Trotec Running Multiple Passes Automatically

[Grant Carson]

Good Morning All,

We're having trouble running multiple passes (different settings) without having to manually change the material settings in between passes and clicking start. I would have to assume that there is a way to do this automatically. We're running a Trotec Speedy 300 with the Job Control software. Our graphics program is Adobe Illustrator. We have cutting boards that require two passes (one for the depth, and one way out of focus to get the burn/contrast). It wouldn't be a big deal if we were only doing a few boards, but we're in more of a production environment where we'll be running a lot of these. Our first thought was to layer two colors in Adobe Illustrator. We did that, and set the raster algorithm to "color" so it could read both layers. It ran the first pass, lowered the table to take it out of focus, and then the head moved as though it was running the second pass. During the second pass however, the laser was not firing. It just went through the motions. We called Trotec support, and they were unsure of why it would not be firing on the second pass. Any help would be much appreciated.

[Kev Williams]

Your description of the sequence of events is exactly what I was going to suggest you try, till I finished reading ;)

There should be no reason the 2nd color doesn't engrave, unless the power settings aren't right? But what do I know, maybe it's a Trotec thing, because I have the same problem with my Explorer, if any part of a second color graphic sits below the 'first' graphic, the laser completely ignores the 2nd graphic, like it doesn't exist. This sucks when running powdercoated flasks because a second pass can be much quicker than the first pass, but this machine won't even go thru the motions. My LS900 on the other hand, it does exactly what you're wanting to do, it treats 'lower' graphics like any others...

Does your machine have a rubber stamp option, and if so, could it be conflicting with what you're trying to do? Or, can it be used to DO what you're trying to do?

[Grant Carson]

Thanks for the tip Kev. I haven't looked into the stamp option yet. I'll check it out to see if I think it can be the Source of, or solution to our problem.

[Guy Hilliard]

Do you have the "Halftone" setting set to "Colour"???
If you don't then you will get exactly the scenario that you have described.

[Mike Null]

Are you using the Trotec color palette? If not the machinery not recognize the colors you've selected.

[Grant Carson]

Kev - I was not able to make any headway with the stamp feature. I'm not sure if it's the problem, but it doesn't seem to be the solution from what I can tell.

Guy - Yes we have the halftone set to color.

Mike - Yes, we're using the Trotec colors.

I had some more observations this morning. I thought maybe it was how I was printing from Illustrator. I made sure this morning to print all layers. When the file is in the list on the right of Job Control, you can click on it and it shows an estimated time for the second color. What's odd is that the time differs from the first color time even the the speed is the same. Also, when you move the job to the plate, the estimated time for the second color goes to zero.

[Tim Bateson]

Try reversing the color layers to see what happens.

[Gary Hair]

I thought maybe it was how I was printing from Illustrator.

It seems to happen quite often that when someone has odd problems with their laser that defy all logic, Illustrator is in the mix. I don't think it's necessarily a problem with Illustrator, rather, I think it has something to do with how Illustrator puts out colors. If you like, send me the file and I'll import into Corel to check things out and then send it to my Speedy 400.

[Jiten Patel]

Have you made sure the illustrator document is in RGB and not CMYK? (File - Document Colour Mode - RGB) then reset your colours to what you want them to be - just did a test and works fine.

[Grant Carson]

Thank you all for the suggestions and help.

Tim - We have tried reversing the colors with no luck.

Gary - I have attached a test file we're using. The Illustrator file contains two layers (black and blue). We're trying to run the black layer at 80 power, 100 speed, 0 offset. Then we're trying to run the blue layer at 80 power, 100 speed, 0.4 offset. I appreciate you testing this out in Corel.

Jiten - Yes, our file is RGB. For your test, did you try overlapping the layers, or were the layers in different locations? We need them to be perfectly aligned on top of one another. If you don't mind, you could take a quick look at the attached file to see if it's set up differently from yours.



***Update on problem*** As mentioned in the original post, when the laser head was moving (but not firing) for the second layer, our second layer was slightly larger than the 1st. We have since corrected this so that they're exactly the same size. The laser runs the first pass, lowers the table for the 0.4 offest on the second pass, brings the table back up to 0 offest, and then says it's finished. The laser head does not move at all for the second pass.

[Grant Carson]

I have attached images of our print settings in case they could be helpful.

393845393846

[Kev Williams]

***Update on problem*** As mentioned in the original post, when the laser head was moving (but not firing) for the second layer, our second layer was slightly larger than the 1st. We have since corrected this so that they're exactly the same size. The laser runs the first pass, lowers the table for the 0.4 offest on the second pass, brings the table back up to 0 offest, and then says it's finished. The laser head does not move at all for the second pass.

Aside from the auto-table focus adjustment my Explorer doesn't have, your machine is now totally ignoring the 2nd layer color exactly as mine does. If a fix is found I'd love to see if it'll work on mine!

[Bob Davis - Sturgis SD]

Grant,

I ran your file on my Trotec this morning with the same result. I create in Illustrator and print from Corel Draw. When I separate the blue and black layers and place them side by side, they engrave separately, according to the instructions in material settings for the assigned colors. When placed on top of each other, just one layer engraves. Not sure what the solution to this is. Seems like I would have noticed this earlier, as we frequently engrave wood with blue and black settings.

Bob

[Grant Carson]

Grant,

I ran your file on my Trotec this morning with the same result. I create in Illustrator and print from Corel Draw. When I separate the blue and black layers and place them side by side, they engrave separately, according to the instructions in material settings for the assigned colors. When placed on top of each other, just one layer engraves. Not sure what the solution to this is. Seems like I would have noticed this earlier, as we frequently engrave wood with blue and black settings.

Bob

Thanks for testing this out. At least I don't feel crazy for the results we were getting now.

[Jiten Patel]

Hi Grant

Sorry didn't realise you were talking about engraving - I tested cutting. Just ran it and you are right - it doesn't work. What I did that combats this and shouldn't affect your final piece it to offset the blue layer (the back layer). I gave it a 0.001mm offset which just creaps the blue over the black. To the naked eye you would never be able to see 0.001mm. Job Control now sees both layers and engraves them as you would want them too.

Object - Path - Offset Path

[Kev Williams]

I tried this trick with my Explorer using a 3/4" square, black with green below

1st- I put in a 1/2pt outline on the green below, nada
2nd- I removed the outline, and offset down and left .001", nada

after that I moved it about .005" down and right, and it engraved the green! But-- only the thin edges that went beyond the black!

So I have to ask- how many engraving machine engineers that design and build the things, have ever USED one of the things? I can think of NO reason to prevent the machine from engraving over a previously engraved area using a different layer color, yet I can think of MANY reasons you'd WANT to do this!? --3D engraving is the first reason that pops into my head...