about the Epilogs.

The cleaning, then the problem should be a hint, but I have no idea where it points. Faint possibility that some cleaner got into bearings and gummed up the oil????

From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#14]
 18 Jan 2007
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#13] 19 Jan 2007

Harvey-
Ok, let's say I manage to find a motor, drive shaft,bearings or anything else that may be gummed up with oil. Now what? Can I just clean it out with some sort of solvent?
Thanks for all of your help.
I'll have to buy you and Dee dinner in Vegas...Thursday night work for you guys? :P
Becky

From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#15]
 19 Jan 2007
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#14] 19 Jan 2007

For someone non-technical the solution would be to replace the parts. It is a bit involved with cleaning it with a solvent then re-lubing it with the proper lubricant. A maintenance technician usually would have a good idea on what type lube is necessary by what the can see/feel in the bearing before cleaning it.

For a motor usually you have to disassemble it to get to the bearing inside, and depending on the type of bearing different lubes are used. A ball bearing needs to be lubed with grease, a sleeve bearing needs to be cleaned and lubed with generally about a 10 weight silicon oil, (NOT the stuff for cars, that gums up in a few months). A sintered bearing is another problem. They have oil inside the pores of the bearing, lots of trouble getting it out and getting the new oil in, usually need an ultrasonic cleaner to remove, then get the oil back. (And that is the easy way with the sintered.)

Basically that is why replacement parts are sold, difficult and skill needed to repair. Call the manufacturer and have them run you through testing to locate the problem, then bite the bullet for new parts if you are not highly skilled at these things. (Darned 50 year technical background makes me forget that everyone does not know what I do.)

From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#16]
 19 Jan 2007
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#15] 19 Jan 2007

Harvey-
Ok gotcha, call someone. THAT I can do!! I know right where the phone is and I am not afraid to use it.
Thank you for your help.
To say that everyone does not have your mechanical background is an understatement. Somehow I have a feeling you could give the folks at NASA a run for their money. LOL
Thanks again Harvey
Becky

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