Engraving and Cutting not lining up. Help Please!

[liaoh75]

Hi All,

I've been having a lot of fun with the AWC608 DSP and finally had some time to really get down to doing some engraving work and ran into a problem I'd like to see if someone out there could help me with.

Here is a brief summary of the problem:

When I send a file to Lasercad 5.93 (scared to upgrade after hearing about some "insane accelleration" issues so I'll wait a bit to see if 6.27 solved that mystery) everything looks fine. Then, I noticed something strange happening. The engraved image did not line up with the cut image??? In Lasercad everything looks fine and the engraved diamond is sitting perfectly in the center of the outline, but when the cutting began, I noticed that the engraved image was shifted to one side by a few mm.

I have included some pictures of the sample with one large and one small. Regardless the size, I get the same problem. I've included a AAA size battery for scale. I've gone through the manual and searched the forum but came up dry looking for a similar problem so maybe I've overlooked something in a setting somewhere. I'm using x-swing unilateralism until I figure out how compensate for the return scan not lining up. Maybe it is related to my current problem.

Thank you in advance for any help or assistance you are able to render,

David

[Tech_Marco]

Can't tell which one is cutting and which one is for engraving. It's better yo include the project file and let me try it here
Also, did you upgrade the OS? If you just upgrade LaserCad from v5.93 to v.6.27, there is some issue. You need to upgrade the OS as well

Marco

[liaoh75]

Hi Marco,

I have attached the file for your review. Also, is it safe to upgrade the OS in the DSP and Lasercad 6.27? Did you test it out? I had been following the "insane accelleration issue thread and it didn't seem like the issue was resolved.

Thank you.

David

[Tech_Marco]

I sold over 20 set a month and I dont receive a single complain of that issue. The problem isn't necessary from the DSP card. If so, the manufacturer couldn't sell 4~500 set a month.

I can't help a lot without touching the machine. Jus like a patient try to get help through Internet. Something I can do but something I can't.

To answer you the question: Yes I did! And I couldn't duplicate the issue. Most mistake people made was that they didn't save the configuration file. Upgrade may change the setting on the DSP in som3 case. One should click "Read" to read configuration file from the card, then Save it everytime done any upgrade

Bad practise not to upgrade the OS after upgrade Lasecad. That is another eason why problem seems a "mystery" in some case.

Marco

[liaoh75]

Hi Marco,

Please don't feel that you have to be on the defensive. I've read a lot on this board trying to solve my own problems and deeply appreciate your help. I've seen where people openly blame the controller for problem without taking user error into account and blame you. I don't like to play the finger pointing games as it isn't constructive. I don't fault you at all. As a matter of fact, I feel that you provide excellent support and stay on top of new developments.

I'm just having some problems that I can't resolve myself and would appreciate some help. Did you have a chance to look at the PJW5 file I posted? Am I setting something wrong to get the position shifting on the engraved part? Would you like me to upgrade the OS and Lasercad before continuing?

Thank you,

David

[liaoh75]

Hi Marco,

I've never updated the OS on my DSP before. I'd like to get some clarification before attempting to do it. Please see if my procedure is correct.

1. backup current machine settings - That would mean that I'd read the current setting from my machine and then export it to a file on my computer.
2. Check the version I have on my dsp

Main Board version: 7.12.04.03
LCD Board version: 5.12.2.29

Can I assume that I need the version 7 update?

3. save the OS update to my USB drive (formatted fat32)
4. Update the DSP using the menu on the LCD board.
5. Import the settings from my earlier backup on step 1 back to the DSP
6. Upgrade Lasercad to 6.27

Now due to what I read earlier, this version of the update uses a different accelleration profile so will I need to tweek my accelleration settings again or should it run with my original settings and how would I determine if such a change needs to be made?

Assuming everthing goes smoothly, I'll try my engraving again using the latest DSP OS and Lasercad versions.

If there is anything wrong with my procedure above please let me know.

Thank you again,

David

[Tech_Marco]

David

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't upset at your post. I was trying to tell you the fact straight forward. The DSP may have some bugs(true iws who doesn't). But a big bugs like folks encountered, it is so odd and we couldn't duplicate.

Today is Sunday and I don't have time to go to my shop to run the test for you. Most likely tomorrow

Marco

[Tech_Marco]

Hi Marco,

I've never updated the OS on my DSP before. I'd like to get some clarification before attempting to do it. Please see if my procedure is correct.

1. backup current machine settings - That would mean that I'd read the current setting from my machine and then export it to a file on my computer.
2. Check the version I have on my dsp

Main Board version: 7.12.04.03
LCD Board version: 5.12.2.29

Can I assume that I need the version 7 update?

3. save the OS update to my USB drive (formatted fat32)
4. Update the DSP using the menu on the LCD board.
5. Import the settings from my earlier backup on step 1 back to the DSP
6. Upgrade Lasercad to 6.27

Now due to what I read earlier, this version of the update uses a different accelleration profile so will I need to tweek my accelleration settings again or should it run with my original settings and how would I determine if such a change needs to be made?

Assuming everthing goes smoothly, I'll try my engraving again using the latest DSP OS and Lasercad versions.

If there is anything wrong with my procedure above please let me know.

Thank you again,

David

Yes, very good. You can downgrade if anything went wrong.
You don't need to do any change on setting. Im using 1 year old file and my little machine still runs fine

Marco

[liaoh75]

Thank you Marco for even responding to my help request on Sunday morning. I'll do the update and post results and wait for your reply. Have a good weekend and catch you on the other side of the week.

David

[chakata]

Hi David, seeing that my own machine has been a little quirky too, to say the least, I thought I'd try your file too. Got a result that looks identical to your photo2

Charlie

[liaoh75]

Hi Charlie,

That is very interesting. Would you mind sharing the following information:

1. DSP version (ie v6, v7, v8)
2. Which version of lasercad and DSP OS are you running?
3. Have you updated to Lasercad 6.27 along with the new OS update?
4. How many watts is your laser tube?

Maybe we can all work together to solve this issue. I am in the process of upgrading right now and I'll try it again. One question to ponder is that I know that RF lasers trigger and fire pretty fast and don't have any timing delay issues as engraving requires pretty fast rise and fall times. As most of us are running glass tubes, would that be an issue? I've also heard that the longer the tube (mine is 120watt long life 8000hr tube) the longer the response time from the laser. I know there is a place to adjust the return stroke, but is there a place to adjust the first stroke?

Thank you for your input and response.

David

[Tech_Marco]

I tried to open the file you attached but failed. Nothing showing up.
What version of LaserCad did you use to create the file?


Marco

[Tech_Marco]

Never mind. The issue fixed. It's caused by 'uploading' file

Marco

[liaoh75]

Hi Marco,

I'm running Lasercad 5.95 and my os version is below.

Main Board version: 7.12.04.03
LCD Board version: 5.12.2.29

I am performing the upgrade to the current V7 OS update and lasercad 6.27

Thank you,

David

[liaoh75]

Hi Charlie,

I forgot to ask you one more question. Are your running steppers or servos?

Thanks,

David