Hmm interesting. Also, I wonder if there is a way for the GF to cut the material (2 passes) at once then move over to the next cut instead of doing one pass, move to the next then coming back to the first one and do the remaining pass
Two successive passes seems like a lot of heat in one place at one time.
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Clean your optics. Make sure you haven’t missed any – there’s a list on the support site. Also clean your air assist fan. Not cutting all the way through is always my first indication I’ve gone too long without cleaning.
Here’s the support website page on “not cutting through:”
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Just in case you don’t know this, the laser does not cut straight down. The cut is more of an hour glass shape because of the nature of the beam.
1 pass won’t cut all the way thru
One pass should easily cut through 1/8" acrylic. I use the Proofgrade settings no matter where I source the acrylic and have no problems at all. Best check your optics. Are you using set focus or inputting a height?
Hello, I tried using the Proofgrade cutting settings for the material I am using and for some reason improved a little (still not 100%). It used to work like a charm for 5 months in a row and I clean all the optics all the time. I just did it again and also calibrated the camera. Problem persists. Makes me think maybe it has to do with the latest update? I dont know.
I select the set focus every time before I engrave/cut.
Something that comes to my mind is maybe now it is more accurate than before (maybe due to an update or maybe a little less accurate than before?) and is not cutting all the way because my material has ADA tape on the back (2mil thickness) and pretty much that is the problem I am having, it is cutting almost all the way but I would say about 99% of the way. How could I compensate for that tape on the bottom of my material? Maybe the set focus is not detecting such a small difference in height?
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The set focus measures the material including the tape. You might slow the proofgrade setting down 10 and see if that works with the tape on the back.
still having issues, and if I send the cut job again it starts eating material…
I would double check the thickness - 2mm doesn’t sound right and if it is, you will need to definitely modify settings.
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That was a typo, it is 2mil
I’m sorry that you’ve run into some trouble with prints not cutting through using acrylic/plastic material. It’s nice to see fellow users offering some tips and advice already, and I’ll be happy to help with troubleshooting. I noticed you had opened another forum thread for an issue when you try printing using Set Focus, and will address that in this thread as well.
First, to address any cut issues, please do the following:
- Print the Gift of Good Measure on Proofgrade material, using Proofgrade settings.
- When the print finishes, leave the lid closed and wait until the fans stop and the picture updates.
Check the completed print:
- If the Gift of Good Measure fails to cut through, take a photo of the front and back of the print and attach these photos to your reply.
Next, I’d like to address the error message when you try to printing using Set Focus:
I extracted the logs from your Glowforge and noticed some trouble communicating with the printer head that can result in that error messaging. There are two key connections I’d like you to check for me.
Could you please do the following?
- Turn off your Glowforge.
- Holding only the finished black surfaces, grasp the printer head as shown. Pull gently up and back to disengage the magnets and remove the head.
- There is a small tab in the center of the wire ribbon. Push down fully on the tab to release it, and gently pull the wire ribbon plug from the printer head.
- Take a clear photo of the gold pins inside the printer head where you just unplugged the wire ribbon. It should look like this.
- Pick up the printer head and wire ribbon. Make sure the tab on the wire ribbon is facing up. Slide the ribbon back into the head until it clicks.
- As shown, lower the printer head over the metal plate so that it rests next to the two round posts. Then push it gently away from you – you’ll feel a “click” as magnets pull the printer head until it sits snugly atop the metal plate.
- Pull the laser arm all the way forward.
- Reach over the laser arm, and to the left of the inside of the unit and you’ll see this circuit board:
- Take a photo of the circuit board. If the cable I’ve indicated above with the red arrow appears to be loose, please reconnect it and try printing again. This cable should ‘click’ back into place.
- Turn your Glowforge back on.
- Send us the photos you took in step 4 and step 9.
Thank you!
nothing is unplugged or not connected properly. no bent pins… all good. this is just random set focus failure
If I set the focus on the center of the bed or any other area EXCEPT the right bottom corner, it will fail. It only will read the right bottom corner, otherwise it shoots 2 laser beams and fails after it goes back to home and throws that message. Also, sometimes it works perfectly then I does it again, it is very inconsistent and frustrating none the less. If I turn off the machine and turn it back on it gets fixed only for one or two times, then it goes back to me having to set focus at least 6 times to avoid the error
Hello Brandon, I need tech support to contact me ASAP. Even my proof grade material (medium draftboard) is not cutting all the way thru. check my logs please 3:15-3:20 pm TEXAS time. I tried to cut a square with a circle inside and it didnt cut all the way thru. Using the PG settings… something is not right!
I extracted the logs from your Glowforge to investigate the problem, and it seems like your unit is running into trouble during the calibration step in which the lens focuses inside the printer head (you may hear this when it’s happening - there’s an audible “ticking” sound as the lens moves up and down in the head). There are a few different reasons this error may be occurring. Could you please do the following for me?
- Send a photo of the the printer head lens after completing steps 1-5 from these instructions: https://support.glowforge.com/hc/en-us/articles/360033633614-Cleaning#things-that-need-wiping.
- If you’re using magnets to secure material to the crumbtray, please try removing or repositioning them and try again. Magnets placed close to the printer head may cause trouble during calibration
- Check the connection of the printer head to the white ribbon cable in the printer arm. Turn off your Glowforge, unplug the head, and plug it back in. Note whether the cable plugs back in securely, and whether you feel it “click” into place
I’ll look forward to hearing back with any photos and confirmation of completed requests to help me with any next best steps. Thank you!
Hello Brandon,
I heat the ticking noise everytime I send a job and when it finishes, also when I do the set focus (it its like ticktick tick… tick… tick… tick). Sometimes It just ticks for a long time and several times and what is when I clean everything again (eventho I clean the machines and lenses all the time) and then turn off and back on the machine then it set focus ok for maybe an hour then it goes back to the same issue. The ribbon is connected properly (it clicks). I have done this several times. Pins are not bent…
I dont use magnets, only custom pins made out of acrylic
I just cleaned everything, turned machine off and it was set focusing “ok”, now after a few minutes (3:36pm) it is again shooting the red laser beam twice (this happens when it doesnt set the focus and throws the message to restart browser and machine)
Sometimes, ONLY SOMETIMES, I can make it work if i set focus across the bed where it couldnt focus but sometimes that doesnt even help
Medium Draftboard not cutting all the way thru for the 6th try. 5:00pm texas time. This machine is not right!
Unfortunately, it looks like your unit is experiencing an issue that we can’t resolve remotely. I want you to have a reliable unit, so I’m recommending we replace this one. I’ll be in touch via email to sort out the details. I’m so sorry about the bad news.
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