Craft Robo Lite - a mistake???

I've been having a play with the Lite and in some respects I am disappointed (please don't banish me, Graphtec!) I have never seen a cutter in operation so I suppose my expectations may have been higher than they should have been. I'm debating whether I should have gone for a different one. Having said that it will serve its purpose - I mainly wanted it for titles and shapes.

Pros:
Very clear start-up instructions
It does welds and mats fairly easily. (If the previous software didn't do that, just how basic was it?!)
You can open templates from this forum directly into the software - just click and they're there. (Thanks to someone on this site little Robo cut some beautiful swirls...I'm sorry I can't find who to credit)
The gridlines on screen and carrier sheet are useful - lines every 2cm.
It does seem to cut Bazzill with one pass (twice on one occasion - in that case I had to start again)

Cons:
The basic software is frustrating mainly because you can only "undo" once. The number of times I have to start again makes me want to scream but this will improve as I remember steps.
Sometimes I "lose" the ability to hold and drag a shape. I can't understand that.
There seems to be no way I can design in my existing software on my PC and save it as a gsd. What do I need? Do I need Design Master or Inkscape? I don't really want to buy Design Master as I chose the Lite partially for its cost compared to the "full" version. I don't think it's meant for designers.
You need a full length of A4 card/paper otherwise it gets snagged in the machine. This can be quite narrow, but I was hoping that I could just stick a little bit of card on the carrier and it would be OK. I've overcome this to a certain extent by "butting" up one piece of card with another and joining them with sellotape. This way I can get a shape plus a mat in a different colour in one pass.
Can't see how to buy the SD cards which are promised - sounds like they are just the thing for a Christmas wish list.


Heather

I have designmaster with my robo. I find it much easier to do the things I want in that, than i do with the robo master software. That said it is a bit of a learning curve and can be frustrating to begin with but I love designmaster.

I know some of the other robo users use Inkscape I didn't really get on with it.

The digital design packs can be bought direct from GraphtecGB from the store on www.crafty-club.co.uk which you will need to register on to gain access

Not sure why you can't cut a piece of card smaller than A4, it's certainly possible to do on the main Robo

Have a look at the tutorials for Inkscape, it's a free download www.inkscape.org and it's been reported that the current beta version they are working on produces DXF files that will, once loaded into the Robo software, cut a lot more smoothly than those produced in previous versions of inkscape. Have a look for previous threads in this section talking about it

Hi Heather

I'm not sure how small the pieces are you are trying to cut, I use magic tape to hold my scraps, so you can peel them off without damaging the card or paper after cutting and if you stick them somewhere handy you can use them several times before they loose their stick.

I wouldn't buy Design Master yet as Phil was asking about improvements to the program so it might be worth using Inkscape which is free until the new version of DM is ready.

Check out the free tutorials here on UKS there might be something you find useful.

I frequently cheat when cutting small pieces of card. Because I know they are going to be stuck onto another base card, rather than add stickiness to my carrier, I spray the back of the small piece of card. That way it gives double adhesion to the piece of card without compromising the carrier.

ErikaP

The smallest size that Graphtec recommend you cut is post card size. However I have cut from a long thin strip approx 2 1/2 inches wide on the Lite without a problem. You do need to ensure that the card is well stuck down and is gripped by (at least one of) the rollers. I think a possible problem is that the carrier sheet seems to be quite flimsy and floppy and the card can lift if it flexes. It's similar to but I think worse than the Pro carrier in this respect. So extra sticky or magic tape (which I use too) will help.

The software may look simple but it is also extremely versatile and if you look in some of our galleries you'll see that you can create some very sophisticated designs with it. For example try Ruthan's, Jenniebean's, beanpole's, mine and I think also Rugersmum's.

The Robo gsd file format is a proprietary vector one one so you won't find any graphics software that uses or can convert to it. You can however import various graphics file formats such as bmp or jpg into the Robo and hand or autotrace these; or as already suggested use software such as Inkscape which works with vectors and will allow you to save in dxf format which the Robo will accept.

Spend time going through the tutorials etc, and also reading as many post as you can - there's a wealth of information here to help you get the best from your machine. Most of the information will be also relevant to the Lite.

Alternative methods of getting two colour cuts will be to experiment with the fill tool on the bottom menu - you can add colour and possibly also send to your printer from within the Lite, the print option is there on the menu but I haven't yet tried it. You could also pre print coloured areas on your card, and use the grid to ensure you get your designs in the right positions to cut on them. So you could do very basic print and cut if you create a large enough coloured area. And look for posts on the reverse print & cut method which will allow you to do much finer detail work.

Rosemary

I use masking tape to attach
smaller pieces of card

Thanks everyone for this info. There is a wealth of information to trawl through.

I was grateful for the link for the Crafty Club and I've now registered. Unfortunately some of the free downloads have viruses in them - so I am pretty angry about that. Hopefully my antivirus software dealt with them sufficiently. I've let them know.

Interesting ideas about the small pieces of card - more playing today I think.

Why does the machine suck it in and out a few times before cutting?

Thanks for your help everyone.

Heather

Are you on Vista Heather? i've found that i often get a message saying that i've got a problem when i haven't.

It used to really annoy me as well, when a lot of my genuine emails ended up in my spam folder and the majority of the spam was still getting through to me. I ended up switching it off.

I've always assumed that the reason it goes back and forth is to make sure that your carrier mat is lined up properly. I know that sometimes I'm a bit lazy when I feed the carrier mat into the Pro and it gets thrown out the side. If I didn't have the track enhancing turned on I wouldn't know what i'd done until it had started cutting.

The CR does take some getting used to in order to get the best out of it and I think you are doing amazingly well so far.

janet

Oooo Rosemary, I have never heard the word sophisticated used in the same sentence as my name before lol.

I agree tho, I love RoboMaster, and I still keep discovering things that I didnt know it could do. I now have RoboMaster, DesignMaster, Funtime, and KNK GE, and I still automatically go to RoboMaster to design anything new.

Heather, I understanding yur issue about wanting to cuts words and mats in one pass. I get around this in two very different ways. The first and simplest is to cut them from the same coloured card anbd layer them as they are, its amazing how effective white on white can be (or even cuttlemugging the mat in the same colour). Secondly, I cut from the same coloured card but then decorate either the word or the mat with rubber stamps, embossing powders etc so that they are colour co-ordinated but different enough to be layered. This saves me time from having to do two passed, produces totally co-ordinated elements, and makes sure I keep my hand in with crafting and dont become just glued to my robo lol.

Hugs xox

Thanks for your messages.

Janet, I'm not on vista. I've found that the Avast virus software does detect stuff that Sophos doesn't.

I love your ideas about the matting JennieBean.

I've downloaded Inkscape now but I've got to wait for DH to help me out again getting it to run!!!!

Thanks again. Heather

I am disappointed that they didnt put more undo's on the new software, we have asked for that time and time again. Guess they didnt listen once again

Hi
Your problem about it sucking the paper in and out a few times has been mentioned before and I think if you uncheck the track enhancing box in the main controller panel that comes up when you want to cut it won't do it. Hope I'm right but someone who is a bit more experienced will probably give you more info!

It's a great shame that they didn't listen if more undos have been requested.

OK, I've now got inkscape and saved a very simple dxf file. When I loaded it into the RoboMaster it didn't fall inside the box so I had to zoom out, select it, then resize it and move it inside. I then realised that it doesn't have the grid as a background so "copied and pasted" it into a new Robomaster file. Am I missing something here?

Also, I saved a simple ellipse as a dxf file but when loading it into Robomaster it was like two of them joined together in the middle. What was that all about?

Sorry for all these questions! Hoping someone can help.

Thanks

Heather

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hortibabe

Hi
Your problem about it sucking the paper in and out a few times has been mentioned before and I think if you uncheck the track enhancing box in the main controller panel that comes up when you want to cut it won't do it. Hope I'm right but someone who is a bit more experienced will probably give you more info!

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Thanks - I'll try that. It may mean that I don't have to use a long bit of paper.

I really appreciate everyone's help here. :)

Heather

I don't know much about the Lite software, but if it has Autotrace, you may be better using the Export Bitmap from Inkscape, then autotracing.

Select the image, from Edit, Export Bitmap, hit the browse button on the dialogue box. Choose where to save the file and add the extension .PNG

You will need to change the file to a JPEG before using in Robo, you can do that in paint, just save as.

Autotraced files cut faster and more smoothly than DXF conversions.

ErikaP

I don't think the Lite does Autotrace, but I'll have a look. Thanks.

I've now done my second title - very proud of myself. Family thinks it looks great too - that is saying something as they don't normally give compliments!

Anyway, got to go now. Playing over and I need to get dressed!!!!!! (Well, it is a Sunday, isn't it?!!!!)

Thanks again.

Heather

The resize and moving sounds OK to me, I find most of mine are inside the cut area.

I'm not sure what you mean about the grid, you can't export the grid from one program to another, doesn't the new RM have a grid you can turn on and off, or have I misunderstood what you are saying :rolleyes:

Can't speak for the ellipse without seeing it, can you post a screen shot? Unless you are saying there is a node in the middle, in which case that is quite normal. Will say this though you can easily do an ellipse in RM so it's not worth importing from another program.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by heather belle

It's a great shame that they didn't listen if more undos have been requested.

OK, I've now got inkscape and saved a very simple dxf file. When I loaded it into the RoboMaster it didn't fall inside the box so I had to zoom out, select it, then resize it and move it inside. I then realised that it doesn't have the grid as a background so "copied and pasted" it into a new Robomaster file. Am I missing something here?

Also, I saved a simple ellipse as a dxf file but when loading it into Robomaster it was like two of them joined together in the middle. What was that all about?

Sorry for all these questions! Hoping someone can help.

Thanks

Heather

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by lucylogic

I am disappointed that they didnt put more undo's on the new software, we have asked for that time and time again. Guess they didnt listen once again

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I have just got design master this week and have used this morning .. i can undo at least 5 times .... maybe more didn't try that many not sure why you cant , but did find 'undo set up' under options , robo set up, undo set up. by increasing the memery devoted to the undo function you can increase the number of 'undo'....

hope this helps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frogzone

I have just got design master this week and have used this morning .. i can undo at least 5 times .... maybe more didn't try that many not sure why you cant , but did find 'undo set up' under options , robo set up, undo set up. by increasing the memery devoted to the undo function you can increase the number of 'undo'....

hope this helps.

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Hi Frogzone - It's the basic RoboMaster software which only has one undo. :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucille

The resize and moving sounds OK to me, I find most of mine are inside the cut area.

I'm not sure what you mean about the grid, you can't export the grid from one program to another, doesn't the new RM have a grid you can turn on and off, or have I misunderstood what you are saying :rolleyes:

Can't speak for the ellipse without seeing it, can you post a screen shot? Unless you are saying there is a node in the middle, in which case that is quite normal. Will say this though you can easily do an ellipse in RM so it's not worth importing from another program.

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Hi Lucille

I'll keep going and see whether more actually end up inside...

The grid is there on the RoboMaster software when you are starting fresh but it vanishes if importing a file! I'll see whether I can switch it on and off.

Mmmm? Screen shot?!! That's a bit techie for me!!!! I just did an ellipse as a sort of test - I didn't actually need it so to speak.

Anyway.... off to play some more and then I must get down to some "homework". Sigh.

Thanks for all your help today. :)

Heather

As well as the 'grid' that you can turn on/off via the 'view' menu, the CR lite software also has a 'mesh' . The lines are preset at 2cm intervals (which corresponds with the markings on the carrier mat) You can turn the mesh on/off also via the 'view' menu. You can't alter the 'mesh' settings like you can the 'grid' settings.

That sounds as clear as mud when I read it back.

Janet

Quote:

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Originally Posted by heather belle

I don't think the Lite does Autotrace, but I'll have a look. Thanks.


Heather

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Heather, it does do autotrace, it's a standard part of the Robo Master software. Look at the green square icon to the left of the weld option.

Rosemary

The grid and mesh options can be turned on and off via the view option on the top menu bar, and when you open a file the settings used previously for that file are used. If you open a file made with non Lite software, it won't have the mesh settings available to it, so you won't get it, so just turn it on when you need it.

Rosemary

Sorry Janet I didn't see your post!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dozyrosy

The grid and mesh options can be turned on and off via the view option on the top menu bar, and when you open a file the settings used previously for that file are used. If you open a file made with non Lite software, it won't have the mesh settings available to it, so you won't get it, so just turn it on when you need it.

Rosemary

Sorry Janet I didn't see your post!!

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Rosemary, you explained that so much better than I did.

Janet

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dozyrosy

Heather, it does do autotrace, it's a standard part of the Robo Master software. Look at the green square icon to the left of the weld option.

Rosemary

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Oh yes it does! I have just followed a tutorial for autotrace and now have a card made with a sailing boat on it (picked it up from clipart and put it in powerpoint first before importing).

How do I change the title of this thread - I feel embarrassed now. It was too early to make a judgement. It's just a steep learning curve.

Thanks again.

Heather

Thanks Janet & Rosemary for the grid advice - I can see that now. :)

Heather

There's nothing to be embarrassed about. I've had a CR for 2 years now and I still often get stuck and need help. Reading other peoples questions often provides that help without me having to ask for it.

I've had robo-monster just over a year now but only started using it about March time. I still get stuck on how I did something when I try to do it again. I think it goes with the territory, lol. Senior moments, trouble is they are getting closer together.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by heather belle

Also, I saved a simple ellipse as a dxf file but when loading it into Robomaster it was like two of them joined together in the middle. What was that all about?

Sorry for all these questions! Hoping someone can help.

Thanks

Heather

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I had the same problem when I first started playing with Inkscape. To prevent getting that strange shape, in Inkscape select the elipse & use option Path > Object to path before saving it as a dxf.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LesleyN

I had the same problem when I first started playing with Inkscape. To prevent getting that strange shape, in Inkscape select the elipse & use option Path > Object to path before saving it as a dxf.

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Oh thanks lesley - I'm so pleased someone knows what I meant! I'll give it a go.

Thanks :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucille

Hi Heather

I'm not sure how small the pieces are you are trying to cut, I use magic tape to hold my scraps, so you can peel them off without damaging the card or paper after cutting and if you stick them somewhere handy you can use them several times before they loose their stick.

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What a great idea Lucille, I didn't think of that - now..... where are all my scraps of card ... !

Thanks for the tip

Annie x

Sorry I'm a bit late in my reply but I've been away and have just caught up with this thread.

Whilst I can't address everything mentioned, I can comment regarding some of the software questions.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by heather belle

There seems to be no way I can design in my existing software on my PC and save it as a gsd. What do I need? Do I need Design Master or Inkscape?

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GSD is Robomasters own proprietry format. Which, sadly, means that it is pretty isolated in regards to it's use within other software. You can save in dxf format and open that in Robomaster but 3rd party support for the GSD format is limited.

We are currently looking at getting full GSD support added to DesignMaster but I would say that it will be a while before that is finished. You can currently import some GSD files in to Designmaster using the Import function in the file menu but complex files can cause it problems.

In the mean time, the experts here at UKS have found many ways to convert between formats and have posted plenty of tutorials on the subject. So you should find a way to do most things even if it isn't an ideal solution.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by heather belle

I was grateful for the link for the Crafty Club and I've now registered. Unfortunately some of the free downloads have viruses in them

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I can assure you that non of the files on the Crafty-Club have any virus infections. I am a massive security geek when it comes to computers, and I've personally tested the downloads with various scanners and they are clean. The 'problem' is caused by inaccurate antivirus software bringing up false positives. AVG and Avast seem to be the worst for this.

For peace of mind you can always use this site here to check any file against 36 different virus scanners. As an example, I tested one of the templates zip files, the love templates. Out of 36 scanners, 2 brought up false positives, with Avast being one of those, whilst 34 other scanners classed the file as clean. From experience, I have found that the most trusted are NOD32, Kaspersky and BitDefender. If those 3 all say a file is clean, then in my opinion it is clean and I would be willing to run the file on any PC I own.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lucylogic

I am disappointed that they didnt put more undo's on the new software, we have asked for that time and time again. Guess they didnt listen once again

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Sadly, we do not control the development of Robomaster. Robomaster's development is in the hands of Graphtec japan. We certainly do listen to our customers and often relay requested features and/or bugs to japan but we can only make suggestions towards the softwares improvements we cannot demand a feature be added.

I hope that answers a few of the software related questions.

Thank you Brian for your messages.

I'm pleased to report that I'm getting around some of the problems - using the autotrace for example and saving frequently if designing anything in the Robomaster!

My antivirus software was obvioously over zealous! (But would rather it that way!)

This is a very helpful place to be - I appreciate it. This is one of the reasons why I wanted a Robo because of the wealth of information and support. Carry on the good work.

Thanks! Heather

Thank you Brian for including my comment in your post. It is good to know that Graphtec are listening and putting our comments forward to Japan. I'm sure we understand that demanding an inclusion is a no no, but more like suggestions. It just appeared that we weren't listened to. What is narky about it is that the majority of software programs come with more than just 1 undo!!! In fact this program is the only one that I've come across with this feature. Thank you for explaining though, it is much appreciated.

Hello from Spain.
I have purchased a Craft Robo Lite a week ago.
Initially I think to return it to vendor but some days after It finally likes me.
But I have some mistakes about it.
I know that Craft Robo Lite doesn't have laser view and it can't use reposition marks.
I want to print any designs with my printer and before cutting with my Lite.
I would like to know if there's someone that use this features manually.
I just test with Adjustment but I can't to adjust to print my printers jobs.
Sorry if I don't explain very well, I'm Spanish and I don't speak english very well.

Is there any users from Spain like me?

Message transcript in Spanish:
Hola desde España. Me compré una Craft Robo Lite hace una semana. Inicialmente pensé en devolverla pero tras varios días finalmente empezó a gustarme, aunque tengo algunos problemas con ella.
Se que la Craft Robo Lite no tiene lente y no se puede utilizar las marcas para reposicionarse.
Quiero imprimir algunos diseños con mi impresora y luego cortarlos con la Craft Robo.
Me gustaría saber si hay alguien que lo haya hecho manualmente.
He probado con los ajuster pero no puesto dejarla bien con los trabajos que imprimo.

Un saludo...

Best regards to all....:P