cracks in foundation affecting plotter?

[Geneva Olson]

I just moved my business to a new location. The old location had a very bad cracked foundation and actually took a 3.75" drop from the middle of our shop to the wall. We were an end cap so we were sinking. No rebar in the foundation. My 1st landlord had lifted it 2 inches in 2021. By the time we left, it had dropped that 3.75".

Here's the scenario:
My plotter sat on the sinking edge. I want to say it was right on the "fault line" of the drop (you could see a dividing line and then a sharp drop).
Traditionally my downforce on my blade was set to like 16 or 17...
I've moved to a new location (5400 sf) and it's very level. Not perfect, but my shop doesn't feel like it's on a ship.

Yesterday I brought my equipment in to make sure it was all working.
I set up the plotter yesterday: same blade, I set the downforce now and it's down to 10.

I know it sounds like a crazy question, but did the uneven foundation at the last place cause me to use a heavier downforce?

 

[JBurton]

I set up the plotter yesterday

Yay, someone actually looked at how their plotter was cutting vs running 20 signs before checking. While I doubt being unlevel changed the down force requirements, I'll applaud you on actually caring to calibrate your machinery before production.
Only thing I can think of is a change of units, which idk if graphtec or summa offers units in both grams and ounces, but it would make for some 'significant' differences like you're seeing, and since it was powered off for an extended time, stuff could reset.

 

[netsol]

it is POSSIBLE (not likely, but possible) the unstable floor caused a little bit of flex, in the chassis of the plotter
kind of the same way the plotter could rock, like one of the chairs in my grandmother's kitchen

also possible just hitting a bump on the way to the new location could do the same thing

 

[Geneva Olson]

All I know is that all of my equipment seems to be moving much more smoothly. It's also housed in a larger area.

 

[Graphic Extremes]

Congratulations on the new location

 

[jc808]

I believe you are correct. We had the same thing happen and when I moved to a new spot my plotter cut at the correct force consistently. We got a new printer so we leveled that out and leveled out the plotter as well 8 think it made a difference for sure

 

[Geneva Olson]

it is POSSIBLE (not likely, but possible) the unstable floor caused a little bit of flex, in the chassis of the plotter
kind of the same way the plotter could rock, like one of the chairs in my grandmother's kitchen

also possible just hitting a bump on the way to the new location could do the same thing

my plotter rocked back and forth on the floor at the old place. I bought the plotter in 2022. It doesn't move at all now.

 

[Geneva Olson]

Congratulations on the new location

thanks...we are very excited.

 

[StarSign]

Better neighbors, I hope.

 

[Geneva Olson]

as luck would have it, my neighbor is a wholesale screenprinter...and i was looking for one!

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

Better neighbors, I hope.

I was going to ask the same question

 

[Geneva Olson]

To be honest: we outgrew the place. For wraps and ppf, we were out 2 weeks. I told my husband, we cant continue to do that. Weve hired 2 more installers and a social media person. We just took the plunge and went for a bigger space.