From my recollection (which may be faulty) when the pc that worked was replaced the version of JobControl was also changed so you have a problem in that not only was the base OS and hardware changed but also the program version which makes it difficult to isolate which is at fault.
In addition when JC crashes there are no logs to indicate the cause so there’s nothing to work with to isolate the fault.
Tom suggested that Trotec can do a remote upgrade when someone is in during the week. I think this would be a good first step. I’ll try and come in on Tuesday and try this. Hopefully Trotec are fully operation after Easter.
If you want to try fiddling with the PC then I highly recommend not touching the current PC and instead building a replacement. At least then you don’t risk breaking the semi-functional one you have.
good to know Tom, maybe post out if you have some progress with trotech, or even if u dont so people can decide then what to go forward with.
I can’t imagine the PC is under-spec, its prob just clogged and maybe a reinstall of OS will do.
theres a forum here which is partially trotech/job control related
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?153877-Problem-with-Job-Control-Trotec-Speedy-100
JobControl has been crashing from day one of the new PC so it’s not related to building dust.
I suspect the building dust thing is a red herring. More likely that pc has ‘the issues’ one of those issues may well be Windows 7
Didn’t the previous computer also have windows 7?
I can be around for a Trotec upgrade if neccessary.
I think Linux or Ubunto could be a bad idea because even if JC is compatible with it, any drawing programmes are probably not!
I’ve been holding back my views on the laser cutter for fear of being rude (I really really appreciate the induction Pete!) BUT I have been using various laser cutters, including a Trotec, day in day out for the last few months at a freelance job. It was an architecture place which means if what you make isn’t perfect to within 0.1mm and no burn/rough edges you’re screwed. Also their laser cutters never stopped running for some job or another, but never once was it necessary to clean the optics - only one person knew how to do it and did it periodically every week or possibly less, which reduced the risk of damage to them.
If their bed were as blackened as ours they’d have had a fit!! And having little fires in there; many laser cutters have a plastic lid so imagine what would happen!
Running the thing on 100% power all the time and just changing the speed seems mental, but then I tried some cuts the other day which wouldn’t work without it. I think we could do with a Trotec engineer to come out and take a look at it as well as talk a couple of people through how to run it to get the most out of it and avoid damage.
I really hope this doesn’t seem like I’m sticking my oar in too much or being arrogant - it’s just a really good machine and it needs TLC!
The cost of an engineer is over £600.
The laser cutter was burnt like this whe we got it and I’ve used laser cutters at many companies and the bed always blackens because of the process is based on burning.
It’s impossible to not burn wood edges as that’s how the machine works. On Perspex the gas will flame but the Perspex shouldn’t catch or look burnt.
Running the laser slow at low power or fast at high power is fine the advantage of high power is faster cutting. It doesn’t change the condition of the machine as you have to get the material to the point of vapourising which produces gases.
The likely issue with the machine is likely that the extraction isn’t working well enough and we are sorting that out soon.
The issue about the lens not being cleaned at your past employer is very dependant on the quality of extraction and the material cut. You can cut Perspex all day long and not clean it but paper or wood will need cleaning very regularly. Although I am sure you can find better settings and materials that don’t mess up the lens as much.
I am away at the moment but when I am back I will have a look.
The laser cutter software takes two or three serial numbers. There is a new DVD which is the latest updates.
In that case maybe we should encourage people to use an acrylic base board to stop the laser hitting the metal and sparking.
Do we have the new DVD with the serial numbers? Or is it something we need to get hold of before re-installing the software?
You could I suppose but there is no reason to do that. It’s perfectly normal for the laser to flash when it does that. Having acrylic underneath will only increase the risk of fire I would have thought.
We can talk it through next week sometime.
P.s. Yes we have all the software and I asked for folks to help ages and ages ago but it hasn’t happened yet so I need to find time.
Trotec offer free training every so often, we should look out for this and offer it to @lasertechs and members, in order to continually grow our knowledge and instill best practice.
We could possibly ask Trotec for some free tech support, but we owe them a lot of love at the moment. By which I mean our monthly Trotec laser blogs…which we promised them and haven’t kept up with. But that’s started now.
@Maskadelic thanks for taking the bull by the horns on this one! The JC crashing is a nightmare…although technically the @lasertechs are responsible and need to approve any changes to the procedures etc, so best to liase closely with them, or better still, think about becoming one?
I’m also concerned about over cleaning/handling of the lens, but the decision was made based on experience of the lens getting dirty incredibly fast. As Tom said, could be an extraction issue.
This probably is an extraction issue yes and once mega extraction is installed maybe we can chill a bit about it, but right at the moment whilst we live in the dust vortex of construction, it’s pretty important to stay vigilant I think.
Our processes here aren’t based on complete lunacy, more our actual experience with this machine. The JC crashing thing is I’m sure just because that pc is a junker. I’d be concerned that we’re over diagnosing the problem to do anything but start by swapping that out.
I don’t think it’s the pc itself at fault. You can drive it hard in any other software with no complaints. JC will crash from a standing start
I’ve had problems with it just using Corel Draw and several non JC related bsods, plus post screen memory errors.
As a side point, if someone could populate @lasertechs with the actual laser techs (I believe tom^2 me, @david and @Tim) that might help requests for laser based tech help easier to request.
Done 
Any of you guys, or in fact anyone at all, likely to be in later today? I’ve been doing some laser tests this morning but I want to use the saw. Also I can’t even find the light switch 
x
I will be around
Cool beans
We should perhaps order the materials for the extraction.
I missed out on the discussion regarding the uselessness of filtering extraction units.
The consensus is they don’t work? So we’re extracting non-filtered fumes directly outside?