Hi there! I am only on my third print but for some reason, the lines on this print are not straight. The image is a vector and is perfectly straight online, but it engraved in a squiggly type pattern. Any advice would be helpful! Again- I’m a newbie so if there is an obvious answer, I apologize!
Please see the attached photos. One is a screenshot of the vector and the other is a photo of the vector while it was engraving.
Thanks!
Welcome to the forum.
Support will be along to help you soon, but while waiting, check for a broken wheel and debris in the belt or on the rails,
Fingers crossed it’s something simple like debris - since they test them thoroughly in the factory they sometimes have that issue despite being new. It could also be the tension on the belts, if you don’t find any dirt check out the instructions here on tension.
That looks to me either like the belt tension in the belt under the laser arm needs to be slightly tightened (not a big deal) or possibly that you have a slight wobble problem on the table it’s sitting on. It needs to be a sturdy table or cart that will hold up to ringing. (That looks to me like it might be ringing…where the head travels so fast that when it stops, it causes a vibrational bounce in the machine and the table.)
If it’s on a cart with wheels, make sure the wheels are locked down. And watch it closely while it runs through a print…sometimes you can see that ringing when the head hits the sides during travel. If that’s it, putting it on a more stable table will fix the problem. 
(Slowing down the head speed and reducing the power slightly to compensate will also eliminate most ringing, if you have to keep it where it is.)
Thanks for the insight. I will check belt tension tonight and run another test. The table is actually a massive work bench that is secured to the floor, so I don’t think the table is wobbly but I will check that as well!
I’ve searched for similar issues and the only post I can find was from 2017 that seemed to be the same issue and the resolution was replacing the machine… hoping this is not what happens but I will do whatever I need to to get the machine working properly! https://community.glowforge.com/t/wavering/9458/151?u=ladams
No, if it’s on a workbench, it’s not the table. (I used to have the ringing problem with a 3D printer that I was using…it was so powerful it almost walked off the table a couple of times.)
Definitely check the belts, especially the one under the gantry. (I hope that’s all it is.)
I hope so too! I’ll update tonight.
Hi @ladams - sorry for the trouble! Some great suggestions in this thread for first items to check on.
In addition to those steps I’d like to grab a couple photos so that I can review things on my end if you don’t mind.
First, could you please power off your Glowforge and remove the crumb tray? Once you’ve done so I’d like to get a look at the following:
1.The belt under your laser arm with the head pushed to the left:
The pulley under the laser arm on the right side from the front:
The right side pulley under the laser arm from underneath:
Thanks!
Have you tried rotating your image 90 degrees? When engraving lines like yours, it’s easier/ quicker for the laser to make horizontal lines, since the head travels horizontally. Your current orientation requires lots of the laser turning off and on.
I haven’t yet but have considered it. I will do some testing this evening.
Hello, @ladams I actually just responded to our email chain and just realized you also had an open forum post ticket as well. To mitigate any confusion and miscommunication I will go ahead close this thread. I look forward to hearing back from you by email! Thank you!
