Laser cutter stops when computer is locked

[meastaugh1]

We have a new laser cutter from Universal Laser Systems Inc which connects to the computer (Win XPP) via USB and uses the usual print driver for this type of device.

We've found that when the screensaver is running, when someone moves the mouse and is prompted to enter their password (as the computer is locked). The cutting stops and and has to be started over. The same occurs if you manually lock the workstation. The reseller advises me that Windows locks down certain things that the software needs to communicate with the cutter.

I appreciate this is a bit vague, but can anyone shed any light, and hopefully how to control what is locked out during a lock? thanks

[bishopsgarthstockton]

Can the reseller give you more information other than 'Windows locks down certain things that the software needs to communicate with the cutter'.

Did they also sya that their aware of the issue and they have/are working on a fix?

What is the spec of the machine that is running this laser cutter?

[Oops_my_bad]

Oh dear. We had this sort of thing happen on a mercury laser cutter. In the end we got a networked USB print server for it which was the only way around it at the time.

I wonder if you can get any of the drivers/services it needs to run as a system account maybe?

Does it have a parallel interface that you could try?

[meastaugh1]

Can the reseller give you more information other than 'Windows locks down certain things that the software needs to communicate with the cutter'.

I doubt it, I did try and press them on it, but I think that was about the limit of their technical knowledge.

Did they also sya that their aware of the issue and they have/are working on a fix?

They said they were aware, but were not working on a fix because it was "not possible to fix".

What is the spec of the machine that is running this laser cutter?

It's a PLS360.

Oh dear. We had this sort of thing happen on a mercury laser cutter. In the end we got a networked USB print server for it which was the only way around it at the time.

I wonder if you can get any of the drivers/services it needs to run as a system account maybe?

Does it have a parallel interface that you could try?

I've a USB print server kicking around that I could try. Will try the other two solutions, thanks for the suggestions.

[andy]

Oh dear. We had this sort of thing happen on a mercury laser cutter.

Interesting.. we have a Mercury, but when you send something to "print" it sends the whole file to the cutter for you then to instigate from the Mercury.

Andy

[plexer]

Wow that thing looks awesome compared to our versalaser.

However I believe our versalaser cuts fine when the controller machine is locked.

I'll have a look when I can.

Ben