More than one laser per computer?

[Scott Shepherd]

Keith, I don't have any insight into Austria, but in my years of dealing with Trotec, one thing I have learned. They don't get in a hurry about anything new when it comes to software. They are VERY methodical and calculated. If there's a way to do it, I'm sure it's in the pipeline. 4 years ago, I heard there was a Mac driver coming. Still haven't seen it. I also haven't seen any digital "Suggestion Box" for them either I wish there was. Just my personal opinion, but I believe the European market users are quite different than the US market users. I my conversation with the guy that wrote JCX, I got the impression that I didn't understand how the software was supposed to be used, and how it was being used by their European base. I think they missed that the US market and the European market work differently. I don't even think they acknowledge that we are different. I could be wrong, that's just my impression.

The only thing I see causing slowdowns is the splwow (maybe I spelled that wrong) file gets massive. That resource will build and build and build until it's using 4GB of memory. I've never figured out how to fix that. Only thing I have found to get around it is rebooting windows more frequently.

I spoke with Epilog at a trade show and they are going the opposite direction you asked about. Instead of running more lasers with less computers, they are working on being able to send files from any computer to one laser.

I haven't heard anyone talk about doing what you're asking, as a new feature. I'll start asking around in my travels through the laser dealers

[Keith Winter]

Thanks Steve.

They do have a feature, in a two laser example, the third pc makes the jobs it also acts as a master spooler the other two three or even ten computers pull jobs from. Problem here is I still have to drag that job onto the computer attached to the laser. And I have even one more computer in the mix lol. Would be nice if that spooler computer ran the job control for the two other lasers as well and an operator just had to press the play button on the laser. Also if jobs could be cycled through on an lcd screen on the laser like the new universals (their latest software has come a long way) for those that do repeatative jobs. I'm not complaining I love my Trotec and job control, just thinking of ways to save space and do things more efficiently, my engraving room is getting quite full

[Scott Shepherd]

LOL, I hear you Keith! The Universal's have been doing that for a long, long time. Our 8 year old PLS has the screen you can cycle through. I wish people in Austria, mainly the developers were on this forum and we could interact with them. If they understood what we use on a daily basis, I think it would radically change their direction and speed.

They are rock solid, but man, they are slow and calculated on their improvements. I suspect that's why their machines rock. They don't make sudden or hasty decisions and aren't chasing the latest fads, just continuously improving and refining their products.

[Kev Williams]

With all due respect to you guys, I hear nothing about 'job control' that I don't already do with Corel every day.

Every job I've ever done in 14 years (aside from off-the-street stuff or basic nameplates, etc) I have saved in Corel, by customer name, description and date, and I can recall them within seconds.
Every job that has specific settings I can save right in the print driver. I also have many 'generic' settings saved. Likewise, recall within seconds...

If I want to find a job I saved for Tradestar in October of 2004, and another job I saved last week, I open both jobs, copy one of them and paste it into the other, re-position the 2 jobs, group what I want lasered, hit the 'print' icon, hit the drop down menu, click on "500-800 with cut" (my basic lasermark setting), hit "ok" and "print" and away we go...

Takes me about 1 minute to do all that. And while that job's running, I can work on or recall and stack more jobs into the machine. Also, the way I have my network set up, I can access any job from any computer (both Corel and Gravostyle) and can send jobs to both lasers from any computer (except my useless win8). Works the same way with most of my rotary machines too...

FWIW, when doing laser work, I never enter a 'plate size'. I always work with the machine's table size. So, wherever it was on the table when I did it, it'll be in the exact same place next time. If I need to add to the job, I just add to it...

I'm not saying my way's better or the job-control on those things isn't a great tool, but for how I work, I believe it would slow me down...

[Scott Shepherd]

And with all due respect to you Kev, until you try it, don't knock it. I started with an Epilog and did the same thing as you. After using the Universal's version of Job Control and Trotec's, there's a LOT that it will do outside of Corel Draw.

I don't have to type any settings into Corel, or even open Corel. If you started using it, you'd understand it's power. Many of us have done it both ways and we now wouldn't live without it. I suspect once you had it, you'd think the same thing, especially with all your years and experience. You'd be able to make it really shine.

It's just a lot simpler than having to combine files in Corel and move things all around. I know it's a long shot, but I hope one day you get a machine that has it because I think it would serve you well.

[Gary Hair]

I have a customer that I mark 17 different parts with any combination and quantity of over 135 designs - thousands of parts every week. The parts are all different height (thickness), and some need the power/speed settings a bit different than the others due to the way they anodize them. I have each part saved in JCX with all of the parameters for that part, right down to the focus height! I don't have to do anything at the laser besides load and unload trays of parts. I select the tray I loaded from the list of jobs, click "AutoFocus" and then the "Go" button, lather, rinse, repeat. I loved my old laser but JCX is so different and so powerful that anything else I have seen pales in comparison. Oh, and if I notice that I sent the job to JCX with the wrong settings, I can change them in JCX, even on the fly! Oh, and when the job is done running it notifies me on my phone... it's only 3' away, but it's still cool