Graphtec FC8600-160 Plotter Freezing all the time!

[rcripe]

I have a Graphtec plotter that I use everyday. At a minimum it freezes up 3-5 times a day. I have to shut it off and on again to get it to work. I'm using CorelDrawx7, Windows 7, and Cutting Master 2. Does anyone know why this is happening?

 

[Dennis422]

Why CM2 and not CM3?
Check your firmware version, update if there is a new one out.
Then re-set your cutter.

Make sure you take screen captions of your settings so you can reprogram later. (It will delete all your presets.)

 

[Solventinkjet]

First thing I would do is get Cutting Master 3 and update the USB driver if there is an update on the site. Then update the firmware if all of that doesn't work.

 

[CMYKing]

I have the same issue with my Graphtec 8600. It stops for less than a minute while saying it's working then starts back up. But just now it has completely frozen on me. I've been waiting for 10 minutes and I'm about to give up.

 

[Vassago]

There's sometimes an issue with Graphtecs - they overheat.. Make sure there's no dust inside, or it's a particularly hot day.

 

[Pauly]

There's sometimes an issue with Graphtecs - they overheat.. Make sure there's no dust inside, or it's a particularly hot day.

I've never heard of this as a problem. I've ran my 9000 over 3 years, Over night, literally 24/7 operations for months on end with 0 issues of over heating.

 

[Vassago]

I've never heard of this as a problem. I've ran my 9000 over 3 years, Over night, literally 24/7 operations for months on end with 0 issues of over heating.

Think it's down to cooling. Some versions of the board didn't allow space for cooling. I've fixed a few - the issue tended to be a lack of thermal compound. It happens to most machines - all down to how they are assembled.

 

[Pauly]

Think it's down to cooling. Some versions of the board didn't allow space for cooling. I've fixed a few - the issue tended to be a lack of thermal compound. It happens to most machines - all down to how they are assembled.

Which board? Power or main board

 

[Vassago]

Main board primarily - power boards tend to have problems with ac ripple getting into the dc lines because the caps are old. That's why they went to thermal pads - easier to ensure there's at least some contact.