TroubleshootingThunderlaser/en

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🧪 Most important tip
Do a small test cut before every laser job, for example a red 15 × 15 mm square with a black circle in the middle.

A test cut only takes a few minutes, but prevents many errors caused by wrong material settings.

📄 File and import problems

CorelDraw or another program displays the file incorrectly

Symptom
The file appears to be empty, lines or objects are missing, entire panels are missing, or the program crashes when opening the file.

Possible cause:

• The exporting program saved the file incorrectly.
• Especially with DXF files from ArchiCAD, Rhino or similar programs, lines can be missing or distorted.

Solution:

1. Save the project in several formats.
2. Recommended: DXF, AI, EPS, PDF and SVG.
3. Try opening the file in Inkscape, Illustrator or CorelDraw.
4. Then export it again as DXF or EPS.

Lines, objects or designs are missing

If elements are missing, proceed in the same way as in the section "CorelDraw or another program displays the file incorrectly".

• Save the file in several formats.
• Open the file in a different program.
• Export it again.
• Visually check all lines before lasering.

The drawing is much too small after import

DXF files often do not store units of measurement.

Therefore:

• Check the size after every import.
• Check whether the original program exported in millimeters, centimeters or another unit.
• Scale the file correctly if necessary.

🚨 Important
Always check the size of your drawing after opening or importing it in a new program.

The line colors are wrong

This problem can occur with Rhino files, among others.

Solution:

• Save the project in several formats.
• Recommended: DXF, AI, EPS, PDF and SVG.
• Open the file in CorelDraw, Inkscape or Illustrator.
• Check the colors.
• Then export it again.

✂️ Cutting, scoring and engraving

Scoring does not work

Symptom:

• The laser head moves over the material, but no visible line is produced.

Solution:

• Create the lines as hairlines, i.e. 0 mm lines.
• Set the process type for the color used to cutting (Cut).
• Take over power and speed from the engraving settings.
• Then do a test cut or test score.

Corners and short lines are not lasered

Symptom
The job runs normally, but corners or short lines are skipped when cutting or scoring.

Cause:

• Speed too high.
• Power too low.
• The laser automatically reduces power in curves and corners.

Solution:

• Reduce the speed.
• Increase the power.
• Do a test cut.
• On Trotec machines, check the power correction if necessary.

The cut does not go through the material

• Check the focus.
• Reduce the speed.
• Increase the power.
• Check the material settings.
• Do a test cut.
• On Trotec machines, check that no unwanted CMYK or other color codes are being used.

The kerf is too wide or the edges are burnt

Possible causes:

• The focus is wrong.
• Too much power.
• Speed too low.
• The material melts or burns heavily.

Solution:

• Check the focus.
• Reduce the power.
• Increase the speed.
• Adjust the material settings.
• Do a test cut.

The engraving is barely visible or not visible at all

• Check the focus.
• Increase the power.
• Reduce the speed.
• Check the DPI/PPI.
• Do a test engraving.

Protective film forms bubbles or smoke sticks to the material

• When only cutting, leave the protective film on both sides.
• When engraving, remove the protective film from the side to be engraved.
• Set the process air or air assist correctly.

Can I continue lasering in the same place on another day?

Usually not.

The exact zero point is very hard to find again later. So plan your jobs so that they can be completed in a single session if possible.

⚡ Machine does not respond

The laser cutter does not respond after switching on

Possible causes:

• The emergency stop is pressed.
• The lid is open.
• The front flap is open.
• The membership card does not have the required permission.
• The machine was not activated correctly.

Solution:

1. Release the emergency stop.
2. Close the lid and the front flaps.
3. Use the membership card again.
4. Restart the machine.

📅 Reservations

The reservation overview is located in the Happylab member portal.

In addition, Fabman shows when the machine is reserved after you. In this case, a countdown runs until the machine switches off.

🟠 Troubleshooting – ThunderLaser

⬅ Back to general troubleshooting

🧪 Before every job
Always do a test cut first and check the size of the imported file.

📏 Size and scaling

Drawing is much too small in RDWorks

Cause:

• DXF does not store units of measurement.
• RDWorks interprets values in millimeters.
• CorelDraw often exports in centimeters.

Solution:

• Select millimeters when exporting from CorelDraw.
• Alternatively, scale to 1000 % in RDWorks.
• Then check the size.

🚨 Important
Check the size of the drawing after every import.

Vector graphic looks different after import

Solution:

• Open the file in CorelDraw.
• Save it as an older DXF version.
• Import it into RDWorks again.

💾 Memory and file errors

Error message "Not enough extended memory"

Cause:

• A color is set to YES even though it is not used in the job.

Solution:

• Set unused colors to NO.
• Only activate colors that are actually used.

Error message "No Selected Graphics"

Cause:

• No object is selected.

Solution:

1. Select the desired objects.
2. Send the job again.

The laser shifts objects and cuts them in the wrong place

Possible cause:

• Too much data is being transferred at once.
• Data is lost when starting directly from the PC.

Solution:

• Reduce or split the job.
• Transfer the file to the laser with DOWNLOAD.
• Then start the job directly at the machine.
• Delete old files:
  • RDWorks → Doc → Read → Delete all.

Incorrectly shifted objects

🧭 Frame, zero point and order

Error message "Frame Slop"

Cause:

• The job is larger than the working area.
• The zero point is set incorrectly.

Solution:

• Check the job size.
• Check the zero point.
• Do not simply confirm the frame, otherwise parts outside the working area will be skipped.

How long will the job take?

At the top of RDWorks there is a preview icon in the shape of a monitor.

It can display the approximate job duration. The time shown may differ from the actual duration.

Setting the order of the colors

• Move the colors with drag and drop in the panel on the right.
• RDWorks processes the colors from top to bottom.
• Arrange inner contours before outer contours.

🎨 CUT, SCAN, PEN and ON/OFF

Drawing has filled areas although there should only be lines

Cause:

• The color is set to SCAN.

Solution:

• Switch to CUT for lines.

Lines are displayed but not lasered

Possible causes:

• PEN is activated.
• Output is set to NO.

Solution:

• Select CUT.
• Set output to ON.

Scoring with the ThunderLaser

• Set the color to CUT.
• Take over power and speed from the engraving settings.
• Do a test cut or test score.
• Do not work below approx. 10 % power.

🧹 Removing duplicate lines

1. Select everything.
2. Open "Handle".
3. Select "Delete Overlap".
4. Confirm the action.

Removing duplicate lines

⚡ Machine does not start

Membership card activates the machine, but the screen stays black

Cause:

• The lower front flap is open.

Solution:

1. Open the front flap.
2. Close the front flap completely.
3. Activate the machine again.