RMDelete

Before anyone ASSumes that I have no idea how to use the "Offset" functions of any plotter pplllleease be aware that I totally know how it works... I think there is something else wrong with my setup and I have no idea where to go to try and solve the problems... this is absolutely bizzare! I am sooo confused! I read my entire manual cover to cover (online if that's possible) TWICE I noticed letters that have sharp corners as well as the auto weed border I activated on my Flexi program that the corners of the items being cut out have an extra sharp corner sticking out further than the design specifies (if the design specifies, of which NONE are specified) usually this is automatically assumed to be an offset problem... well I adjusted my offset to the max and most min possible and yet my plotter still acts like nothing was even changed, from ranges -5 to +5 I get letters or images cut out that STILL look for lack of better words.. F-ed up! Grrr!!! Well I tried messing with the Tangentenial functions, Nada just made weeding harder.. then I tried adjusting the overcut in Flexi... Zilch... I tried adjusting the blade length both shorter and longer NOTHING I have no idea what to do! i am currently waiting on my newer version of Flexi 8.6 which should contain the regular drivers to this CraftRobo PRO in the meantime I am improvising with the CraftRobo drivers that are pre-loaded in Flexi 8.1 and it was working just fine last week... until someone sold me their unused LXi Apprentice software which is version 10.2 something something forget the exact build, but it says my plotter drivers ARE present on that program... it wasn't until I tried using THAT software that this started happening, after messing with my plotter settings for three days to no avail I resorted back into my old Flexi 8.1 that worked "ok" since I need to use this plotter for travel work tomorrow but now it isn't acting as good as it did before. I have all the CraftRobo Pro software that came with my Graphtec installed on my computer also... what should I do guys? I am LOST! EDIT: just took this pic with my phone so you could see the edges it is creating

Here are the images I sent in for investigation.

I got a roll of this for free along with a few other rolls I purchased from someone who was no longer using them, old stock.. I got this really strange stuff that I at FIRST was calling STENCIL material because it is more rigid than regular vinyl BUT I just sent it through my cutter and after adjusting the depth of my needle I discovered something REALLY weird (at least to me) that genuinely confused the heck out of me and now I am sooo tortured with trying to figure out WHAT this stuff is as well as it's regular application purpose can someone help me figure it out? Another description... This material feels THICKER, when I peeled the black section back it looks like it has a white backing so I figured this was a black thick stencil material with a white sticky backing (not very sticky just slightly sticky) Once I cut I realized there were really 3 layers Layer 1 (top) is thin black vinyl with sticky backing Layer 2 (middle) is thick white backing that looks like it works just like the regular backing in normal vinyl rolls except this layer also has a slightly less tacky backing Layer 3 (backing) is just regular backing.... I have these pictures I took This shows the brand and I guess some information I am using to try and investigate online Me slightly lifting up the rigid slightly sticky stencil-like-feeling material Bending the material a little to show that the material has not been cut all the way through but the little test cut above indicates the 1st layer is present (I did peel off the triangle after I took this picture to investigate this 1st layer of vinyl) Anyone have any idea what this is called? OR how it is used and the nature of it's use? How would this stuff be useful to anyone!? I am soo confused! Thanks everyone I am going to in the meantime investigate this product by looking up the maker...

ok, just called 3M who couldn't figure it out and directed me to Gerber and spoke with a rep who also couldn't figure it out and asked if I could send them pictures and so I sent them pictures, now I am waiting for a response. I am guessing that the person I purchased this roll from (he was kinda older) maybe purchased roll from GSP years and years ago and now nobody makes this anymore (I can't figure out a good use for it the way it was designed and it is soo confusing) and now nobody knows what it is... I guess the rep will pass these pictures around until someone can figure it out and get back to me on what this material is and/or what it's original design was for. Should be interesting.

the black is NOT translucent at all that is why I am sooo confused! I will take a look at that link you provided thanks! I really hope to figure this out. Could be something cool or something pointless.

hmm... interesting I will try incorporating that information into my searches... but anyone have any idea what the nature of this product's use is??? WHY would something like this exist? This product frankly confuses me because it looks to be a vinyl with a double backing on it... but I don't see a purpose to it, and again I am not 100% trained in all aspects of this industry so therefore me not knowing anything about a product that I have no idea about may just be because I am not trained in every possible job for the industry.. if someone has worked with this before OR even knows at least what it is used for please help me out thanks again!

This problem was also referenced in THIS thread

Hey Guys! This is a copy post. Just thought I would post an update since this was last month and geez... I have since figured it out. When I first got the plotter I am sure the original owner had already figured things out with it so the settings were "set" when I installed the software on my computer since I was using Flexi 8.1 it did NOT have the proper drivers for this machine, soooo I had to resort to using the drivers for a regular Graphtec Craft Robo (not Pro) and since the graphic I would send to cut would output at 2 x the normal intended size I had to counter that problem by sending my intended size at HALF intended size (so 1" if I meant to output 2") I did NOT like doing this I wanted to use this plotter to it's full capabilities so I went out and purchased Lxi 10 from someone who was not using it... this software DID supposedly have the drivers for the plotter... when I tried sending the job it DID communicate but it was cutting things all f**ed up the way I was saying earlier in my original thread so then I thought that the Lxi software was messed up (that conclusion was reached after I had tried everything I thought was possible like changing offset, changing steps and so forth... so then I purchased Flexi Starter 8.6 since I heard THAT program also had the right drivers.. well while waiting for the software to come in I did a graphtec RESET by holding the up button and turning the plotter ON I tried running Lxi again just to see if it would work and this time it was worse so when Flexi 8.6 came in I hooked it up and ran it.. SAME issue tried all the same things No avail Well I checked the blade holder as I stated I would in the last post and that was not the problem... so rulled out EVERYTHING except... the "TOOL" setting it was set to 09U for some reason.. so I set it to 15B ran a job and VIOLA! FIXED! UGH! I am sooo dumb! HAHAHA ever since I changed this setting this plotter has been cutting like a dream! all I had to do was see every possible "IF" factor to figure out it was something so simple (and isn't it always?) Geez this was almost more annoying than spending 8 hours staring at text code trying to find the missing "space" or "bracket" in PHP code -___-

Hey Guys! Just thought I would post an update since this was last month and geez... I have since figured it out. When I first got the plotter I am sure the original owner had already figured things out with it so the settings were "set" when I installed the software on my computer since I was using Flexi 8.1 it did NOT have the proper drivers for this machine, soooo I had to resort to using the drivers for a regular Graphtec Craft Robo (not Pro) and since the graphic I would send to cut would output at 2 x the normal intended size I had to counter that problem by sending my intended size at HALF intended size (so 1" if I meant to output 2") I did NOT like doing this I wanted to use this plotter to it's full capabilities so I went out and purchased Lxi 10 from someone who was not using it... this software DID supposedly have the drivers for the plotter... when I tried sending the job it DID communicate but it was cutting things all f**ed up the way I was saying earlier in my original thread (I will re-post this there as well) so then I thought that the Lxi software was messed up (that conclusion was reached after I had tried everything I thought was possible like changing offset, changing steps and so forth... so then I purchased Flexi Starter 8.6 since I heard THAT program also had the right drivers.. well while waiting for the software to come in I did a graphtec RESET by holding the up button and turning the plotter ON I tried running Lxi again just to see if it would work and this time it was worse so when Flexi 8.6 came in I hooked it up and ran it.. SAME issue tried all the same things No avail Well I checked the blade holder as I stated I would in the last post and that was not the problem... so rulled out EVERYTHING except... the "TOOL" setting it was set to 09U for some reason.. so I set it to 15B ran a job and VIOLA! FIXED! UGH! I am sooo dumb! HAHAHA ever since I changed this setting this plotter has been cutting like a dream! all I had to do was see every possible "IF" factor to figure out it was something so simple (and isn't it always?) Geez this was almost more annoying than spending 8 hours staring at text code trying to find the missing "space" or "bracket" in PHP code -___-

thanks! I will take a look at that as soon as I get home again!

This issue ever get resolved? I am having this exact same problem.

corners are supposed to be sharp and clean, no stupid pointy edges or sunken edges >_< urgh! Not an Offset Problem Not a blade length Problem Not a Tangential problem Not a Design Problem Could be a driver problem? Could be a software problem??? Or what???

My dilema started with finding software that would be compatible with my Craft Robo Pro Apparently my FlexiSign Pro is outdated 8.1v1 so it didn't have the necessary drivers to run my new plotter. Well then I went forth to purchase FlexiSTARTER 8.6 because it had my drivers... now I have a vendor offering me to sell me their friend's version of LXI Master Plus V10 for only about $100 bucks, I have heard that LXI is similar to Flexi but was wondering HOW similar they are? 80% what are the major differences between these softwares because I almost feel like purchasing the LXI if it IS like FlexiSign Pro it may just be worth it for me, but I love flexi and am almost afraid of purchasing something that will not even be as good, even if it's a steal. (not even sure how much LXI 10 runs for right now) so I told the vendor I would get back to him after doing a bit of homework, so if someone out there already has the answer could you please lend me your advice or points of views on these two softwares and whether or not I would be making a good decision on getting myself LXI 10? I appreciate the help guys!

I seem to have a very outdated version of Flexi (8.1) that does not have the proper drivers for my Graphtec CraftRobo Pro CE5000-40-CRP I have tried looking online to see if I could download the proper files but can't seem to find them anywhere.... anyone have any suggestions? Are there alternative drivers I can use to get my plotter running properly? I haven't actually tried running my plotter yet because I feel that if I don't have the right drivers I don't want to mess up... thanks guys!

..oooookey guys. I have another dilema... I was just offered a full version LXI 10 with donngle from another guy who had problems running his plotter with it. I checked and my robo pro is supported. Buuuut I just ordered myself the flexi starter 8.6 I heard that flexi and lxi are almost like twins... that so? The guy made me an offer to buy it for $100 which I think is possibly a steal. Can someone tell me if lxi really is like flexi and thus worthwhile getting (considering it is the latest version)

yeah, well looks like FlexiStarter is it possible to run two different Flexi programs on 1 computer? do I have to have both dongles connected? LOL! I would need to get a usb splitter to get both dongles on... buuuuut... I suppose if all I am using it for is contour cutting after I have printed out the images on my color plotter, maybe flexistarter would be OK. I hope it's not too hard to learn.

yeah that looks exactly like my plotter! Hmm.... I just find it weird that it can be listed under CE500 and CE5000 but I suppose it's the same thing. I found someone selling an authentic Flexi 8.6 for about $75 so I might just do that since I asked the seller and he said that this particular plotter was supported. At least this will get my plotter up and running I hope.

lol now that I see it THAT way... yeah right why would I drop more? Hmm.. it's a 15" cutter (more like 14.5") it's really "cute" compared to my other ugly plotter and I like the controller I can use on my PC to move it around a bit. I am thinking maybe going by the FlexiStarter route, time to hit up the e-stores to see who has the best deal.

Awwwww Shooooot.... now I am doubly confused so I found this reference here http://www.iifuture.com/shared/info/en/vm/supported_plotters_02.html totally DIFF program and it lists Graphtec Craft ROBO Pro as CE500-40 I quote "Graphtec CC200, CE-500-40 (Craft ROBO Pro), CE1000..." but I highly doubt this person's version of flexi is the right one.. bah I just have to consider upgrading but it's sooo pricey! OR I guess I have to deal with crappy interfaces :'(

hey there again! Hmm... yeah maybe it is a pirated software because I am looking everywhere online for information on if my plotter works with that particular version of flexi and I can't find anything on it. The software that I got with the Graphtec CraftROBO pro is ROBO Master-Pro and Cutting Master 2 1.30 I just prefer to use flexi... I am wondering though, the lady on CL did take me up on my offer of bringing over my own plotter and hooking it up to see if it would indeed work. Buuuut, I think I need to see what her screen is displaying to state specifically that it CAN use flexi... I don't want to get caught with Pirated software in my business HAHAHA that's quite possibly the last thing I need as far as my plotter being set to Inches and not MM hmm, I gotta RTFM on that one, but I am pretty sure that it is set on inches because since when it is set to cut 2" it actually outputs close to 4" and I am guessing if it were a MM conversion it would be more than three times the size. Because aren't there more than 30 MM x Inch? Or even CM hmm... gotta check than

Hi Skeeter thanks! well I purchased this Graphtec Craft Robo Pro used on Craigslist from a local. It is out of warranty I am sure. It did come with Master Cut software (gotta look at my other computer for exact name) I just found someone selling Flexi on CL as well and asked them if it was compatible with my CE5000-40-CRP her response was that CE500-40-CRP was compatible and that she saw it on the list of devices on her software... this scares me... because she said CE500 and not CE5000 so now I am wondering if there is a major difference between a CE5000 and a CE500 or if it was just a typo but I go online and google it and something DOES turn out, this is soo confusing... I mean, I got the plotter to work with Flexi 8.1V1 but I am improvising using some regular old Craft Robo drivers (not Pro) so therefore I don't have the full functionality of the registration mark reading... geez.. I am still playing around with it... my ultimate goal was to get this plotter running perfectly so I could sell my old Master Desay plotter to make up some of my investment... but so far my Master Desay seems to make me feel more comfortable since it outputs EXACTLY what i ask it to on Flexi... instead of me having to do some math conversions for this Graphtec (which cuts waaaay better) but I want 100% functionality, I don't want to settle nor do I want to spend that much more $$ either (I can't have my cake and eat it too???) hahaha

Hmm.... I tried the CE3000-40 driver and it was sooo messed up... so then I resorted to using the craft Robo drivers that already came on the flexi and it blew up the images 2 x the size.... sooo when I send a cutjob of 3" it cuts out at 6"... which I guess is an easy fix since I can just send the cut job at 1/2 the size... so for now I suppose that is OK. I think I have to upgrade to the newer version of flexi but darn! Money is tight right now!! >_< I am going to fool around with the software that came with my Graphtec Craftrobo pro... and see what happens.

Okay.. here are my details I am running Windows XP on a Del XPS M140 My cutter is a Master Desay 24" and I am running flexi 8.0 my cutter is connected to my computer via a Serial to USB converter Yesterday I was using my setup perfectly fine and made about 200 decals. Well I packed everything up and left to my mobile location (selling at a market) and now I am not sure what happened but for some odd reason when I connected everything I got the "New Device found" prompt. I am not sure why because all the drivers were installed fine and my computer worked fine before. So I sent a print job and "no device selected" from Flexi. I selected my plotter and re-tried. No go. It said there was no device.. .so then I suspected the USB to serial wasn't working... but I don't have the original drivers for it here in my mobile location so I decided to download some generic drivers. I installed the generic drivers and sent a print job the FIRST job came out fine, but then the second one I sent got all wonky and my plotter started moving into weird positions (even past the guidelines I gave it in Flexi) so then I was wondering what happened... anyone know if this means that A. My plotter might be broken B. Since it was not the drivers for this particular machine it probably isn't communicating C. The computer is probably busted. other details earlier today when I connected my mouse to my laptop, the laptop didn't seem to pick it up, I had to plug it in like 5 times I tried changing the COMM from COMM4 (which is where my plotter is connected) to COMM5 but flexi didn't show a COMM5 so then I tried restarting and switching my COMM from COMM4 to COMM5 but my machine said that COMM4 was in use (which it wasn't because nothing is even plugged in there) this is sooo frustrating! and i have no way to know if it's my computer, the usb port OR my machine I sure hope it's not my plotter! any help is greatly appreciated.. I tried restarting my computer about six times also when I send a simple item to get plotted it seems to do OK but then any complex ones make the plotter go to weird possitions, and then if I try sending the same image over the plotter will cut half the image geez....

haha hmm... you know? I was actually considering in investing in a newer laptop anyway... because come to think of it, a similar thing like this happened to me about two months ago. But it had to do with my Illustrator program, all of a sudden it stopped working and I started to freak out, fortunately FlexiSign had a way around what I was using Illustrator for so I was able to get through my mobile workday with just a teeny hitch. Not enough to hinder my business as badly, then I got home and reformatted my computer and then re-installed all my sign software... but how does a driver just randomly uninstall itself?! I ran virus software and I don't browse the internet on any unsecured networks Nor do I visit any "naughty" sites, nor do I visit any social network sites or try to download any bad software so I am pretty confident my mobile laptop is junk free. Weird... so I guess I should just look into another laptop... besides that one is about six years old, outdated memory and everything just bare min to run my software If I don't end up getting a new laptop I will be sure to drop you an email Ash. But yeah my friend went to ITT Tech in Phoenix and has also been a techie guy since back in our Macintosh days (with the dos commands hahaha) but he never did program his own software though Thanks for the info you guys, I really appreciate it.

Sorry I had my IT friend come over and take a look and all of a sudden it works now he said he really didn't do anything but I think he might have uninstalled and re-installed the drivers... really have no idea what might have happened... Soo.. I came here for help because I really needed it yesterday since I was selling at a Market, essentially I had to pack all my stuff and leave and made ZERO dollars, big loss. Can anyone at least TRY and explain to me what they thought could have gone wrong with it, how much was your small fee anyway? and what could you have done remotely to fix my problem? Just curious since I live in San Diego and I have no idea where you are. Hmm... Ash what do you THINK might have been the problem since my buddy didn't want to say anything other than "It works now" after apparently re-installing my drivers for the stupid USB cable. Is it possible that the wrong USB Cable drivers would cause such an odd turn of events? The plotter seems to be fine now but I wont know for certain until I get to my mobile location right now to re-try this.