Small Vinyl Cutter Reminders: Difference between revisions

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# A Mac laptop with Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro installed on it (there should be one with a sticker on the lid that says "VCarve Computer"
# A Mac laptop with Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro installed on it (there should be one with a sticker on the lid that says "VCarve Computer"
# A USB cable to connect the Mac laptop to the Vinly cutter (there should be one with a tape label attached to it that says "Vinyl Cutter"
# A USB cable to connect the Mac laptop to the Vinly cutter (there should be one with a tape label attached to it that says "Vinyl Cutter"
# The vinyl cutter power button is on the left end, near the power cord.  You should probably insert and adjust the vinly material before turning it on.
# The vinyl cutter power button is on the left end, near the power cord.  You should probably insert and adjust the vinly material before turning it on.


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# Your design in one of the digital formats that Sure Cuts supports (Illustrator, SVG, DXF, PNG, PDF).
# Your design in one of the digital formats that Sure Cuts supports (Illustrator, SVG, DXF, PNG, PDF).
# Vinyl.
# Vinyl material.
# Transfer tape.
# Transfer tape.
# A burnisher to apply the transfer tape (though you can improvise this from many things).
# A burnisher to apply the transfer tape (though you can improvise this from many things).
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## That the vinyl feeds from back to front.
## That the vinyl feeds from back to front.
## We may be wrong.
## We may be wrong.
# Adjust the tollers
# Adjust the rollers.
## The back of the cutter has four black rectangular fittings, about 1.5" x 1" x 3".
## The back of the cutter has four black rectangular fittings, about 1.5" x 1" x 3".
## Each fitting has a little lever.
## Each fitting has a little lever.
## Lift the lever up to vertical to open the roller.
## Lift the lever up to vertical to open the roller.
### This both lifts up the rollers so you can slide vinyl material under them, and makes it possible to slide the roller fittings horizontally,.
## Move the vinyl material into place under the rollers
## Move the vinyl material into place under the rollers
## Adjust the roller locations to hold the vinly down evenly.
## Adjust the roller locations to position them above the vinyl material, spread out evenly.
## Press the lever down to horizontal lock the roller.
## Press the levers down to horizontal to lock the rollers.
# Any unused rollers, lift the lever to vertical.
# Any unused rollers, lift the lever to vertical.
# NOTE:  The little red buttons inside the vinly cutter, on either end, are hard stops.  Make sure you don't put the vinyl so close to the hard stops that the cutting head will hit the hard stop.  There is a small ruler that stops 1/2" from the right-hand hard stop, don't put the vinyl any closer to the hard stop than that.
# NOTE:  The little red buttons inside the vinly cutter, on either end, are hard stops.  Make sure you don't put the vinyl so close to the hard stops that the cutting head will hit the hard stop.  There is a small ruler that stops 1/2" from the right-hand hard stop, don't put the vinyl any closer to the hard stop than that.
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# Use the console arrow buttons to move the head to the zero point on the vinyl material.
# Use the console arrow buttons to move the head to the zero point on the vinyl material.
## The zero location should be in lower, right corner (aka front, right corner) of material.
## The zero location should be in lower, right corner (aka front, right corner) of material.
## Press the console crosshairs button (in center of arrow buttons) to reset zero to current location.
# Press the console crosshairs button (in center of arrow buttons) to reset zero to current location.


== Mac Steps ==
== Mac Steps ==


# Press the console "On Line" button again to bring the machine online.
# Before using Sure Cuts A Lot Pro:
## Make sure the console screen says "On--Line"
## Press the console "On Line" button again to bring the machine online.
# Make sure the USB cable labeled "Vinyl Cutter" is plugged into both the cutter and the Mac laptop.
### Make sure the console screen says "On--Line"
## Use the program Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro, on the MacBook
## Make sure the USB cable labeled "Vinyl Cutter" is plugged into both the cutter and the Mac laptop.
### Note, the Mac has a sticker on the lid, "VCarve Computer"
# Use the program Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro, on the MacBook
### The Vcarve Mac has both a Windows and a Mac partition.
## Note, the Mac has a sticker on the lid, "VCarve Computer"
### Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro is installed on the Mac partition.
## The VCarve Mac has both a Windows and a Mac partition.
### Hold down the Alt key while booting to get a menu to select OS, boot into Mac.
## Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro is installed on the Mac partition.
## Start Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro
## Hold down the Alt key while booting to get a menu to select OS, boot into Mac.
## Import your file.
# Start Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro
### Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro supports Illustrator, SVG, DXF, PNG, PDF
# Import your file.
#### Note: With Illustrator docs, Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro only imports the first Art Word (i.e. first pagE)
## Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro supports Illustrator, SVG, DXF, PNG, PDF
## Use GUI button Preview, at top right of Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro GUI to review design.
### Note: With Illustrator docs, Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro only imports the first Art Word (i.e. first pagE)
## Use the Document dialog in the upper right of the GUI to select the Mat Size for the piece of vinyl, and the orientation (landscape, portrait, etc)
# Use GUI button Preview, at top right of Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro GUI to review design.
## Arrange your design on the GUI.  The relationship between the GUI layout and the cutter is determined by the "Orientation" in the Document dialog.
# Use the Document dialog in the upper right of the GUI to select the Mat Size for the piece of vinyl, and the orientation (landscape, portrait, etc)
## Click the "Cutter" button, at top right of Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro GUI.
# Arrange your design on the GUI.  The relationship between the GUI layout and the cutter is determined by the "Orientation" in the Document dialog.
### Dialog pops up.
# Click the "Cutter" button, at top right of Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro GUI.
### Usually take the defaults.
## Dialog pops up.
## Usually take the defaults.


== After Cutting ==
== After Cutting ==

Revision as of 21:24, 6 December 2021

Other Reminders

Vinyl Cutter (Small)

The Vinyl Cutter setup consists of:

  1. The vinyl cutter itself.
  2. A Mac laptop with Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro installed on it (there should be one with a sticker on the lid that says "VCarve Computer"
  3. A USB cable to connect the Mac laptop to the Vinly cutter (there should be one with a tape label attached to it that says "Vinyl Cutter"
  4. The vinyl cutter power button is on the left end, near the power cord. You should probably insert and adjust the vinly material before turning it on.

Consumables

Things you will need in addition to the vinyl cutter, Mac laptop, and USB cable:

  1. Your design in one of the digital formats that Sure Cuts supports (Illustrator, SVG, DXF, PNG, PDF).
  2. Vinyl material.
  3. Transfer tape.
  4. A burnisher to apply the transfer tape (though you can improvise this from many things).

Inserting Vinyl Material

  1. If cutter is on, take the cutter offline using the console "On Line" Button
  2. At this writing we assume:
    1. That the shiny side of the vinyl should be up.
    2. That the vinyl feeds from back to front.
    3. We may be wrong.
  3. Adjust the rollers.
    1. The back of the cutter has four black rectangular fittings, about 1.5" x 1" x 3".
    2. Each fitting has a little lever.
    3. Lift the lever up to vertical to open the roller.
      1. This both lifts up the rollers so you can slide vinyl material under them, and makes it possible to slide the roller fittings horizontally,.
    4. Move the vinyl material into place under the rollers
    5. Adjust the roller locations to position them above the vinyl material, spread out evenly.
    6. Press the levers down to horizontal to lock the rollers.
  4. Any unused rollers, lift the lever to vertical.
  5. NOTE: The little red buttons inside the vinly cutter, on either end, are hard stops. Make sure you don't put the vinyl so close to the hard stops that the cutting head will hit the hard stop. There is a small ruler that stops 1/2" from the right-hand hard stop, don't put the vinyl any closer to the hard stop than that.

Zero the Cutter

  1. Use the console arrow buttons to move the head to the zero point on the vinyl material.
    1. The zero location should be in lower, right corner (aka front, right corner) of material.
  2. Press the console crosshairs button (in center of arrow buttons) to reset zero to current location.

Mac Steps

  1. Before using Sure Cuts A Lot Pro:
    1. Press the console "On Line" button again to bring the machine online.
      1. Make sure the console screen says "On--Line"
    2. Make sure the USB cable labeled "Vinyl Cutter" is plugged into both the cutter and the Mac laptop.
  2. Use the program Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro, on the MacBook
    1. Note, the Mac has a sticker on the lid, "VCarve Computer"
    2. The VCarve Mac has both a Windows and a Mac partition.
    3. Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro is installed on the Mac partition.
    4. Hold down the Alt key while booting to get a menu to select OS, boot into Mac.
  3. Start Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro
  4. Import your file.
    1. Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro supports Illustrator, SVG, DXF, PNG, PDF
      1. Note: With Illustrator docs, Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro only imports the first Art Word (i.e. first pagE)
  5. Use GUI button Preview, at top right of Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro GUI to review design.
  6. Use the Document dialog in the upper right of the GUI to select the Mat Size for the piece of vinyl, and the orientation (landscape, portrait, etc)
  7. Arrange your design on the GUI. The relationship between the GUI layout and the cutter is determined by the "Orientation" in the Document dialog.
  8. Click the "Cutter" button, at top right of Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro GUI.
    1. Dialog pops up.
    2. Usually take the defaults.

After Cutting

  1. When cutting is complete, move roller levers to vertical & remove vinyl material
  2. "Weed" the vinyl (peel away the material you don't want).
  3. Transfer Tape
    1. The idea is that you stick the vinyl letters or design to the tape, that is the adhesive side of the transfer tape is pressed against the non-adhesive side of the vinyl.
    2. Then you use the tape to peel the vinyl design off the backing, exposing the adhesive side of the vinyl design.
    3. Then press the adhesive side of the vinyl against whatever you want to stick it to.
    4. Buff the transfer tape very hard when applying it.
    5. It's a good idea to watch a bunch of videos on how to do this, or to get somebody with experience to walk you through it.