Cutting is off about 1/4 of an inch

I know it’s normal for it to be a little bit off, but this is causing major problems when I am needing to put multiple designs onto one sheet and the cutting is off. I have turned the machine off, restarted it, put in a piece of proofgrade material and let it scan it. It’s not cutting through the materials and then when it does, its more than 1/4 of an inch off causing me to have to scrap some of the designs. I am tired of having to read through a bunch of post to figure out how to get this fixed. I wish there was a support number to call for help. Any other suggestions on how to get this fixed ASAP?!

Without snap marks, I think the best method is to use a jig. Cardboard works well. Frame your design with a rectangle the size of the material in a different color in your design software.
Register the oversized cardboard to the crumb tray either with magnets or by taping it down.
Ignore the design, and cut out the rectangle. Remove the cutout, and drop in your material, then ignore rectangle and enable your design. Perfect registration.

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I am all for trying to fix the problem. But having to take all the steps just to make sure the machine should be cutting accurately seems a little much. I really do appreciate your advice, just wish it would cut accurately without having to jump through hoops!

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The software on your Glowforge is responsible for ensuring that the print lands on the material in the same place as the preview. When you’re done with a print, let a new image load. If the print appears on screen far from where it was supposed to go, you may have an alignment problem.

Most alignment problems come from the material being closer or farther from the camera than expected. While the software is still improving, you can take these steps for the most accurate alignment results:

  • Use Proofgrade materials.
  • If you don’t use Proofgrade materials, use a precision set of calipers to measure your material, and enter the thickness in the “uncertified materials” dialog.
  • Use material that is not warped or tilted.
  • Place your design near the center of the bed.
  • Clean the area underneath your crumb tray, particularly the four indentations on the floor.
  • Reboot the machine. Alignment can drift over time, particularly if you bump the head of your Glowforge while removing material.

We’d like to have you try a few troubleshooting steps for us:

  1. Turn off your Glowforge.
  2. Check for small pieces of debris or dust.
  • Check the lower door to make sure it closes all the way. It may require some force to open, but open it, wipe any dust off the edges, and close it all the way.
  • Remove the tray and clean any dust or debris from the surface underneath. Pay careful attention to remove all debris from the four dimples where the tray rests.
  • Check the lid to make sure it closes all the way. Small particles of material, such as dust or debris, can prevent it from closing completely.
  1. Check the surface your Glowforge is on to make sure it’s flat. Ensure it is not twisted slightly and that there is no debris propping up one side of the machine.
  2. Turn your Glowforge back on.
  3. We included an extra piece of Proofgrade Draftboard with your materials shipment for troubleshooting. Place the Proofgrade Draftboard in the center of the bed and print the Gift of Good Measure using the default settings.
  4. When the print finishes, leave the lid closed and wait until the fans stop and the picture updates. Without moving your artwork or your material, take a screenshot of the Workspace to show us the difference between the artwork placement and the actual print placement. Make sure to include the rulers in your screenshot and show as much of the bed as possible.
  • Mac: Press Shift-Command-4 and click and drag a box around your image. You’ll find the screenshot file saved on your desktop.
  • Windows: Click on the Start Menu and type “snipping tool”. Open the Snipping Tool > New then click and drag a box around your image. Click the Save icon and name and save your file.
  1. Send us the screenshot along with the date and time of the print, and we’ll investigate.

Should you finish all of these steps, and find that you have an alignment error of more than 1/4", please contact us so we can investigate.

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This is exactly what I do for smaller items. Works like a charm.

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It’s been a little while since I’ve seen any replies on this thread so I’m going to close it. If you still need help with this please either start a new thread or email support@glowforge.com.