Cutter Help Needed - HP Wide Format Cutter

[GamecockGrafx]

Don't know where to begin. Trying to KISS cut Brightline Duration X vinyl with Briteline Overlaminate applied on top. Ever since I changed my cutter blade last spring, it just has a hard time cutting - KISS or PERF CUT.

I use Flexi version 24. I import my image into Flexi then apply a contour cut (either KISS or PERF). Next, I click on the cutter tool on top menu and my Window opens to choose cut settings, etc. This is where I'm "lost."

Of all of the cutting settings I have (see) which one will cut the vinyl and lam? What do the individual settings need to be set to - then I remembered that when I first started doing this GRIMCO tech services had me install HP Cutter Control on the machine (PC).

Questions: Do the settings on cutter control override those set on Flexi (or vice versa)? What are the standard settings for Cutter Control? Which parameters do I need to change when cutting thicker media, etc?

Is there a manual that would help me learn all of these terms, settings, etc? Attaching several images of all of my dialog boxes from Flexi as well as a PDF of what the parameters are set to on Cutter Control

Thanks for any help - have about 250 more decals to cut as soon as we get things dialed back in!

 

[balstestrat]

Flexi will override what's set in the cutter.
I would just edit the default settings and disable everything from Flexi. Then adjust in the cutter to the desired force.

You don't really need to change anything else than pressure if your speed is not set crazy high.

 

[GamecockGrafx]

I always keep my speed between 12 and 20 - default I think is 32. When you said "adjust in the cutter" does that mean on the actual cutter tool panel, or with the HP Cutter Control software? Thank you.

 

[balstestrat]

Cutter panel and cutter control software does the same adjustment. Same thing, only it's easier to adjust from the cutter because you can easily test the pressure.

 

[Signstein]

You should also have some presets (4 I think) you can assign once you go through these adjustments. One for contour cut, one for perf cut, one for laminated, etc.
Makes it easier to get consistent cuts across media without having to muck with settings at all.

 

[citysignshop]

Ever since I changed my cutter blade last spring, it just has a hard time cutting - KISS or PERF CUT.

there's a clue!....brand new blades can be dull! or sometime in the last 6 months it ran off the vinyl, or hit a chunk of grit, or someone dropped it!
Start with a new blade, using the old settings. I will run a test job ( not just the cutter test patterns!) similar to the real job. Set very slow, with light pressure. Fast with high pressure ( force). somewhere in between is the sweet spot....minimal blade wear, clean cuts, decent speed. ( really, is it a race?....only cutter salesperson really think 500 inches per second is needed!)
Kiss and perf I would assume you'd use a different angle blade? keeps the point on the kiss-cut blade pristine, and the holder free of paper fuzz and junk!
good luck!

 

[GamecockGrafx]

citysignshop Thank you for the info. I did place a new blade in the machine before starting this job. Just changed speed to 10 inches per second - normally run/ran at 24 and max setting is 32. First time ever hearing about blade angle - I just drop the new blade in blade holder, set at correct depth and use the one blade for everything. Getting the cutter to the "sweet spot" is just as difficult as getting the laminator sweet spot correct IMO. From some of the other replies, here, here's what I've done and my results:

Changed pressure and velocity on cutter - select either KISS or PERF on Flexi - Results - on short runs, like 2 or 3 images, it cuts great - but when I go to cut a whole panel, like 24" x 48" the cut pressure gets less and less as it moves through. This is the most frustrating. Running a few - great - more than a few - nightmare.

 

[Signstein]

but when I go to cut a whole panel, like 24" x 48" the cut pressure gets less and less as it moves through.

Could your blade holder be damaged or not seating properly? Almost sounds like the blade is slowly moving within the holder.