CaraMax Corporation

Instructions & Training

• DMZ templates (Zip, 62 KB)
• Template instruction (PDF, 148 KB)
• MPX-60 troubleshooting (PDF, 15 KB)
• MPX-60 driver adjustment (PDF, 64 KB)
• MPX-60 how to adjust image quality (PDF, 118 KB)
• MPX-60 how to align (PDF, 118 KB)
• MPX-60 image correction (PDF, 1.03 MB)
• MPX-60 user's manual (PDF, 2.12 MB)
• MPX-60 guide (PDF, 2.11 MB)
• Increase Metaza print quality & reduce printing time with MPX-60 (PDF, 124 KB)
• MPX-70 FAQ (PDF, 30 KB)
• MPX-70 precautions (PDF, 116 KB)
• MPX-70 user's manual (PDF, 3.15 MB)

MPX-60 Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the machine?
You can find the dimensions of the machine and other specifications and features on the system page.

Do I need any software for this system?
This system comes bundled with Dr. Metaza2 software. Adding the imaging software and hardware will only serve to increase your sales opportunities.

Do you sell real gold and sterling silver?
Sterling silver is the only precious metal we currently have in our product offering.

Why does my engraving come out blurry?
Please ensure you are using a pendant specifically designed for Metaza and not for another process such as ChromaPress, etc. If you continue to have issues, please contact us.

Can I put color images on Metaza pendants?
Metaza pendants are designed for engraving only and will not take color impressions.

How do I get my machine repaired if it is still under warranty?
Please contact us for specific information.

Can you explain the engraving machine?
The MPX-60 uses a diamond-tipped stylus moving at high speeds and strikes the marking surface with variable force to recreate text or gradations of photo images onto flat surfaces.

What do I need to start using this system?
If you purchased the Platinum package and have your own computer, you can begin using this system immediately. Adding the imaging software and hardware will only serve to increase your sales opportunities.

How do you engrave on acrylic?
Set the acrylic plate on the base just as you would a pendant. The gray plate on the back of the acrylic should be facing up. Reverse the image in the print property.

Why does the image on the Metaza pendant come out so light (hard to see)?
First, ensure you are engraving on a Metaza pendant and not a pendant from one of our other lines, such as ChromaPress, etc. Also, make sure you are setting the pendant up correctly. Please refer to the instructions and guides on the right hand column of this page.

Any foreseen problems with the machine?
The engraving tip of the machine will last for about 10,000 - 30,000 engraving depending on what you are engraving. You will have to replace the tip or buy a new machine at that time.

Can I do engraving on other surfaces besides pendants?
You can engrave on almost any metallic flat surface that is smaller than 3 inches x 3 inches.

How do I engrave on a Zippo?
The engraving process on a Zippo is just as you would a pendant.

How do I setup the machine?
You can find documentation on How to setup under the Instruction & Training section on the right hand column of this page.

Do you provide instructional video or support on the use of the machine?
Instructional documents and telephone support are available for this system. Videos will be available in the future.

How long does it take to put an image on a pendant?
The Total Average Process Time is: 6 minutes (Novice) to 3 minutes (Experienced)

How long does it take to earn back the initial investment?
The profit margin on all of our systems is in the range of 500 - 900% (est.). You should earn your initial investment back by the time you have sold all of the pendants included in the Platinum package. See hypothetical.

I own an MPX-50 and MPX-60 and notice that the Min and Max impact settings in the driver are very different, why?
The impact settings are different between the two machines due to the structure of the head. The MPX-60 uses a Coil Spring as opposed to the MPX-50, which uses a Leaf Spring for the stylus. Electrical current controls the impact force; therefore the MPX-60 (with the Coil Spring) is capable of impacting the same as the MPX-50 using lower impact settings in the driver.

Why does the output differ between the MPX-50 and MPX-60?
MPX-60 produces higher resolution images (265dpi Photo / 212dpi Text) than the MPX-50 (203dpi). This means that the dot placement of an MPX-60 is much closer than that of the MPX-50, thus giving the illusion that it is impacting lighter, when in fact the MPX- 60 is merely providing a more detailed image than that of the MPX-50.

I am using Rhodium, Gold and Nickel plated materials, what settings should I use?
Although the Stainless Steel setting should be sufficient for most work, the following settings are also recommended to obtain *sellable output from the MPX-60.

* Sellable output depends greatly on the quality of the image.

I am impacting on Gold and Silver pendants, what settings should I use?
When impacting on Gold and Silver Pendants (not coated), please use the following settings.

I want to be able to control how the image is impacted, how can I do this?
Go to File > Print Preview and make adjustments to the Brightness, Contrast and Gamma settings. The Print Preview window gives you a real-time view when making these adjustments.

When I send the file I am getting banding or scratches on my material, why?
There are a few factors that can cause banding and scratches on your materials.

1. Material is not secure to the pad.
2. The rubber pad is dirty (refer to Users Manual for cleaning instructions).
3. The material is not flat (refer to Users Manual for material loading instructions).
4. The quality of the material is not consistent.
5. The wrong material setting is selected in the driver.
6. You are printing bi-directionally. Printing bi-directional produces faster output, but quality is sacrificed. To get the best possible output, print in uni-directional mode (uncheck the bi-directional box in the driver properties).
7. You�re impacting off the edge of the material and the stylus tip is striking the side of the material. For this, it is a good idea to utilize templates (refer to Users Manual for instructions).
8. The stylus tip may be out of alignment due to striking the edge or holes in the materials.
9. Damaged stylus tip.

I need to clean up the image, what tools can I use to accomplish this?
Although you can clean the image considerably with Dr. Metaza2, a good image-editing program such as Adobe Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro could be used to make detailed image adjustments/enhancements.

I am working with color images and find it hard to make detailed adjustments to the image. How can I get a decent image to work with?
Try converting the image into a grayscale and try making the adjustments again. Also, make sure the image itself is of good quality and has decent brightness and contrast in it. This will make the editing of the image a much smoother process and ultimately produce a higher quality image. The rule of thumb is, the better the image the better the output.

MPX-70 Frequently Asked Questions

I own an MPX-60 and MPX-70 and notice that the Min and Max impact settings in the driver are very different, why?
The reason why the impact settings are different between the two machines is that the structure of the print head is different. The MPX-70 uses a Carbide Tipped Stylus as opposed to the MPX-60 which uses a coil spring, Diamond Tipped Stylus. The impact force is controlled by electrical current; therefore the MPX-70 (with the Carbide Tipped Stylus) is capable of impacting higher quality/details than the MPX-60 using lower impact settings in the driver.

Why does the output differ between the MPX-60 and MPX-70?
The reason is that the MPX-70 produces higher resolution images (265dpi Text / 353dpi Photo / 529dpi High Resolution) than that of the MPX-60 (212dpi Text / 265dpi Photo). This means that the dot placement of an MPX-70 is much closer (also staggered when printing in High Res. Mode) than that of the MPX-60, thus the MPX-70 is able to produce a much more detailed and brighter image than the MPX-60 or MPX-50.

I am using Rhodium, Gold and Nickel plated materials, what settings should I use?
The printer driver for the MPX-70 has a new setting called *RolandMD. This setting should be used for all coated materials such as Nickel, Gold, Silver and Rhodium Plated. The driver does support custom settings and the user can adjust the settings accordingly.
* Sellable output depends greatly on the quality of the image.

I want to be able to control how the image is impacted, how can I do this?
You can do this by going to File > Print Preview and make adjustments to the Brightness, Contrast and Gamma settings. The Print Preview window gives you a real-time view when making the adjustments.

When I print, the Stylus Cartridge is hitting the side of the material, why?
The reason this occurs is that when loading the material and setting the head to the material, you pressed the entire clear plastic body instead of the metal tab (which the arrows on the plastic are pointing to) to the surface of the material. Please refer to the user�s manual for proper material loading procedures.

I need to clean up the image, what tools can I use to accomplish this?
Although you can clean the image considerably with Dr. Metaza2, a good image-editing program such as Adobe Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro could be used to make detailed image adjustments/enhancements.

I am working with color images and find it hard to make detailed adjustments to the image. How can I get a decent image to work with?
Try converting the image into a grayscale and try making the adjustments again. Also, make sure the image itself is of good quality and has decent brightness and contrast in it. This will make the editing of the image a much smoother process and ultimately produce a higher quality image. The rule of thumb is, the better the image the better the output.

My machine needs to be serviced, whom do I call?
Your first line of defense is to contact your dealer. Should you need additional assistance and/or support, please contact Roland technical support at 888-273-8895. The technician will be able troubleshoot your product to see if indeed the unit needs to be serviced and will provide details on returning the unit for service.

I was printing and one of the pins broke, what should I do?
Using the Print Head Manager (located in the Roland Dr. Metaza2 program group), select a different pin to use and apply the change. Power the unit on and back off to complete the pin change and continue printing. You may want to run the print head adjustment to ensure your output quality is at its best. Please refer to the Users Manual for more information.

How long does it take to print a 30x50mm dogtag?
The MPX-70 can produce a 30x50mm dogtag in less than 6 minutes in Photo Mode (353dpi).

My material is slipping on the table, how do I correct this?
Take the clear rubber pad off the machine and wash it under lukewarm water (especially in cold environments). This will clean off any dust/debris that might be on the rubber pad. Towel dry and place back onto the grid (no special alignment is needed, only ensure that you cover the grid marks).

What is the life of the print head for the MPX-70?
The print head life is approx. *3600 plates (23x30mm @ 35% duty cycle). This number is based on Brass plated material.
* Print head life depends on the hardness of the material.

Does the MPX-70 use all 9 pins during printing?
No, the MPX-70 has 9 pins, but only uses one pin at a time. The additional pins will automatically switch over to a new one once the used pin reaches its useful life. Also, you can manually change the pin in the case one should bend or break using the MPX-70 print head manager.

Lighters have always been hard to produce on the MPX-50/60. Are they easier to do on the MPX-70?
Yes, since you are adjusting the head to the material, lighters come out almost perfect each and every time as long as the material and template are setup properly.

I am impacting on a gift box / lighter and I notice that the head is dragging slightly on the material, why?
It could be that the material is not perfectly flat. To remedy this, take a piece of paper and fold it in half and place it on top of the material when you set the head to the surface of the material. This will allow for a slight gap in which the MPX-70 will have enough clearance to clear the material and still impact.

I have files that where created for the MPX-50/60 and notice that the images are coming out too bright, how can I correct this?
In the print preview window, adjust the gamma to around the 0.6 range or lower for files that were produced with the MPX-50/60.

Still need help? Please contact us.