c3 auto pnci

[reallygroovy]

hi, I used mtc, scal and c3 with my force.  when trying to cut a pnc scal file in c3, I have been unable to get the force to detect the reg marks.  I have followed all the instructions in the manual but it won’t work.  it tries to scan the file but it doesn’t detect the marks.  the blade holder goes past the marks and stops.  I know that there is a bug in scal when doing the auto pnc, so certain numbers have to be placed in c3 for scal to work with the auto pnc.  not sure if I have to plug in different numbers in scal for c3 to work.  your help is appreciated.

[reallygroovy]

one additional thing – I noticed that the pattern size indicated in c3 is not the same pattern size I imported from sure cuts a lot.  I use safari as my browser.  I know internet explorer doesn’t work.

[Sandy]

Okay!  Hopefully, we can get all of these issues ironed out. Let me start with some questions:

(1) What C3 version are you running?

(2) Is there a reason you’re not cutting directly from SCAL to your Force?

(3) In your SVG Export window, what DPI is selected?

(4) Any chance you’re needing to use Borderless printing in your printer’s Preferences window?

(5) Has auto PNC ever worked for you from C3?  Did you try a basic arrow pattern first?

[reallygroovy]

hi sandy,

first of all, thank you for your quick response!  really appreciate it.

1. 0.5.57
2. I have a file with scores and cuts.  the scorelines and cutlines meet at 90 degree angles.  I never get straight lines at the end of each cutlines when using scal.  I’m guessing its because scal scores and cuts as it reads the files and the blade needs to change direction while going from cut to score/score to cut.  I find that if all the scores are done first and the cutlines are done last I get straighter lines.  unfortunately there is no option for that.  because c3 has that option, I figured I would use that software instead.
3. the dpi is 90 — the default
4. I don’t have a borderless printing option in my preference window.  I made sure my reg marks were inside the border in which one previews a file.
5. auto pnc has worked for me when I was using mtc.  though I haven’t tried it lately.  I am using the 4 arrow calibration file.  for that file c3 indicates that the pattern width is 10.625″ and the height is 1′ 1.75″

 

[reallygroovy]

I imported the 4 arrow calibration file (file with regular reg marks and not exported from scal) and the width shows 7.5 and the height shows 10.0. vs 10.625/1’1.75 which came from scal

[reallygroovy]

I noticed that every file that I export as an svg from scal has the incorrect pattern height and width with or without reg marks.

thanks sandy

[Sandy]

Let’s start with the DPI (Resolution) which according to what I wrote in the Force with C3 user manual (section 4.02.2) needs to be set to 72.  See how that goes with your PNC project.  Then we’ll work from there.  🙂

[reallygroovy]

still acting wonky.  the pattern size is now 8×11.  when I move the blade under the first reg mark and initialize the auto function, the blade carrier moves to the other side of the machine while scrolling and now there is a red light flashing

 

[Sandy]

Oh… one question… are you marking that box for registration marks in the SVG window or not?  You shouldn’t be because the reg mark layer you have to manually add is  not the same thing as SCAL exporting its own “internal” reg marks, which you do not want in C3.  Maybe email both the SCUT file and the SVG file to me so that I can look at them and test them myself.

 

[Sandy]

oops… my email is smccauley45@cox.net

[reallygroovy]

ok.  I think I figured it out.  somehow my machine settings were screwed up.  my tool settings were wrong – I don’t remember changing them, but, who knows. everything that was supposedly in mm were the actual inch measurements and vice versa.  I also found that I didn’t need the reg markers from the force zip file that I put in my design folder.  I printed and exported my file with the reg marks that scal generates and it worked perfectly.  anyway, thank you sandy for you help.  as always, I appreciate it!

[reallygroovy]

hi sandy,

just saw your responses.  I think I typed my response after I figured it out.  anyway, just want to let you know that the scal reg marks worked perfectly in c3.  the software recognized the marks and I was able to use the auto feature.

thanks again!

[Sandy]

Great news and you’re welcome!

 

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