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The workspace and/or design you have might be larger than the media width that is designated in the Vinyl Spooler settings.

Hoping you have a better day tomorrow. These vinyl cutters can be frustrating just starting out.

That is about 10 times too much blade exposed, There are many wrong instructions out there for setting blade depth. This is how to set the blade depth correctly. To start with, you should set your blade depth correctly, by taking the blade holder out of the machine, and firmly cut across a piece of scrap vinyl, you will be cutting. You should only be cutting the vinyl and barely a mark on wax paper backing, Adjust blade to get there, Then put the blade holder back in machine, and use the force of the machine to get there, same results, only cutting the vinyl and barely a mark in wax paper backing. You should just barely see and feel your blade tip out of the blade holder. You only cut with the very tip of the blade.

Your money is not wasted at all. You have just not learned how to operate it. This is a very skilled job. You will not learn this job in a day or even weeks. There are several sensors on this machine, It is just not plug it in and do the job. Be patient, and while your waiting learn your software. And while your waiting. How did you set your blade depth?

I have a GREAT memory, I read a lot and absorb.

I really am dyslexic...it does make life interesting sometimes!

Here, this should work and minimize blade lifts. You'll have to view the file in outline mode, in "normal" mode it looks kind of weird. There are 5 rows of hexagons and an extra row of vertical lines. You can tile the image and get more rows of hexagons then just delete the last row of vertical lines before cutting. Honeycomb.svg

Oh for heck sake. Let's not further confuse this person.

I run the Hotronix Fusion. I think they sell for around $2250 now. They were a little less when I bought mine. The Geo Knight presses are similar high quality as are Hix. Depending on your needs/wants you will have to decide on a swinger vs a clam. Clams are cheaper but also have the upper platen right above your hands all the time. There are other high end machines but those are probably the 3 most chosen by individuals. Just be sure you get something at least 15" x 15". Anything smaller is going to make things hard to get lined up. The Fusion and the Geo Knight will have interchangeable platen sizes that will allow you to choose the right size for the job (all for just a little additional investment of course) and they are really handy. I chose the Fusion specifically because it is the only one that is truly "threadable" so you can slide shirts and hoodies on and only work on one side of the garment at a time. I use a smaller 11" x 15" platen for kids and ladies shirts and turned sideways to get at the front of hoodies between the neck and the big lower pocket without having to use a press pillow. There are also entry and mid level options available as well and many of them give good results for a LOT less initial investment. I usually point beginners at this swinger: https://www.uscutter.com/15-x-15-Digital-Swing-arm-Heat-Press But there are many many to look at. If you go for a clam just watch that the upper platen has a center point type connection which allows the platen to adjust to different material thickness. The really low budget models are solid mounted to the upper arm and are hard to get good even pressure on thicker things like hoodies because the back of the platen will smash extra tight while the front doesn't make good contact due to the thicker garment. Auto open are nice but be a little careful because if it too low a budget model and something goes awry with the magnetic hold down you will be screwed because the budget models are hard to get parts for. I used one just like that swinger for a couple years. They aren't built to last forever but are pretty decent to break into the game. This is all just my own opinion on this stuff but I do mostly pressed vinyl work on a myriad of garments from basic tee's to sports uniforms.

hard to say for sure, but looks like it's twisted, and possibly bent. I"d start with just grabbing it with your hands and try to straighten it out before getting a hammer involved.

1/2 credit card width and a little more you barley see it