reelguitars

I've had this old FC5100-130 for a couple of years and it has worked perfectly. The other day, I fired it up to do a contour cut. The cutter head for some reason was just left of center. It started moving back to the home position and all of a sudden it looked like it hit something and stopped. The cutter went off then. Now, when I try to power it back up, I hear a faint "squeak" for the motherboard and the green power light on the control pad comes on just for a second...then, nothing. Even if you turn it off again. I read in the owner's manual that if you unplug it for a few minutes, it should reset itself. I waited 5 or so minutes, turned in on again and "squeak, blink, nothing". I don't know if it's the motherboard but they are $1850. I'd love to have this running again because I just bought the pounce knife for it...haven't even used it yet, but was looking forward to. It sounds to me like there may be some type of thermal protector on the motherboard that might keep it from starting up. Any Graphtec gurus out there? Please help me if you can. If you can't, would someone be interested in buying this for parts? There is no stand with it but everything else is there. Thanking you in advance for your help. David

I've had my MH721 for about 3 years and it has been a real workhorse for me. Just today, when I turned the unit on, I noticed it sounded a little different than usual. When it cuts, everything works at proper speed until it starts to do a diagonal movement and then it slows down. Cutting is still perfect but the slowness is a little bit of aggravation. Any ideas on what the trouble is? (ps-I went to the setup screen and changed both movements to "Normal") Thanks in advance for your help. David pss-Sorry, I posted this yesterday in the wrong place. IQ was low from getting up too early.

I've had my MH721 for about 3 years and it has been a real workhorse for me. Just today, when I turned the unit on, I noticed it sounded a little different than usual. When it cuts, everything works at proper speed until it starts to do a diagonal movement and then it slows down. Cutting is still perfect but the slowness is a little bit of aggravation. Any ideas on what the trouble is? (ps-I went to the setup screen and changed both movements to "Normal") Thanks in advance for your help. David

Hey guys...I was going through one of those brain storming sessions along with a sleepless night and I decided I would find a way to contour cut efficiently and accurately with my trusy MH 721. I've figured a way and it works...every time. Does this peak your interest? If so, drop me a line...I'll tell you how I did it. David

I took 3 photos of my band members and made them into monochrome images with Paint program. They weren't all that detailed but it seems like they have a gazillion vectors in them. What I want to do is just have something that's more basic so I can cut some heat press vinyl and not have all the little pin holes. I know about node edit, but even then, there are so many vectors left it takes a long time to cut and there are a lot of very small items that I will never use on a tshirt. Any ideas? Thanks guys in advance for your help. David ps-Here's a pic to give you an idea of what I want to do

Well, I worked on it for a couple of days and finally got it done. A little flat black paint went a long way in making it look a lot less home made than it actually is. Now, if I can figure out how to make a flash or conveyor dryer, I'll be in business.

I bought an MH1351 from US Cutter. My second purchase from there. The box arrived and looked like a dog had been chewing on it. The end cap was busted, the 2 rollers were bent, and I thought this was going to be easy. I contacted US Cutter and they asked me to file a claim with FedEx, which I did. After about a month, FedEx sent me a letter stating that I couldn't file a claim since they had a special deal with US Cutter and THEY should file the claim. Here's the bottom line, I've sent several emails to Levi, not the first answer from him. The cutter works, but since the rollers are slightly bent, the vinyl won't track properly. I only asked for the parts to be replaced. WTF do I have to do? Anyway, lesson learned. Just thought you might want to know.

So...I need a cutter that will read registration marks to do a proper job. Does a Copam do that? Thanks for your help guys.

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Is there such a thing as printing on vinyl with just a regular ink jet printer? I have an HP that will print 13" wide and I think up to 44" long. That would take care of most of what I want to do. Second, do you need to put a clear piece of vinyl over the colored part to make it last? Finall, I keep hearing about contour cutting but I'm not exactly sure if I understand how to do it and...if you need a special type cutter to do it. Anyone know where there is a tutorial or has a cliff notes version of that would be good. These forums are truly valuable to anyone wanting to get started in this business. I'm going to retire from the phone company in about 2 years (if they keep me that long) and I wanted to have something to do while I'm not fishing. So far, I've done my largest sign 4' x 4', I do all the signs for the newspaper boxes around here (the ones you put 50 cents in to get your morning paper), I've done lots of t-shirts for some local bands, street signs, parking signs, and now some glass etching. Looks like the opportunities are endless...once again, thanks for all your help. Regards, David

Hey...I try to get $2 labor for each glass that I sell, plus I make a little on the glasses. I use scrap vinyl for the stencils so I figure most of what I do is profit. Hope this helps. DC

Friends...thank you so much for the help. I needed to get this estimate out this morning. I feel like the guy will jump on it. I hope so. Wanna see a bad ride??? Check out the car my friend and his son built at my little web site...www.dcsignsandgraphics.com. I cut paint masks for the graphics like on the side of the car. Once again, I appreciate all your help. DC

OK guys...I'll try to explain this as quickly and efficiently as I can. I have a customer who wants a 4' x 4' sign made as such...1/4" plywood sealed and painted on both sides. He then wants the sign done like the small mock up I did in 651 Oracal. He is not negotiable on the substrate. Then...he has another piece of a sign that has a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood on it. I will have to sand off old painted letters, reseal, repaint, and then do the sign like the large mockup, also of Oracal 651. Then, I will have to duplicate that sign for the other side on a new sheet of plywood. I generally do smaller things, I want to charge fair, but I don't want this to be a giveaway. All feedback is carefully read and certainly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help. David... ps...cut the top of the arrow off when I printed...

Guys...thanks so much for all your input. I have since bought a clamshell and a bunch of heat press vinyl. I have already sold 15 t-shirts and 2 jackets that I did to a realtor friend of mine. I started this little business so I would have something to do when I retired from the phone company. It started out with buying a cutter to cut paint masks for a little airbrush work, then I started making some decals for friends, then t-shirts, now etched glass and life size standees...geez, I have to go back to work for the phone company so I can get some rest. Once again, thanks for all your kind comments and suggestions. DC

Hey...this is not an answer, but a question. Does your Design Jet print on vinyl at all? If so, how well. There is a local guy that has one like new for $500. Just wondering if it's something that I could use. Thanks for your help. David...DC Signs & Graphics