Troubleshooting guide

Appendix C – Troubleshooting Guide
Engraving Quality
Problem Possible Cause Possible Solution
“Fuzzy” looking raster engraving or
small text appears like a “double
image”
• Dirty laser system
• Graphic, graphic software, graphic software
setup, color palette, monitor display colors, or
driver settings have changed
• Speed to fast for the material
• Out of focus
• System needs tuning
• Worn X-axis belt and/or drive gear
• Laser Tube is faulty
• Clean all optics, rails, bearings and belts
• Check to see what has changed. Use
“Software Setup Guide” to properly setup the
graphics software to work correctly with the
laser system. Check driver settings.
• Slow down engraving speed
• Re-focus
• Run “Tuning” feature in printer driver version
4.17 and higher
• Try engraving in the upper right corner of the
engraving area. If engraving improves,
replace belt and/or drive gear, and run
“Tuning” feature
•
Replace laser tube
Fine detail is missing such as the
serif’s of characters or thin lines of
script fonts when raster engraving
• Speed too fast for the material
• Out of focus
• System needs tuning
• Laser spot size too big
• Slow down engraving speed
• Re-focus
• Run “Tuning” feature in printer driver version
4.17 and higher
•
Use shorter focal length lens
Vertical or diagonal background
pattern present when raster
engraving large areas and/or large
amounts of material
• Dirty laser system
• Slight pattern is normal
If the pattern is excessive:
• Loose motion system components
• Worn or damaged X-axis bearings
• Worn or damaged X-axis rail
• Clean all optics, rails, bearings and belts
• Don’t remove so much material or try
engraving shallower or deeper. Try changing
PPI and or DPI
• Use a 50% black fill to “halftone” the
background which can hide the pattern
• Check X-axis bearings, belt, optics
• Replace X-axis bearings
•
Replace X-axis arm
Horizontal background pattern
present when raster engraving large
areas and/or large amounts of
material
• Dirty laser system
• Slight pattern is normal
If the pattern is excessive:
• Laser is too cold or hot
• Laser tube is faulty
• Clean all optics, rails, bearings and belts
• Don’t remove so much material or try
engraving shallower or deeper. Try changing
PPI and or DPI
• Use a 50% black fill to “halftone” the
background which can hide the pattern
• Check and/or clean filters
• Make sure ambient temperature is within
specifications
• Check AC electrical supply for power
instability
•
Replace laser tube