longarm

I downloaded and tried CorelDraw X5. When I realized that it wouldn't work with Signcut Productivity Pro, I removed it. Since then I can't launch Signcut from Corel X3. It simply opens a blank page. I can, however, export to an .ai file and open it from Signcut. I would like to have my launcher capability back though.

John, Went to that link, and there was no free service for file uploading.

I didn't say that the vinyl is tearing, but rather, sometimes when you are cutting tiny letters, the center of a letter may lift slightly. It may be just enough to catch the bottom of the knife holder and stick to it. In regards to having too much knife sticking out, what is the purpose of force settings, if not to regulate the depth of the knife cut? If that's the case, why not just get the blade depth correct and set it on 500 grams for everything. My point is this: I have been setting the blade to a reasonable depth so that it cuts through whatever I am cutting, be it 2 mil HP to 5 mil flo :)rescents. On my Copam 4050, regulating the pressure works perfectly. That's why there is a pressure setting in the first place. My Copam manual suggests a blade setting of 60-70 grams downforce for most vinyls. If I set the downforce to 50 grams, it will not cut through Oracal 651. If I set it at 70 grams, it does. If the downforce on his machine makes no differance, something may be wrong with his cutter. I'm not advocating sticking the blade out 1/16", but let's at least admit that there could be something wrong with the plotter's downforce mechanism.

If you use 30" vinyl, you are only going to get 30" strips at best. Just send a file from Corel with a strip the width and length you want, and stack them on the width. if you set the distance between them tiny, you won't have much loss of vinyl. If you don't want to use the entire width, save the scrap for more strips or another project.

Hey Guys I am using a Copam 4050, and the only problem I have had with setting the blade height so that only enough is sticking out to penetrate the vinyl is this; if you are cutting small letters and a small piece of vinyl happens to curl and stick to the bottom of the blade holder, it will then ride too high to cut the rest of the plot. You won't know it until you weed it. I have recently started letting more blade out, enough to cut all the way through the backing. When I set the downforce on 70 grams with a brand new blade, I get perfect cuts in Oracal 651. This leads me to ask, could something be wrong with the plotter's downforce? After all, he is only using 50 grams. That is only 1.6 ounces.

You know, you're right. At that price it's got to be worth a try. I might try it first on short term items, just in case. How is it's adhesive properties? Anybody used it on a banner yet? Just wondering how it does after being rolled up on a banner.

It is fine to call this new product a "Five year vinyl", but how does it really hold up? I was equally dubious about Oracal vinyl at first, but I have since watched Oracal go well past it's advertised life expectancy with no appreciable degradation. Can you offer any evidence to show if this vinyl will stand the test of time? (Is this LG?)

US Cutter - Is "Always The Best Value" a US Cutter phrase? I included it because I observed that it was being used by several others and figured it was a US Cutter catch phrase.

As a follow up to this post of mine, I posed the same questions to the good folks @ Signcut. Their prompt and helpful reply reinforces my respect for them. I got this reply within a few minutes. These guys really take us seriously. Hello, Thank you very much for your opinions. Regarding point #1, we plan on working on a new optimized sorting mode where it should move between closest objects while still cut inside first, it is on our todo-list. Regarding weedinglines, we have implemented that in the latest version that will be released after new-years eve, and will be called "SignCut Productivity Pro", it will be free of charge to upgrade to this new version and your current subscription will be included. Point #2. SignCut behaves differently depending on what machine you use, and depending on what that machine allows in terms of paging. When using plotters/cutters like Roland, Summa, Mutoh, Graphtec and similar, the knife will always stop after the cutting, and you will receive a dialog allowing you to rewind and step beside previous cut, or allow you to feed forward in ord er to cutoff the vinyl and then stop behind it. Also on machines like newer Graphtecs, Roland, Summa and Mutoh's we also allow to cutoff the vinyl automatically between copies/tiles and or cutoff after finished cutting. So it really depends on what the machine supports in terms of commands. What kind of plotter/cutter do you use? Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Best regards Per Johansson / Whisqu Graphic AB I answered them and told them I had a Copam 4050 and they replied; Ok, Thanks we will look into it. We have just received a Copam 2500 at the office and will investigate if we can improve the driver to stop after cutting. Best regards Per Johansson / Whisqu Graphic AB This is the kind of service everyone should offer. (Are you listening Microsoft?)

There are a couple of issues that I have with the function of SignCut x2 that I have tried to resolve with no luck. I am using: Windows Vista, Corel X3, Signcut X2 Ver 2.21, Copam 4050 Plotter 1. I appreciate the fact that when cutting letters or objects that have centers, the centers are cut first. However it would be a real timesaver if the software would also cut the outside of that object immediately following the center cut. Also, why not cut the weeding lines as you go instead of sending the vinyl back to the origin and starting over? It would be much better if the vinyl traveled down the plotter bed only once. Which brings me to my next issue.... 2. After completing a plot, Signcut X2 sends a 'return to origin' command. (I am assuming that this is a software command, not hardware). Whereas this is not a problem on short plots, it is a major headache on long plots. I have to scramble to keep the vinyl from bunching up while the plotter is running at full speed from one end to the other on a fruitless errand. If there is a way to circumvent this, I have not found it. Back in 1990, the old Ioline plotters executed a hardware initiated 'return to origin' command after each plot, however this could be turned off from the plotter setup. No such option on the Copam. Does anyone have any insight on these issues.

Since I loaded Vista w/ SP1, signcut won't cut consistantly. After each successful cut I have to reboot my computer and reset the plotter. Sometimes 2 or three times to make one cut. Next cut, same thing over again. It just hangs when I send the job to the plotter via the parallel port. I have a deadline on my current job, and I am about to miss it. Help Help.