DGSHAPE LD-80 User manual

User's Manual
For the latest informaon on this machine (including its user's manuals), see the DGSHAPE Corporaon website
(hp://www.dgshape.com/).

DGSHAPE Corporaon has licensed the MMP technology from the TPL Group.
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cles created with this product.
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Company names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respecve holders.
Copyright © 2017-2018 DGSHAPE Corporaon
hp://www.dgshape.com/

Contents
Contents ......................................................................................................... 3
Chapter 1 Geng Started..................................................................................5
About the Machine ......................................................................................... 6
Features ....................................................................................................................... 6
Names of Components ................................................................................................ 6
Basic Operaon .............................................................................................. 9
Switching On the Power .............................................................................................. 9
Switching O the Power .............................................................................................. 9
Starng the Soware ................................................................................................. 10
How to Display Help for the Soware ....................................................................... 10
Chapter 2 Imprinng.......................................................................................11
Preparing for Imprinng ............................................................................... 12
Checking Imprint Workow ....................................................................................... 12
Specifying Output Desnaon for METAZAStudio..................................................... 13
Preparing the Material .............................................................................................. 14
Creang Imprint Data ................................................................................... 16
Starng METAZAStudio .............................................................................................. 16
METAZAStudio Screen ............................................................................................... 17
Step 1: Determine the Shape and Size of Material .................................................... 19
Step 2: Import the Image ........................................................................................... 24
Step 3: Enter the Text ................................................................................................ 26
Step 4: Save Imprint Data .......................................................................................... 27
Imprinng ..................................................................................................... 28
Selecng Material Retainers ...................................................................................... 28
Loading Material (Using the Center Vise) .................................................................. 28
Loading Material (Using the Grid Table) .................................................................... 32
Making Imprints ........................................................................................................ 36
Stopping Imprint Operaons ........................................................................ 39
Step 1: Stopping Imprinng Operaons .................................................................... 39
Step 2: Deleng Data from the Imprint Queue .........................................................40
Chapter 3 Maintenance and Adjustment.........................................................41
Daily Care ...................................................................................................... 42
Points to Note on Daily Care ...................................................................................... 42
Cleaning the Body/Center Vise/Grid Table ................................................................ 42
Cleaning the Adhesive Sheet ..................................................................................... 42
Cleaning the Film Retainer ........................................................................................ 43
Adjusng ....................................................................................................... 44
Adjusng the Origin Locaon .................................................................................... 44
Replacing Consumable Parts ........................................................................ 46
Checking the Lens Service Life ................................................................................... 46
Replacing the Light-absorbing Film ........................................................................... 47
Chapter 4 Detailed Operaons/Sengs ..........................................................52
Processing Images ........................................................................................ 53
Keeping Only the Required Poron of an Image (Trimming) .....................................53
Adjusng the Locaon, Size, or Angle of an Image....................................................54
Enclosing an Image in a Frame .................................................................................. 56
3

Tips and Tricks for Text Layout ...................................................................... 58
Changing the Locaon, Size, or Angle of Text ............................................................58
Arranging Text to a Fan Layout .................................................................................. 59
Laying Out Text along a Shape ................................................................................... 61
Filling Text .................................................................................................................. 62
Creang/Eding a Stroke Character Font ..................................................... 64
About Stroke Characters and SFEdit2 ........................................................................ 64
SFEdit2 Window ........................................................................................................ 65
Creang a Stroke Character Font ............................................................................... 66
Changing Entered Characters into a Stroke Character Font.......................................68
Eding Stroke Characters ........................................................................................... 70
Checking Finished Results............................................................................. 72
Creang Variable Imprint Data ..................................................................... 73
Step 1: Create a Variable Field ................................................................................... 73
Step 2: Place Text Inside the Variable Field ............................................................... 77
Imprinng on Curved Surfaces ..................................................................... 78
Step 1: Set the Imprint Area ...................................................................................... 78
Step 2: Make Horizontal Wring on Portrait Material ...............................................81
Registering a Wide Variety of Materials ....................................................... 83
Imporng a Bitmap Image ......................................................................................... 83
Scanning the Material with a Commercially Available Scanner ................................. 83
Drawing the Shape of the Material ........................................................................... 83
Registering the Foil and Adjusng the Imprinng Power ............................. 84
Changing Basic Driver Sengs ..................................................................... 86
Other Operaons Available with METAZAStudio .......................................... 88
Chapter 5 Appendix ........................................................................................89
Troubleshoong ............................................................................................ 90
The [Power/Movement] Buon Is Blinking ............................................................... 90
The Machine Doesn't Run Even When Imprint Data Is Sent ...................................... 90
You Cannot Select the Foil Using METAZAStudio.......................................................91
The Imprinted Locaon Isn't Where Desired .............................................................91
The Imprinted Image is Unaracve (It Is Uneven or Shied) .................................. 92
The Imprinted Image Is Always Missing at the Same Locaon .................................. 93
It Is Necessary to Remove the Unneeded Foil That Remains in Locaons outside of the
Imprinng Locaon ................................................................................................... 93
Installing the Driver Separately .................................................................................93
Installing the Soware and the Electronic-format Manuals Separately ....................95
Driver Installaon Is Impossible ................................................................................96
Uninstalling the Driver ............................................................................................... 99
Moving the Machine .................................................................................. 102
Step 1: Removing the Material Retainer from the Machine .................................... 102
Step 2: Aaching the Retainers ............................................................................... 105
Main Unit Specicaons ............................................................................. 107
Center Vise Specicaons ....................................................................................... 107
Imprint Area ............................................................................................................ 107
Locaons of the Power Rang and Serial Number Labels .......................................108
Specicaons ........................................................................................................... 109
System Requirements for USB Connecon .............................................................. 110
Contents
4

5
Chapter 1 Getting Started
About the Machine ................................................................................................... 6
Features ......................................................................................................... 6
Names of Components .................................................................................. 6
Basic Operaon ......................................................................................................... 9
Switching On the Power ................................................................................. 9
Switching O the Power ................................................................................. 9
Starng the Soware ................................................................................... 10
How to Display Help for the Soware .......................................................... 10
Chapter 1 Getting Started

About the Machine
Features
This machine is a hot stamping printer that uses laser light. Using foil to imprint illustraons and
text results in high-class decoraons on plasc products.
You can easily create imprint data using dedicated soware.
Names of Components
Machine
Hold the middle area of the
cover when opening the cover.
Cover
Head
Head unit
Power/Movement buon
Laser pointer buon
Power-cord connector
USB connector
6
Chapter 1 Getting Started

Head
The foil is transferred onto the material by way of the laser light irradiated from the lens. Be-
cause the lens is a consumable part, replace it at the appropriate me.
"P.46 “Checking the Lens Service Life”
Lens
Material Retainers
Center vise
This is a vise made of plasc. This vise secures the material in place by clamping it. This makes it
possible to immobilize material that cannot be secured using the adhesive sheet, such as items
having a curved boom surface.
" P.28 “Loading Material (Using the Center Vise)”
Grid table
This is used to x material on a table. Material is placed on the adhesive sheet, which then
holds the material in place. This lets you immobilize objects without having to use commercially
available tape or the like.
"P.32 “Loading Material (Using the Grid Table)”
Grid table
Adhesive
sheet
About the Machine
7
Chapter 1 Getting Started

Light-absorbing Film
Striking the light-absorbing lm with the laser light converts the light into heat. Note that if the lm
is installed with its front and back sides inverted by mistake, it will not be possible to convert the
light to heat, so imprinng will not be performed. For details, see P.47 “Replacing the Light-ab-
sorbing Film”.
This heat transfers the foil onto the material.
A
A
Material
Laser light
Foil
Light-absorbing lm
Film Retainer
An adhesive sheet adhered to the boom of the lm retainer is used to secure the light-absorbing lm.
Handle
Film frame
Cap screw
About the Machine
8
Chapter 1 Getting Started

Basic Operation
Switching On the Power
Procedure
Press the [Power/Movement] buon.
The head moves to the le rear, and the lamp of the Power/Movement buon is turned ON.
This operaon is called inializaon.
Important: When the power lamp remains blinking
An inializaon error has occurred. Refer to the following secon to eliminate the cause of the
error, and then press the [Power/Movement] buon again.
"P.90 “The [Power/Movement] Buon Is Blinking”
Switching Off the Power
Procedure
Hold down the [Power/Movement] buon for one second or longer.
The light turns o and the power is switched o.
9
Chapter 1 Getting Started

Starting the Software
Windows 10 and 7
1
Click the [Start] buon.
2
Click [All Apps] ([All Programs] or [Programs] for Windows 7).
3
Click the icon for [(Name of soware to use)] under the [(Name of soware to
use)] folder.
Windows 8.1
1
On the [Start] screen, click .
2
On the [Apps] screen, click [(Name of soware to use)].
How to Display Help for the Software
Start the soware, and then click [Help] → [Contents] from the menu.
"P.10 “Starng the Soware”
Basic Operation
10
Chapter 1 Getting Started

11
Chapter 2 Imprinting
Preparing for Imprinng ......................................................................................... 12
Checking Imprint Workow ......................................................................... 12
Specifying Output Desnaon for METAZAStudio ....................................... 13
Preparing the Material ................................................................................. 14
Creang Imprint Data ............................................................................................. 16
Starng METAZAStudio ................................................................................ 16
METAZAStudio Screen .................................................................................. 17
Step 1: Determine the Shape and Size of Material ...................................... 19
Step 2: Import the Image ............................................................................. 24
Step 3: Enter the Text ................................................................................... 26
Step 4: Save Imprint Data ............................................................................. 27
Imprinng ............................................................................................................... 28
Selecng Material Retainers ........................................................................ 28
Loading Material (Using the Center Vise) .................................................... 28
Loading Material (Using the Grid Table) ...................................................... 32
Making Imprints ........................................................................................... 36
Stopping Imprint Operaons .................................................................................. 39
Step 1: Stopping Imprinng Operaons ....................................................... 39
Step 2: Deleng Data from the Imprint Queue ............................................ 40
Chapter 2 Imprinting

Checking Imprint Workow
P.13 “Specifying Output Destination for METAZAStudio”
Switch on the power of the machine and select it as the output desnaon for the computer.
P.14 “Preparing the Material”
Check several condions such as the material type and thickness that must be met for a material to be
imprinted.
P.16 “Creating Imprint Data”
Create imprinng data using METAZAStudio.
P.28 “Loading Material (Using the Center Vise)”
P.32 “Loading Material (Using the Grid Table)”
Set the material on the machine.
P.36 “Making Imprints”
Output the imprint data from METAZAStudio.
Preparing for Imprinting
12
Chapter 2 Imprinting

Specifying Output Destination for METAZAStudio
Procedure
A Switch on the power to the machine.
"P.9 “Switching On the Power”
B Start METAZAStudio.
"P.16 “Starng METAZAStudio”
C Click [File] → [Set up the printer].
The [Print Setup] screen appears.
D Select the printer to which data will be output.
1
Select [DGSHAPE LD-80].
2
Click [OK].
Preparing for Imprinting
13
Chapter 2 Imprinting

Preparing the Material
In order for a material to be used for imprinng with this machine, the material must meet all of
the following condions.
Material
• Acrylic
• Polycarbonate
• Polypropylene
• Polystyrene
• ABS
Thickness
Maximum: 20 mm (0.8 in.)
Size
The material is large enough to be rmly secured.
With this machine, you can use the center vice or the adhesive sheet to secure the material. It is
acceptable for the material to be of a size such that it protrudes from the center vice or adhesive
sheet, but the essenal requirement is that the material can be rmly secured.
Shape
There must be no unevenness on the imprint surface.
Imprinng is not possible for material that comes into contact with the moving part of the machine
when being loaded or during imprinng.
The edge of the
material is too high.
L-shape
Flat view:
Cross-seconal
view:
NOT OK NOT OK
Preparing for Imprinting
14
Chapter 2 Imprinting

The back surface must be at, with no difference in level. (When using the grid table)
To imprint material whose back surface is not at, use the center vise to x the material in place.
The back surface
is curved. The back surface is uneven.
Flat view:
Cross-seconal
view:
OK NOT OK NOT OK
Conditions for Material When Imprinting Curved Surfaces
The table and gure below show the recommended imprint area with respect to the diameter of
the cylinder with the extended curved surface. Note, however, that the following condions are
assumed.
Material with an extended curved surface has circularity.
Diameter of cylinder with
extended curved surface
(ϕ)
Recommended imprint area (A)
10 mm (0.4 in.) 2.0 mm (0.08 in.)
20 mm (0.8 in.) 2.8 mm (0.11 in.)
30 mm (1.2 in.) 3.4 mm (0.14 in.)
Preparing for Imprinting
15
Chapter 2 Imprinting

Starting METAZAStudio
Windows 10 and 7
1
Click the [Start] buon.
2
Click [All Apps] ([All Programs] or [Programs] for Windows 7).
3
Click the [METAZAStudio] icon under the [Roland METAZAStudio] folder.
Windows 8.1
1
On the [Start] screen, click .
2
On the [Apps] screen, click [METAZAStudio].
METAZAStudio starts.
Creating Imprint Data
16
Chapter 2 Imprinting

METAZAStudio Screen
No. Name Overview of funcon
1Menu bar Runs the various commands for METAZAStudio.
"METAZAStudio online help (“Commands”)
2Toolbar
The toolbar is provided with buons for running METAZAStudio commands
such as [Material] and [Open].
"METAZAStudio online help (“Commands” - “Toolbar buons”)
3Page feed bar
When you have entered data into a variable eld, use this to specify the page
(record) that is displayed on the screen. Use this for variable imprinng.
"P.73 “Creang Variable Imprint Data”
"METAZAStudio online help (“Hints and Tips” > “Performing Variable Imprint-
ing”)
4Status bar
This shows the present locaon of the cursor, informaon about the shape,
the grid, and the view magnicaon. Moving the pointer to a toolbar buon or
poinng to a menu command makes a brief explanaon of the buon or com-
mand appear at the le edge.
Present cursor posi-
on
This indicates the present locaon of the cursor. The
posion at the center of the window (where the two
center lines intersect) is (0, 0).
Shape informaon
This appears when you click an on-screen object
(image, text, or shape). The center posion and size
of the present shape are displayed, as shown in the
gure below.
Grid pitch
This displays the pitch (spacing) of the grid lines.
Clicking this displays menu items related to the ap-
pearance of the grid.
View scaling factor
This displays the present scaling factor for the screen
view. Clicking this displays a menu that lets you
change the view scaling factor.
Creating Imprint Data
17
Chapter 2 Imprinting

No. Name Overview of funcon
5Grid table The machine’s grid table is shown here. The scale displayed represents the
actual scale marks on the grid table.
6Work area
This is the area in which imprinng is possible. The material size (imprint
area) set with METAZA Driver is shown here.
"P.86 “Changing Basic Driver Sengs”
7Center line This indicates the vercal and horizontal centers of the window.
8Grid This is a grid of lines displayed in the work area. It serves as a guide for posi-
oning images and text.
9Margin
This blank area lies inside the edges of the work area and where no imprint-
ing is performed. The default seng upon installaon of METAZAStudio is
1 mm (0.04 in.). You can change the size of the margin by going to the [File]
menu and selecng [Preferences].
"P.19 “Step 1: Determine the Shape and Size of Material”
Creating Imprint Data
18
Chapter 2 Imprinting

Step 1: Determine the Shape and Size of Material
METAZAStudio has a number of dierent types of material preregistered. Using an example that
uses a plate as described below, this secon explains the procedure for using material with the
same shape as the plate and with the name of “tag.”
"P.14 “Preparing the Material”
25 mm
(0.98 in.)
40 mm
(1.6 in.)
Memo
If you want to register new material, see the secon given below.
"P.83 “Registering a Wide Variety of Materials”
Procedure
A Start METAZAStudio.
"P.16 “Starng METAZAStudio”
B Click .
The [Select Foil] screen appears.
Creating Imprint Data
19
Chapter 2 Imprinting

C Use the [Select Foil] screen to select the foil.
Clear the [Use printer driver sengs] check box to select the foil. To use foil that is not included
in the list, you can register the foil.
"P.84 “Registering the Foil and Adjusng the Imprinng Power”
If you will use the METAZA Driver sengs without changing them, select the [Use printer driver
sengs] check box.
D Click [OK].
E Click .
The [Material] panel appears.
Creating Imprint Data
20
Chapter 2 Imprinting