TimEdwards888

Just a quick update. I ended up getting a refund for the unit since Graphtec weren't able to fix it and they couldn't replace it without ordering another one in. It possibly got damaged on the way but either way the Roland is definitely the more capable machine when it comes to cutting detail despite the cost being half what the Graphtec is. Again, maybe it was just MY machine, but the Graphtec I had couldn't produce good results for some of the designs I was doing. Strangely for others it was better than the Roland.... but it just wasn't consistent enough and was obviously faulty. Still have no idea what exactly was wrong with it, but I strongly suspect the wheels or the motor as was mentioned!

So I own both a Roland GX-24 and a Graphtec FC8600 which I just bought because I wanted faster production, and now I discover that its not completing my jobs properly. Also when the carriage moves across the tracks it's making a funny sound, like a recurring banging sound.. I think its because one of the wheels has a flat spot but I don't know. Can anyone look at these pictures and tell me what i'm doing wrong? This is what they should both look like - http://wallpapersdsc.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/image.jpg The Graphtec is the first image, and as you can see it's not even close to the BO3 logo. The Roland is the second image, and it's perfect. Graphtec - http://postimg.org/image/vpj064lnh/ Roland - http://postimg.org/image/3u3lfa5p9/ What's going on? Is this right?! Edit* Both designs are the same size, about 1cm in height.

Useful info, thanks for the help bud!

Thanks for your assistance dakota, you have been very helpful! I think I've been more than fair giving them a chance to repair the problem.

Right quick update. The company I dealt with sent me to Graphtec's base here assuring me they'd give me a replacement. I got there and they started tinkering with my machine and tried to fix the problem. I was told that the wheels were just 'bedding in' which I don't believe, as by the time the wheels no longer make that sound I'm fairly certain they'll have play in them. They showed some cut outs and they look OK. Should I be looking for a replacement/refund here? The problem with the sound still exists!

Dropped it off with the techs earlier and according to them the carriage was 1mm too high and some settings were off in the control panel of the unit... will update with more info when I have it as they say that's what they've found so far..

Every now and then it gives me issues yeah with not loading, being blocked etc, it's the same across the net. I'm just paranoid about my privacy after being hacked a few months ago and I don't like running the risk with my business being online-based mostly. I've been using tor for a few months now, it's slower than regular browsing but otherwise the same I see what you mean yeah.. I haven't pushed it very fast as I didn't want to damage anything and the instructions on the machine say not to push it too fast, but I don't think I felt anything at all. Perhaps the box was dropped somewhere on its journey, it did look a bit messed up when I got it so that's a possibility. I think I'm going to push for a replacement since I don't know exactly what the fault is and I'm well within my rights given that it is clearly faulty. I was absolutely gutted when after building the stand/reading through the instructions for a few hours I turned it on and heard that. Instantly knew something wasn't right. Checked the wheels were free of debris and they were, everything else looked fine.

I'll update with more info when I have it! Such a shame as the thing is built like a tank and very quick at cutting which is exactly what I needed. I can live with working around certain designs if the speed is up there and it's cutting as it's supposed to!

Carriage is tight, gently checked for play and there is none

Hmm, the motor is in the body of the cutter right? I'm fairly sure the sound is coming from the carriage rather than the body but not 100%.. if it's just the wheels that are at fault I'd be happy with a fix, but I think if the problem is more extensive I'd like a replacement/refund...

Jburns you've been very helpful. I'm glad that isn't an issue with just my machine, perhaps it's just something I will have to work around as I do like a lot of the features. Would you say for 99% of small stuff it's perfect? I haven't tried too much as the noise has been so prominent I didn't want to cause any damage. Here's a video showing the problem - That isn't normal right?

Give me a few mins and I'll get a video up showing the problem!

I think you are right when you say 'that vector' as the Graphtec definitely cuts some stuff better than the Roland. Some designs are much sharper and more detailed, which is why I think this is definitely a software/firmware thing. Typically I would say the Graphtec does the details better, but I was really surprised with this design.. it's a big seller of mine. Would you guys suggest getting the cutter repaired or replaced with regards to the tapping noise? I'm fairly certain it's just one of the wheels is slightly flat on one of the edges, but it took 2 weeks for the machine to get to me from Japan. I'm not too sure what to do here. Just want to be armed before I contact the dealer!

Thanks very much Jburns, your photos were really helpful and show that my particular machine at least is probably not defective (aside from the tapping sound). It works well for other designs but I do need it to work well for anything I can throw at it. This is a picture from my GX-24 which works based on the same principles as the FC8600.. hence I don't see why the FC8600 shouldn't be able to cut it too..

Here is what I mean Jburns!

Thats fair enough dude, dont worry! I just wanted to gather some info before contacting them as I may be missing something, thats all!

Thanks for doing that Jburns, it's greatly appreciated!! They are certainly better than mine, but without being rude they aren't exactly as they are supposed to be as with the roland - note the line on the right is slightly lower than the line on the left, perhaps 0.5mm out, and the edges aren't sharp as with the Roland - http://postimg.org/image/3u3lfa5p9/ They are both drag cutters so I don't see why one should be able to cut the edges pinpoint straight and the other not? Perhaps I am scrutinizing this too much, or being too pedantic. I would love to love this cutter but I am certainly struggling. 90% of what I do is small stuff and it HAS to be 100% accurate. My blade only just peaks out as yours does too! Anyway, aside from that the tapping noise is very prominent so at the very least that needs to be fixed I think.

I am browsing with Tor as I always do. Not sure how this is relavent though.. maybe spending $4000 on a machine which is dysfunctional is more of an issue? I have owned a CE3000 and a CE5000 and while I was very happy with them they did both have a hang nail problem. Also when I demoed the CE5000 the shop one did exactly the same! Perhaps youre not looking as closely as me? I can't be that unlucky can I? The carriage feels like it moves fine, it doesn't make the noise when I push it slowly by hand, and it doesn't make the noise when it moves slowly (less than 10cm sec). It only makes the tapping noise when moving reasonably quickly, setting up, cross cutting etc. Thankyou everyone, the file has been posted above mfatty

Also, sorry didn't mention - just picked the machine up a few days ago

Thank you very much mb20music, it's much appreciated!! This is a link to the file http://www.filedropper.com/graphtecblackops Dimensions for the whole thing should be approx 53.844mm x 12.3 - 12.5mm (seems to vary depending on what I put it through). Yep, as the cutting head crosses the track it's making a recurring clanging/tapping noise, like the wheel on the tracks are flat at one point or something.

Unfortunately the machine is not set up at the moment because I don't have the room for it in my office along with my other machine so I can't really play about with settings, but I will say that I experimented with Tangential mode, downforce, speed, acceleration, move step, step pass to no avail. I also tried another blade. Both a 45 degree and a 60 degree. Each time the cutter did the same thing. Also, other designs cut out fine and the edges looked sharp so I didn't play with the offset. Is there a smoothing mode on this machine? I know my Roland might do something similar if smoothing was enabled, but without smoothing the Roland cuts this perfectly. Also, what about the noise on the tracks? Another problem I didn't mention is that with Arial 'O's and 'g's, and circles, the machine does exactly what every other Graphtec I've ever seen does, which is leave hang-nails/little nubs where the start and end points of the cut don't align. I know there are people who claim that their Graphtecs don't do this, but I really struggle to believe that when every Graphtec I've seen does it exactly the same. I believe this to be a design flaw with the Graphtec units. Anyway, that isn't particularly my issue - it's this. The design is very small but the spec sheet claims it's capable of cutting down to 3mm text, which is much smaller than this. Is there any way anyone with a graphtec could try cutting out the design if I provide the file? Thank you for answering me.