Trotec Speedy, Speedy 100, Speedy 400, Speedy 300, Speedy 360 Series Manual

Trotec Laser Cut Guide (FineCut version)
This "Trotec Laser Cut Guide", describes the cutting method for the Trotec Speedy series of laser engraving machines 100/300/360/400 that use the software bundled with Mimaki printers and the Trotec Speedy Laser Engravers.

Notice

• It is strictly prohibited to write or copy a part or whole of this document without our approval.
• This document has been carefully prepared for your easy understanding, however, please do not hesitate to contact a distributor in your district or our office if you have any inquiry.
• Due to improvement or change of this software, the description of this document could be partially different in specification, for which your understanding is requested.
• Except for the damages prescribed in Warranty Notes of MIMAKI Engineering Co., Ltd. assumes no responsibil­ity for effects (including loss of income, indirect damages, special damages, or other financial damages) result­ing from the use or non-use of the product. This also applies to the case when MIMAKI Engineering is notified of the possibility of damages. For example, MIMAKI Engineering Co., Ltd. assumes no responsibility for damages of media (work) caused by using this product and indirect damages caused by a product created using the media.
• You can also download the latest version of this document from our website.
Trotec Speedy Laser Engravers marks of Trotec Laser GmbH. FineCut and RasterLink are registered trademarks of MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD. Adobe and Illustrator are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other coun­tries. Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S.A and other countries. All brand names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
, Trotec JobControl, Trotec UniDrive, and Trotec Engraver are registered trade-
Table of Contents
Notice ......................................................................................................... 1
Trotec Laser Cut........................................................................................ 3
Laser cutting preparation procedure ...................................................... 5
Laser cutting output procedure ............................................................... 6
Preparation ................................................................................................ 7
1. Installing the Mimaki software/driver ......................................................................................... 8
2. Configure FineCut ..................................................................................................................... 8
3. Installing the Trotec software/driver .......................................................................................... 9
4. Configure the Trotec software .................................................................................................. 9
Set the cutting conditions (Trotec JobControl) ......................................................................... 10
Creating a cutting conditions parameter file (Trotec UniDrive ) ............................................... 11
Associate the conversion folder with the cutting conditions parameter file (Trotec UniDrive) .. 13
5. Prepare the Trotec Speedy Laser Engraver for laser cutting ................................................. 15
6. Prepare the Mimaki printer for printing ................................................................................... 15
Printing and cutting ................................................................................ 16
1. Create the data ....................................................................................................................... 16
Create the data using Adobe Illustrator ................................................................................... 16
2. Printing .................................................................................................................................... 17
Printing the alignment frame data on paper media .................................................................. 17
Printing the print data on media ............................................................................................... 19
3. Laser cutting using the Trotec Speedy Laser Engraver (100/300/360/400) ........................... 21
Laser cutting ............................................................................................................................ 21
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................... 23
Troubleshooting procedure ......................................................................................................... 23
Using the laser cutter without printing ......................................................................................... 26
Perform cutting under different cutting conditions ...................................................................... 28
Modifying cutting conditions ..................................................................................................... 28
Adding cutting conditions ......................................................................................................... 29
Modifying the cutting order ......................................................................................................... 30
Checking/modifying the conversion folder loading conditions .................................................... 31
Cutting from the reverse side of the media ................................................................................. 32
Manual positioning of data sent to Trotec JobControl ................................................................ 33
Automatic positioning of data sent to Trotec JobControl ............................................................ 34
Changing the origin during Trotec JobControl automatic positioning (Auto Position OFF) ........ 34
Changing the origin during Trotec JobControl automatic positioning (Auto Position ON) .......... 35
Manual output of data sent to Trotec JobControl ........................................................................ 36
The printing and cutting processes are misaligned .................................................................... 38
Printing after cutting ................................................................................................................. 38
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Trotec Laser Cut

Engraver(PrinterDriver)
100/300/360/400
1. Transmission of print data (P. 20
)
Hot folder
Data creation, etc.
Laser Cutting
Printing
2. Output of print data (P. 20)
3. Transmission of cut data
Auto
*1
Auto When UniDrive Quick Print is ON
Auto
Conversion folder
Image quality adjustment, color adjustment, etc.
File conversion
Setting output conditions
Setting cutting conditions Laser engraving machine control, etc.
The cut data is transmitted from FineCut to Trotec JobControl and then laser cutting is performed by the Tro­tec Speedy Laser Engravers (100/300/360/400). This document covers the basic procedure for using FineCut 8 and RasterLink to print with a printer manufac­tured by MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as a "Mimaki printer") and carry out laser cutting with the Trotec Speedy Laser Engraver. The following example shows the case when the FineCut and Trotec software is installed on the LaserCut PC and the RasterLink software is installed on the RasterLink PC.
• Trotec Laser Cut procedure (when laser cutting is performed automatically according to out­put from FineCut).
*1. FineCut is compatible with Trotec Speedy Laser Engravers 100/300/360/400 laser engraving ma-
chines.
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• System configuration
Engraver(PrinterDriver)
LaserCut PC
100/300/360/400
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Laser cutting preparation procedure

1. Installing the Mimaki software/driver (P.8)
6. Prepare the Mimaki printer for printing (P.15)
5. Prepare the Trotec Speedy Laser Engraver for laser cutting (P.15)
Preparation (P.7)
2. Configure FineCut (P.8)
4. Configure the Trotec software (P.9)
3. Installing the Trotec software/driver (P.9)
1. Install FineCut 8 on the LaserCut PC. (P.8)
2. Install RasterLink on the RasterLink PC. (P.8)
1. Select the Trotec Speedy Laser Engraver in [Model]. (P.8)
2. Open the Trotec color swatch. (P.8)
1. Install Trotec Job Control on the LaserCut PC. (P.9)
2. Install Trotec UniDrive on the LaserCut PC. (P.9)
1. Set the cutting conditions (Trotec JobControl) (P.10)
2. Create a cutting conditions parameter file
*1.
(Trotec UniDrive) (P. 11)
3. Associate the conversion folder
*2
with the cutting conditions parameter file.
(Trotec UniDrive) (P. 13)
Please refer to the Trotec Speedy Laser Engraver operation manual.
Please refer to the "Operation Manual" on the CD bundled with the Mimaki printer.
*1. Cutting conditions parameter file: A file that contains material templates and output conditions.
*2. Conversion folder: When a graphic file is placed in the conversion folder, it is automatically converted into a file for-
mat that is compatible with laser processing and then sent to Trotec JobControl. (When cut data is output from FineCut to the conversion folder, it is automatically loaded into Trotec JobControl.)
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Laser cutting output procedure

1. Create the data (P.16)
3. Laser cutting using the Trotec Speedy Laser Engraver (100/300/360/400)
Printing and cutting (P.16)
1. Create the data using Adobe Illustrator (P.16)
• Create the print data, cut data, and alignment frame
*1
data.
1. Set the media. (P. 21)
2. Output from FineCut to the Trotec Speedy Laser Engraver. (P. 21)
2. Printing (P.17)
1. Printing the alignment frame data on paper media (P.17)
2. Printing the print data on media (P.19)
*1. Alignment frame: This is a frame that acts as a reference to prevent shifting during printing and cutting. All data must
be created so that it fits within this frame.
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Preparation

Before starting laser cutting, it is necessary to install and configure each piece of software and prepare the printer and Trotec Speedy Laser Engravers (100/300/360/400). Please proceed to "Printing and cutting" (P.16) if this preparation has already been completed.
The following software applications are required for laser cutting.
Type
Mimaki
software
Trotec
software
Trotec
driver
Trotec
software
Software/
driver
FineCut8
(Ver8.7 or later*1)
Trotec JobControl
Trotec Engraver
Trotec UniDrive
Outline
This is the Adobe Illustrator plug-in cutting software.
The [Output to TrotecLaser] function only works with Adobe Illustrator CC-CC2017 (Win/Mac). FineCut Trotec Speedy Laser Engravers func­tions cannot be used in the case of versions prior to Adobe Illustrator CC.
For the installation procedure, please refer FineCut Reference Guide “Chapter 1. Installation of FineCut”.
Trotec JobControl is a software application that registers material tem­plates, positions cut data, outputs cut data, etc. (Supplied with the Trotec Speedy Laser Engravers: CD)
Please refer to the Trotec JobControl operation manual for the installa­tion method.
This is the driver for the Trotec laser plotter that is installed along with the JobControl software.
Trotec UniDrive is a software application that creates cutting conditions parameter files and associates the conversion folder with cutting condi­tions parameters, etc.
Please refer to the Trotec UniDrive Operation Manual for the installation method.
*1.When using a version earlier than the specified version, download the installer for the upgraded version from the
Mimaki website (http://mimaki.com/
).
• The following software/drivers are required in order to print with a Mimaki printer.
Type
Software/
driver
Outline
This software application is used to receive image data, edit data with various functions, and send plot data to a Mimaki printer. (Supplied with
Mimaki
software
RasterLink
the Mimaki printer: CD)
Please refer to RasterLink installation guide bundled with the Mimaki printer for the installation method.
This is the device driver to use the Mimaki inkjet printer / cutting plotter.
Mimaki
driver
Mimaki driver
(Supplied with the Mimaki printer: CD)
*1
Please refer to Mimaki Driver Installation Guide bundled with the Mimaki printer for the installation method.
*1.This is required for printing with the Mimaki printer.
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1. Installing the Mimaki software/driver

1. Install FineCut 8 on the LaserCut PC.
• For more details, please refer FineCut Reference Guide “Chapter 1. Installation of FineCut”.
2. Install RasterLink on the RasterLink PC.
• For more details, please refer to RasterLink Installation Guide bundled with the Mimaki printer.

2. Configure FineCut

1. Click the [Plotter/User Setup] button on the FineCut menu.
2. Select the Trotec Speedy Laser Engraver in [Model].
Trotec Speedy Laser Engravers are not displayed in the case of versions earlier than Adobe Illustra­tor CC. The following Trotec Speedy Laser Engravers are compatible.
• Trotec Speedy 100
• Trotec Speedy 300
• Trotec Speedy 360
• Trotec Speedy 400
3. Open the Trotec color swatch.
(1) Click the top right icon on the Adobe Illustrator
swatch window.
(2) Click [Open Swatch Library] - [Other Library].
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(3) Select "SpeedyFC.ase" in "[Adobe Illustrator
1. Set the cutting conditions (Trotec JobControl) (P.10)
2. Creating a cutting conditions parameter file (Trotec UniDrive ) (P.11)
3. Associate the conversion folder with the cutting conditions parameter file (Tro­tec UniDrive) (P.13)
plug-in folder]\Mimaki FineCut\Swatch” and then click [Open].
• The Trotec Color “SpeedyFC” color swatch is then displayed.
(4) Select [Persistent] from the menu on the upper
right of the displayed color swatch.
• The Trotec color swatch will automatically come up each time Adobe Illustrator is launched.

3. Installing the Trotec software/driver

1. Connect the Trotec Speedy Laser Engraver to the LaserCut PC via a USB cable.
2. Turn on the power to the Trotec Speedy Laser Engraver.
3. Install Trotec Job Control on the LaserCut PC.
• Trotec Engraver will also be installed at the same time.
• For more details, please refer to the Trotec JobControl operation manual.
4. Install Trotec UniDrive on the LaserCut PC.
• For more details, please refer to the Trotec UniDrive operation manual.

4. Configure the Trotec software

Create a conversion folder to be designated as the laser cut data output destination for Fine Cut. All data con­tained within the conversion folder is automatically sent to Trotec JobControl.
• Conversion folder creation procedure
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Set the cutting conditions (Trotec JobControl)

1. Launch Trotec JobControl.
2. Select [Material Template Setup] on the [Settings] menu.
• The [Material database] dialog is displayed.
3. Register the new material.
• Register the material template and set the laser cutting conditions for the new material.
• Basic materials have already been registered.
(1) Select [Standard] in the material list on the left
side and then click the [Create material] but­ton.
• The new material is then added to the mate­rial list.
(2) The new material can now be given the
desired name.
(3) Set the cutting conditions.
• For the example in this document, please set the following conditions. [Color]: 1 (Black) [Process]: Cut [Power] and after: The numerical values suitable for cutting the media.
(4) Click [OK].
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Creating a cutting conditions parameter file (Trotec UniDrive )

Trotec JobControl
Trotec UniDrive
1. Launch Trotec UniDrive.
• The Trotec UniDrive icon is displayed in the task tray to the right of the Windows taskbar.
2. Right-click the Trotec UniDrive icon dis­played in the task tray to the right of the taskbar.
• The Trotec UniDrive menu will come up.
3. Select the [Convert Manually] menu option.
• The [UniDrive (Manual Mode)] dialog is dis­played.
4. Create a cutting conditions parameter file.
• Associate the material template (laser cutting conditions) that was set using Trotec Job Control with the parameter file.
(1) Select the material.
• Please select the material created using Tro-
tec JobControl. ( P.10 "Register the new material.") In the upper drop-down list, select the mate­rial group. In the lower drop-down list, select the material template.
(2) Check or uncheck the [Auto Position] check
box.
• For the example in this document, please check this box.
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(3) Check or uncheck the [Quick Print] check box.
(3)
(4)
(6)
(5)
• For the example in this document, please check this box.
• When cut data is sent to Trotec JobControl, data is automatically output to the Trotec Speedy Laser Engraver and cutting is per­formed.
(4) Set [Cut Line] to [None].
(5) Check the [Detect Cut Lines] check box.
(Required)
(6) Click the [Save] button.
• The [Save Parameters and Hotfolders] dia­log is displayed.
(7) Click the [OK] button on the [Save Parameters
and Hotfolders] dialog.
• The parameter file will then be saved as the [Name of Parameter set].
(8) Click the [Close] button on the [UniDrive
(Manual Mode)] dialog.
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Associate the conversion folder with the cutting conditions parameter file (Trotec UniDrive)

1. Right-click the Trotec UniDrive icon dis­played in the task tray to the right of the taskbar.
• The Trotec UniDrive menu will come up.
2. Select [Conversion Folders].
• The [Conversion Folders Settings] dialog is dis­played.
3. Click the [New Conversion Folder] button.
• Register the new folder as a conversion folder in Trotec UniDrive.
4. Click [Browse for Folder...] next to [Folder] to set the conversion folder.
• The dialog to select the folder is displayed.
5. Enter the folder path for the conversion folder.
• For the example in this document, enter "C:\Trot­ecDataFolder" as the folder name and click [OK].
• This folder is then set as the conversion folder. Any data present within this folder is automati­cally sent to Trotec JobControl.
• It is also possible to select folders that were cre­ated using Windows Explorer in advance.
• If the folder does not exist, a message asking if you would like to create a new folder comes up. Click the [Ja] button.
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