I found a forum for the software that came with our new laser cutter. I haven't dug too deeply into it yet, but it looks like it could be a good resource.
I watched his Video on DOT mode, Jim - you might want ot watch it and see if it might help in cutting that material you tried last Thursday.
Also I noticed he was running his material about 1/8" from the nozzle. We will need to play with that a bit and find a "sweet spot". I want to put together a list of checks points before and after use, I'll start a new thread for that.
Some things are meant to be closed. Your mind isn't one of them.