Difference between revisions of "Graphtec FC2200-90/EX"
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[[File:Graphtec_fc2200.gif]] | [[File:Graphtec_fc2200.gif]] | ||
| − | == Workflow == | + | ==Workflow== |
| − | === Create the file === | + | ===Create the file=== |
| + | |||
*Create/import a file in Inkscape | *Create/import a file in Inkscape | ||
*Select all | *Select all | ||
| Line 10: | Line 11: | ||
*Check that lines are what you expect by turning of all fills and turning on all strokes. The lines that you see are the ones that will be cut. | *Check that lines are what you expect by turning of all fills and turning on all strokes. The lines that you see are the ones that will be cut. | ||
*File > Save A Copy> choose .hpgl extension | *File > Save A Copy> choose .hpgl extension | ||
| − | ** '''Make sure that "Tool offset correction" is set to 0 or your cut will be very bad.''' | + | **'''Make sure that "Tool offset correction" is set to 0 or your cut will be very bad.''' |
| + | |||
| + | ===Set up the tool=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | *Secure media (vinyl) to the table with masking tape | ||
| + | *Insert the tool you plan to use in one of the tool holder and tighten | ||
| + | *If you are using a cutting tool the blade '''should not''' be sticking out farther than the thickness that you want to cut | ||
| + | *Turn machine one (red button at the bottom) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Adjust conditions=== | ||
| + | Note: Sample settings can be found below | ||
| − | + | *Press the 'Condition' button to change settings | |
| − | + | *Use the '1' and '2' buttons to move the cursor | |
| − | + | *Use the '3' and '4' buttons to adjust the selected setting | |
| − | + | *If you are having cut issues, cranking the blade all the way out is '''NOT''' the solution | |
| − | + | *Consult the manuals under the machine for troubleshooting tips | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | * Press the 'Condition' button to change settings | ||
| − | * Use the '1' and '2' buttons to move the cursor | ||
| − | * Use the '3' and '4' buttons to adjust the selected setting | ||
| + | ===Test=== | ||
| − | + | *Press 'Test' button | |
| − | + | *Position cutter in an unused area | |
| − | * | + | *Press '1' for Test 1 |
| − | * | + | *The machine will cut a triangle inside a square |
| − | * | + | **The square should peel away cleanly without peeling the triangle |
| − | * | + | **When the triangle is removed there should only be a very faint outline on the backing |
| − | * | ||
| − | |||
| − | === | + | === Set area === |
| − | + | ||
| − | * | + | * Press 'Area' button |
| − | * | + | * The screen will prompt you to position the tool in the lower left (LL) |
| − | ** | + | * When tool is set, press enter |
| − | ** | + | * The screen prompt will change to upper right (UR) |
| − | * | + | * When tool is set, press enter |
| − | *** | + | * Option: you can choose default for both these settings if your material is at the bottom left of the table |
| + | |||
| + | ===Run the file=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | *Go to http://graphtec.makeict.org:5000 | ||
| + | *Click the blue button to open the file menu | ||
| + | *Scroll to the bottom of the list and click the upload button | ||
| + | *Select file in system menu | ||
| + | *To set active file, click filename in list | ||
| + | *Click green button to run file | ||
==Settings== | ==Settings== | ||
| Line 48: | Line 60: | ||
'''Cutter Offset: 17''' | '''Cutter Offset: 17''' | ||
====Starting point for vinyl:==== | ====Starting point for vinyl:==== | ||
| + | |||
*Stickout: 0.2mm | *Stickout: 0.2mm | ||
*Force:18 | *Force:18 | ||
| Line 58: | Line 71: | ||
===Sharpie=== | ===Sharpie=== | ||
'''Cutter Offset: 0''' | '''Cutter Offset: 0''' | ||
| + | |||
*Force:5 | *Force:5 | ||
*Speed:15 | *Speed:15 | ||
| Line 63: | Line 77: | ||
==Tips== | ==Tips== | ||
| + | |||
*After saving the HPGL file open it up in Inkscape to verify the output looks right. If there are issues, go back to the source file and save it as a PDF. Open the PDF in Inkscape and then save as HPGL. This has fixed all of the conversion issues we have run into so far. | *After saving the HPGL file open it up in Inkscape to verify the output looks right. If there are issues, go back to the source file and save it as a PDF. Open the PDF in Inkscape and then save as HPGL. This has fixed all of the conversion issues we have run into so far. | ||
*If you get an error in inkscape when saving the HPGL that says the file cannot be saved, just copy everything into a new file and save it there. For some reason this works. | *If you get an error in inkscape when saving the HPGL that says the file cannot be saved, just copy everything into a new file and save it there. For some reason this works. | ||
==Test Files== | ==Test Files== | ||
| + | |||
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=15_FEPuQvpRuOy_wG0z43D3wh7xqOZnh1 Test Files Drive Folder] | *[https://drive.google.com/open?id=15_FEPuQvpRuOy_wG0z43D3wh7xqOZnh1 Test Files Drive Folder] | ||
*[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17QpdqChdCzYvCMbTnM13wBxACZXlW0Zi7po2hpxJg6g/edit?usp=sharing Vinyl Cutting Basics Slides] | *[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17QpdqChdCzYvCMbTnM13wBxACZXlW0Zi7po2hpxJg6g/edit?usp=sharing Vinyl Cutting Basics Slides] | ||
Latest revision as of 08:41, 14 November 2024
This is a flatbed vinyl cutter and plotter. It works.
Contents
Workflow
Create the file
- Create/import a file in Inkscape
- Select all
- Path > Object To Path
- Check that lines are what you expect by turning of all fills and turning on all strokes. The lines that you see are the ones that will be cut.
- File > Save A Copy> choose .hpgl extension
- Make sure that "Tool offset correction" is set to 0 or your cut will be very bad.
Set up the tool
- Secure media (vinyl) to the table with masking tape
- Insert the tool you plan to use in one of the tool holder and tighten
- If you are using a cutting tool the blade should not be sticking out farther than the thickness that you want to cut
- Turn machine one (red button at the bottom)
Adjust conditions
Note: Sample settings can be found below
- Press the 'Condition' button to change settings
- Use the '1' and '2' buttons to move the cursor
- Use the '3' and '4' buttons to adjust the selected setting
- If you are having cut issues, cranking the blade all the way out is NOT the solution
- Consult the manuals under the machine for troubleshooting tips
Test
- Press 'Test' button
- Position cutter in an unused area
- Press '1' for Test 1
- The machine will cut a triangle inside a square
- The square should peel away cleanly without peeling the triangle
- When the triangle is removed there should only be a very faint outline on the backing
Set area
- Press 'Area' button
- The screen will prompt you to position the tool in the lower left (LL)
- When tool is set, press enter
- The screen prompt will change to upper right (UR)
- When tool is set, press enter
- Option: you can choose default for both these settings if your material is at the bottom left of the table
Run the file
- Go to http://graphtec.makeict.org:5000
- Click the blue button to open the file menu
- Scroll to the bottom of the list and click the upload button
- Select file in system menu
- To set active file, click filename in list
- Click green button to run file
Settings
Small Blade (Blue Knob)
Cutter Offset: 17
Starting point for vinyl:
- Stickout: 0.2mm
- Force:18
- Speed:10
- Quality:1
Large Blade (Red Knob)
Cutter Offset: 28
Sharpie
Cutter Offset: 0
- Force:5
- Speed:15
- Quality:1
Tips
- After saving the HPGL file open it up in Inkscape to verify the output looks right. If there are issues, go back to the source file and save it as a PDF. Open the PDF in Inkscape and then save as HPGL. This has fixed all of the conversion issues we have run into so far.
- If you get an error in inkscape when saving the HPGL that says the file cannot be saved, just copy everything into a new file and save it there. For some reason this works.
