Difference between revisions of "Graphtec FC2200-90/EX"

From MakeICT Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
(Created page with "This is a flatbed vinyl cutter and plotter. It works.")
 
(→‎Tool setup: adding area (origin) procedure)
 
(23 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
This is a flatbed vinyl cutter and plotter. It works.
 
This is a flatbed vinyl cutter and plotter. It works.
 +
 +
[[File:Graphtec_fc2200.gif]]
 +
 +
==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.'''
 +
 +
===Test and adjust settings===
 +
 +
====Tool setup====
 +
 +
*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
 +
*Sample settings can be found below
 +
 +
====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
 +
 +
====Adjust====
 +
 +
*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
 +
 +
===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.
 +
 +
==Test Files==
 +
 +
*[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]

Latest revision as of 09:59, 29 November 2023

This is a flatbed vinyl cutter and plotter. It works.

Graphtec fc2200.gif

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.

Test and adjust settings

Tool setup

  • 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
  • Sample settings can be found below

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

Adjust

  • 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

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.

Test Files