Vinyl cutter: Difference between revisions

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(Easier use from the command line)
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## Set the locknut
## Set the locknut
## Press the test button If the backing paper is deeply scored, then blade is too low. If the vinyl isn't cut, the blade is too high. Adjust, lather, rinse, repeat
## Press the test button If the backing paper is deeply scored, then blade is too low. If the vinyl isn't cut, the blade is too high. Adjust, lather, rinse, repeat
=== Setting the origin ===
# Press the Pause button
# Navigate to the desired origin
# Press the Origin button


=== Software ===
=== Software ===
Line 45: Line 50:
* Go adjust the configs, match up the baud rate at 2400 on both the software and on the cutter
* Go adjust the configs, match up the baud rate at 2400 on both the software and on the cutter
* Go ahead and cut what you wanna cut
* Go ahead and cut what you wanna cut
==== If you have a PostScript file ====
If the above is way too complicated and you are like Henner, just write your stuff directly in PostScript (vi or emacs are your friends) and you can convert to HPGL and send it to the plotter in a one-liner without leaving the comfort of your shell.
Make sure to set the plotter to 9600 baud before, the 2400 baud mentioned above in the InkScape setup seems to run into buffer-troubles.
  pstoedit -xscale 0.98425 -yscale 0.98425 -f hpgl &lt; <b>mypostscript-file.ps</b> | socat STDIO /dev/ttyUSB0,raw,echo=0,crtscts=1,b9600
We need to scale to 0.98425 because the cutter seems to have 1/1000" units instead of standard HPGL 1/40mm.
The socat command-line is useful in itself if you already have a HPGL file and want to send it over.


=== Cutting ===
=== Cutting ===
Line 55: Line 71:
* Profit
* Profit


=== Setting the origin ===
# Press the Pause button
# Navigate to the desired origin
# Press the Origin button


== Old information about pledges ==
== Old information about pledges ==

Revision as of 21:48, 29 July 2015

Vinyl Cutter

Latest News

  • June 2013 - C repaired the vinyl cutter, it's up and running again!

View the https://noisebridge.net/wiki/Talk:Vinyl_cutter for a maintenance log

Vinyl cutting!

Vinyl cutters take paper-backed vinyl and cut them robotically. They talk GCode or some variant and eat SVG.

Our cutter

We have 50" USCutter MH. It runs "Sure Cuts a Lot" software on the laser cutter machine. They use some dumb registration / activation system, so it can only be installed on one machine.

Using the cutter

Quick params:
Cut speed - this depends on the complexity of the cut. 10mm/sec for complicated cuts, up to 200mm/sec for big stuff.
Cut Press - play around with this - 50g works well.

Important rules

  • Don't touch the blade. Not only is it poky, getting any kind of dirt or skin oil on it makes it very unhappy
  • Be aware of static electricity - unrolling the vinyl is a mini maelstrom of sparks. Ground yourself and the machine
  • Cover the machine when done. Dust is bad.


New Vinyl setup

  1. Load your vinyl in the roller rack. Note, however, that the cutter does not have the strength to unroll any vinyl, so be sure to unroll more than you need and leave it slack
  2. Flip all the pinch rollers down, and pull the vinyl through the machine
  3. Slide the pinch rollers sideways and arrange them over the vinyl. You probably want to use three rollers - two an inch from each of the sides, and one in the middle
  4. Flip the pinch roller levers up.
  5. Adjust the cutter blade height. The cutter blade should be exactly as tall as the vinyl. Too tall and it will ruin the cutting surface below. Too short and it won't cut all the way through
    1. Loosen the brass locknut
    2. Turn the top, aluminum nut until the blade is completely retracted
    3. Expose the blade to your guess as to the depth of the vinyl
    4. Set the locknut
    5. Press the test button If the backing paper is deeply scored, then blade is too low. If the vinyl isn't cut, the blade is too high. Adjust, lather, rinse, repeat

Setting the origin

  1. Press the Pause button
  2. Navigate to the desired origin
  3. Press the Origin button

Software

Inkscape on Linux

  • Download the app and get it installed. https://github.com/slandis/InkCutter/
  • Make sure you've got python-serial
  • Make sure you're in the dialout user group
  • Plug in the serial to USB cable from the cutter (USB to USB will not work)
  • Open up InkScape
  • Draw some useful paths
  • Go open up Inkcut in the Extensions menu
  • Go adjust the configs, match up the baud rate at 2400 on both the software and on the cutter
  • Go ahead and cut what you wanna cut

If you have a PostScript file

If the above is way too complicated and you are like Henner, just write your stuff directly in PostScript (vi or emacs are your friends) and you can convert to HPGL and send it to the plotter in a one-liner without leaving the comfort of your shell.

Make sure to set the plotter to 9600 baud before, the 2400 baud mentioned above in the InkScape setup seems to run into buffer-troubles.

 pstoedit -xscale 0.98425 -yscale 0.98425 -f hpgl < mypostscript-file.ps | socat STDIO /dev/ttyUSB0,raw,echo=0,crtscts=1,b9600

We need to scale to 0.98425 because the cutter seems to have 1/1000" units instead of standard HPGL 1/40mm.

The socat command-line is useful in itself if you already have a HPGL file and want to send it over.

Cutting

  • Open Sure Cuts a Lot
  • Draw
  • Unroll enough vinyl
  • Click Cut (Cutter if using Sure Cuts a Lot Pro?) -> Cut With US Cutter
  • Set mode to "Origin", not "WYSIWYG". This is usually already set.
  • Click Cut.
  • Profit


Old information about pledges

It was suggested that Noisebridge should have a vinyl cutter, which can be purchased for ~$300.

If you would like to contribute funds toward it, edit this page to add your name to this list:

  • Casey - $250 - paid
  • Leif - $50 - paid
  • Liz - $20 A bit extra for supplies
  • Molly - $25 - paid
  • Shannon - $25 - paid
  • Dan - $20 - paid

If people opt to get the 50" model, the following people will contribute money

  • Coreyfro - $25
  • Larry - $100 - paid
  • Arlen - $25 - paid
  • Merlin - $25 - paid


Invoice

  • 50" Derpaderpa cutter w/ shipping + spare blades: 409

Vinyl we want

  • Some matte vinyl - looks better for laptop decals
  • Oracal transfer tape is the best