print / laminate / cut in Onyx

[ScottyDoo]

I just PLC'd 2 30"x48" graphics of a trackhoe using the "Roland CJ & SJ" selected as my device, and it cut flawlessly. So yes, the 545 isn't an option in there as it's an SC, but hey, it worked great.

[bryanmanwaring]

Generally, I don't get involved in support questions, but I felt it necessary to speak up concerning this matter. For everyone's information, I am a Software Engineer at Onyx. I am the engineer that wrote our Roland Cutter Drivers for CutServer.

Rick, I am sorry for the headaches that you have had with your device and our software. I believe that Larry actually spoke to me while he was on the phone with you, or shortly thereafter concerning support for your device.

"Officially", I have never directly worked with an SC model Roland device. I have however, worked with several customers that do have that model device regarding feedback about the device and our driver. Based on the specs and instructions given us by Roland, as far as I am aware, the communication with an SC model device should be identical to that used with their CammJet and SolJet devices, (Both of which we do have in house). So, to my knowledge there should be no issues with using the "Roland CJ & SJ" driver in CutServer2.

As a note of correction: The information you were given about support for the SC devices being removed in CutServer 2.0 is unfortunately inaccurate. When we developed CutServer 2.0, we made a decision to name the device drivers a bit more specifically (using model numbers, etc..) in order to allow further customization about the capabilities of different models. The fact that a driver listed as an SC model is not found in CutServer 2.0 is a matter of oversight. Had we included it, however, the underlying communication would have more than likely been identical to that of the CJ & SJ devices.

Please let me know if you need any additional assistance with the matter. The comments of ScottyDoo are accurate as far as I read.

The trickiest part of the entire process is alignment with the marks. To do that, use the following instructions: (note, because it has been a while since I have personally done this, I got these instructions from ScottyDoo, and to my knowledge, they should be accurate.)

1) Load the Media
2) Lower the pinch rollers to lock it in place
3) Move the head of the device until the blade is over the first mark (in the circle)
4) Press "auto-align" and then enter and it will read your marks.
5) Load your Cut data in CutServer and start the Cut.

Give it a shot!

Thanks,
Bryan Manwaring
Software Engineer
Onyx Graphics, Inc.

[Rick]

Thanks Bryan. I'll try it this afternoon. It doesn't seem complicated, I just didn't have all the details. Anything's easy.... once you know how.

-Rick

[bryanmanwaring]

No problem. I haven't made it a habit to monitor these forums, nor do I have tons of time, but I will make a point of watching this thread. So let me know if you have any issues...

Bryan Manwaring
Software Engineer
Onyx Graphics, Inc.

[bryanmanwaring]

Originally Posted by eye4clr

Ah. Cutserver 2 doesn't work with my USB Mimaki cutter either. I bet if you go to v1 you'll be fine.

eye4clr, I just wanted to also make mention that last week, we spent some time looking at the Mimaki USB issue, and have come to what seems to be a resolution of the issue. The fix is currently going through a QA process, and with the next update of CutServer (which should be coming out in the next few weeks to resolve several bugs) this should be included.

[eye4clr]

Originally Posted by bryanmanwaring

eye4clr, I just wanted to also make mention that last week, we spent some time looking at the Mimaki USB issue, and have come to what seems to be a resolution of the issue. The fix is currently going through a QA process, and with the next update of CutServer (which should be coming out in the next few weeks to resolve several bugs) this should be included.

NICE. I love it that you guys are so on your game with progress, fixing problems, and general innovation. Love the product.

[Rick]

After talking with Onyx, reading the 'manuals', and lots of experimentation, I figure it out & put together a procedure on how to do print/cut/laminate (PCL) on the SC545ex using Onyx ProductionHouse (v6.5) & CutServer (v2). I'll post it here in the hopes that it may help some other poor slob (like me) that needs just such detailed info:

1. Create you graphic.
2. In a drawing program (like Illustrator), draw in your cut lines using a SPOT color named CutContour.
3. Enable contour cutting in the RIP (in Onyx, there's a checkbox that buried in the menus). Make sure that the spot color name in your file and the contour cutting name in your RIP are identical (CutContour is the default).
4. In the RIP, select a cutting device (Roland CJ & SJ in my case).
5. RIP & print the file. You're on the right track if you DON't see the contour cutting lines and you DO see the Roland crop marks (black circles the size of a dime at the four corners of your plot). You should also see an alpha-numeric ID name on the plot near the bacode.
6. When the plot is finished printing, feed out a few inches and then cut the sheet (the pinch rollers need something to hang on to when looking for the crop marks later). Let your print dry, then laminate it.
7. Open Onyx CutServer.
8. If this is the first time, you need to set up a device. Click on "Application Settings", then "Cutters", then "Add a Cutter". I added the "Roland CJ & SJ".
9. You may then need to configure that device. I increased the cutting force to account for the extra material that the cutter will soon have to cut thru.
10. In CutServer, click "open" and then select that alphanumeric ID name that was on your plot. The subdirectory (for me) is d:/Onyx60/cutter/Roland SC & CJ devices.
11. When you select that file, the contour cut lines that correspond to your plot magically appear in the working window. Make sure that this looks like it matches your intended cutting pattern.
12. Re-insert the laminated graphic back into the machine. The triangular arrows should be facing you and you should see that ID name on the right.
13. Using the arrow keys on the printer front panel, position the contour cutting blade over the crop mark closest to the front panel.
14. Press "Auto Align" and then "Enter". The machine will go and 'find' each of the four crop marks in the four corners of your plot.
15. In CutServer, click CUT NOW. It may prompt you to load media but you've already done that - hit enter.

It's very satisfying to then watch the machine contour cut exactly where you wanted it to and go all the way thru both the laminate and the vinyl. Hope this detailed procedure helps somebody. I sure could have used it last night at 11pm.

-Rick

[bryanmanwaring]

Rick! That's great news. Thank you for the detailed instructions... I will make sure that our Tech Support guys get them for future reference!

[Rick]

Today I found that the cutter is pretty reproducible. I PLC'd a bunch of decals with thick floor graphic laminate. My first cut wasn't sufficient so I loaded the print back in, lined it up again, and re-cut it at a slightly higher force. The two cuts were right on top of each other. This machine rocks.

-Rick

[bigbly]

Hey Bryan

Great to see you getting involved here.

I'm running Postershop 6.5 to run 2 x HP5000s and a Roland SJ745-EX.
I bought a Roland Camm-1 to profile cut small decals, this cutter is supposedly supported by Cutserver.
Cutserver doesn't seem to see the plotter at all either USB or Serial.
Tried generic cutter but ditto.
Also this plotter isn't listed in Ripqueue to print the cropmarks.
I tried some of the other Roland machine drivers but nothing doing.

I'd be grateful for any ideas..