I have a pro and this week it has started to not recognize the placement of my files. The only place that is correct is dead center. The further from the center the file goes, the worse the distortion like it’s growing slightly.
I’ve tried various file formats, and as individual elements as well as grouped to see if the grouping would hold the size, it does not.
I’ve realigned the camera, the machine is clean and it happens on all substrates.
I took a picture of the bed with the files after the engrave so you can see the distortion and where it starts happening.
I’ve followed the instructions on focus, placing the substrate before importing any art, nothing seems to work.
The Glowforge cameras are fisheyes. You can use Set Focus to adjust the math if you want a different part of the bed to be the focal point.
If I’m placing a bunch of items I’ll use set focus, place 1 item, then do set focus on the 2nd spot and place the 2nd item, etc.
It’s never been able to do a perfect alignment on the whole bed - though it’s significantly better now than it was a couple years ago.
Now, if you mean that your art is being printed with a skew that’s a very different issue. If that’s what’s happening can you post images to show what it looks like?
aaaahhh ok - that’s really helpful - no, not askew, just progressively out and away expanding
when you say place item and set the focus, are you doing more than one at the same time or processing, replacing and refocusing?
I have a jig, 5 across, would I do 5 in the same process session? Meaning would I put one item in the jig in spot 1, and set the focus for that item and place the art for spot 1, then place product 2 in its slot and focus on that one and place the art and so on until all 5 are in the jig then engrave as a single session?
If so, would each art file be in a step of it’s own?
Or am I asking too much to have 5 and I should stick with one or two for precision?
Thanks for replying - I really appreciate your help.
Regarding your jig, you only set focus once. The set focus tool establishes the height of the item to engrave so that you will have an infocus engrave. The use of the jig makes the camera view unnecessary - assuming your design/text is in the same file as the cutouts for the item. The process is: Create the file which includes both the outline of the item you will engrave as well as the design. Place your jig material in the Glowforge and make sure it is secure and will not move. Load your file and establish the cut speed/power for the jig material. Cut the outline but ignore the engrave. Remove the cutouts without moving anything and place your items in the holes. Use set focus on the items to engrave but IGNORE THE CAMERA VIEW. Set the cut lines to ignore and enable the engrave . Print.
For example. You create a jig with a 5 hole design. You place cardboard (or whatever) into your laser, attach it firmly into place, and then print the jig pattern. Then - without moving anything - you pull out the cutouts and replace them with your items.
That’s the situation where you need to ignore your camera entirely and trust the jig. You place your art in the GFUI based on the jig pattern (even better you already have your art in there and you set it to ignore when you cut your jig).
If you have 5 items placed onto your bed randomly, that’s when you can use Set Focus 5 different times. The jig is way WAY easier.
There are also methods for being able to use your jig, then take it out, and then put it back in reliably so if you need that we can point you to posts in here that talk about methods. I always find it easier to cut a new cardboard jig.
