Vinyl cutter: Difference between revisions
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(Added note about uneven pressure; changed software instruction to launch from Terminal) |
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= Vinyl Cutter = | |||
[[File:Vinyl_cutter.jpg|800px|The vinyl cutter station in all its glory.]] | |||
== Latest News == | |||
* Dec 21 2021 - Sophia and Daniel got it working again. | |||
''View the https://noisebridge.net/wiki/Talk:Vinyl_cutter for a maintenance log'' | |||
== Vinyl cutting! == | == Vinyl cutting! == | ||
Vinyl cutters take paper-backed vinyl and cut them robotically. They talk | Vinyl cutters take paper-backed vinyl and cut them robotically. They talk HPGL. HPGL can be generated from | ||
various vector tools. | |||
=== Our cutter === | === Our cutter === | ||
We have 50" USCutter | We have a 50" USCutter MH1351-MK2. | ||
== Using the cutter == | == Using the cutter == | ||
Quick params:<br/> | |||
Cut speed - this depends on the complexity of the cut. 10mm/sec for complicated cuts, up to 200mm/sec for big stuff.<br/> | |||
Cut Press - play around with this - 50g works well. <br/> | |||
When cutting the printer cuts 7% larger than the mm scale in inkscape, so for size-precise cuts, downscale by 7%. | |||
=== Important rules === | === 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 | * 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 | * 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 === | === New Vinyl setup === | ||
# 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 | # 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 | ||
# Flip all the pinch rollers down, and pull the vinyl through the machine | # Flip all the pinch rollers down, and pull the [https://topvinylcutters.com/best-heat-press-for-cricut/ vinyl through the machine] | ||
# 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 | # 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 | ||
# Flip the pinch roller levers up. | # Flip the pinch roller levers up. | ||
| Line 23: | Line 39: | ||
## 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 | ||
## Pressure is higher on the ends of the machine, lower in the middle. For wider cuts, you may want to place the material in the middle. You may still cut the backing sheet on the ends and not through the vinyl in the middle. Optimize the pressure for the edges, and you may need to do some manual cut works in the middle.. | |||
== | [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-fdVSq0bro&t=612s video instructions for loading vinyl and setting the origin] | ||
=== Setting the origin === | === Setting the origin === | ||
| Line 36: | Line 48: | ||
# Press the Origin button | # Press the Origin button | ||
=== Software Instructions === | |||
* Launch Inkcut by running this on Terminal: "Desktop/Run_this_in_terminal.sh". | |||
== | * Click File > Open and choose your file. | ||
* When you're ready select vinyl cutter 2 as the device and click Device > Send to Device to send it to the device. | |||
* Ensure that the usb in the computer is plugged in and the serial port on the cutter is also plugged in. | |||
* | |||
Latest revision as of 17:08, 1 April 2023
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Vinyl Cutter[edit]
Latest News[edit]
- Dec 21 2021 - Sophia and Daniel got it working again.
View the https://noisebridge.net/wiki/Talk:Vinyl_cutter for a maintenance log
Vinyl cutting![edit]
Vinyl cutters take paper-backed vinyl and cut them robotically. They talk HPGL. HPGL can be generated from various vector tools.
Our cutter[edit]
We have a 50" USCutter MH1351-MK2.
Using the cutter[edit]
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.
When cutting the printer cuts 7% larger than the mm scale in inkscape, so for size-precise cuts, downscale by 7%.
Important rules[edit]
- 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[edit]
- 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
- Flip all the pinch rollers down, and pull the vinyl through the machine
- 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
- Flip the pinch roller levers up.
- 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
- Loosen the brass locknut
- Turn the top, aluminum nut until the blade is completely retracted
- Expose the blade to your guess as to the depth of the vinyl
- 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
- Pressure is higher on the ends of the machine, lower in the middle. For wider cuts, you may want to place the material in the middle. You may still cut the backing sheet on the ends and not through the vinyl in the middle. Optimize the pressure for the edges, and you may need to do some manual cut works in the middle..
video instructions for loading vinyl and setting the origin
Setting the origin[edit]
- Press the Pause button
- Navigate to the desired origin
- Press the Origin button
Software Instructions[edit]
- Launch Inkcut by running this on Terminal: "Desktop/Run_this_in_terminal.sh".
- Click File > Open and choose your file.
- When you're ready select vinyl cutter 2 as the device and click Device > Send to Device to send it to the device.
- Ensure that the usb in the computer is plugged in and the serial port on the cutter is also plugged in.