My final solution to tracking problems.

[dlovewpg 0]

Ok like so many other users, I too have had issues with my machine tracking poorly.

I tried all the different advice and techniques on here, with varying degrees of success, but none of them solved my issue 100%.

Loading the vinyl correctly is important, but I was doing this to the micron (yes I'm exaggerating slightly), and it would still end up drifting on long cuts and in some case going totally off the rollers and ending up almost sideways.

To that end, I have found the quickest technique (keeping in mind the hints about unrolling vinyl etc) is to create a visual guide on the front and back of the cutter, indicating the edge where your 24" roll should be (on the "cutter home" right hand side). I used 2 pieces of black vinyl cut to the exact width from the edge of the cutter bed to the edge of the vinyl, one for the front side, one for the back side. Now I can hang the vinyl through the cutter and quickly make it exactly square to the machine.

But that wasn't the real problem. It was still slipping. I noticed that one (or both, but one more pronounced) of the pinch rollers did not seem to be fully gripping the vinyl, even though the tension screw in the back was bottomed out, and I tried cleaning the rollers, the grit wheels, etc. etc. Nothing worked.

Finally out of frustration I decided there was not enough tension on the vinyl, period. So I took out the tensioner screw from each pinch roller and replaced them with slightly longer ones (which I just happened to have onhand) allowing more pressure on the rollers. This absolutely cured my issue 100%.

My first cut after the fix was 8 feet long and there was no detectable drifting whatsoever, where previously it would be off at least 1/8th and often much worse. The pinch rollers are not tight enough to damage the vinyl, but some thinner materials might have an issue with that....but I am thrilled that my $800 machine is cutting as good as my $10k roland printer/cutter used to cut.

I think I will probably still order the 3rd roller for the middle, which would have been my next attempt at solving this issue anyways, it seems like a good idea. I've easily wasted more $$$ in vinyl from cuts gone wrong lol, specially since its the long cuts that go bad.

I realize there are manufacturing tolerances and other QC issues that might affect these things from machine to machine so not everyone with tracking problems will benefit, but I thought I would offer this up in case it might help someone else (it took me a while to think of after trying just about everything else I could come up with).

Of course I take no responsibility if you overtighten anything or otherwise break your machine or kill your warranty....use common sense. Obviously there is a phsyical limit to how much tension the pinch roller assembly can handle.

[Guest Schramm]

Mine started drifting about 3 months ago, Now I think that I will try tightening slightly the pintchers.  Thanks for the post.

[Guest round2racing]

I have a two inch wide piece of masking tape on the front of my machine that I line the edge of my vinyl on.

It keeps my drifting to an acceptable minimum.

Also, when I cut really long graphics, I advance the vinyl to the approximate length and watch for drift.

If it does, I adjust slightly.

I haven't adjusted the pinch rollers yet, my machine is only 6 months old, but I have a feeling it won't be long before I do.

[dlovewpg 0]

I have a two inch wide piece of masking tape on the front of my machine that I line the edge of my vinyl on.

It keeps my drifting to an acceptable minimum.

Also, when I cut really long graphics, I advance the vinyl to the approximate length and watch for drift.

If it does, I adjust slightly.

I haven't adjusted the pinch rollers yet, my machine is only 6 months old, but I have a feeling it won't be long before I do.

My machine is brand new and never worked properly until I changed out those 2 screws.

The 2" masking tape is similar to what I am using, and it does work pretty well, I will advance and retract manually and make very minor adjustments if I'm doing something longer than about 24", but the key to my success was $.06 worth of screws (in North America that is...probably about .006 in China).

[DeonCarpenter 0]

I have not had any tracking problems with mine but 8' has been my longest cut.

If I forget to unroll enough material and the cutter has to pull the roll it will get off track. 

I also run the vinyl threw the entire length of my cut before starting.

[VIPvinyl.com 0]

awesome! thanks for the tips! i didn't even know you could adjust the tension. good thing i read this. i'm getting ready to cut a 7 foot job this afternoon

[dlovewpg 0]

Just an update....

Several weeks and many many cuts later it's still working perfectly!

I just cut the vinyl for 8-24x32 3 color coroplast signs, and once I loaded each color I didn't have to mess with the tracking whatsoever for the multiple cuts.

Though I was a little frustrated in the beginning due to this issue, I am now completely satisfied with the machine and I would recommend it to anybody looking for a low cost machine (if you don't mind experimenting just a little and have some patience. If you want a 100% working right from the box get a graphtec or something more commercial).