I have a CR-630 and a FlexiStarter 8.5 PC, I want to move to my Mac??

[StudioRay]

I've had a CR-630 cutter for a few years. I bought it on ebay and it came with FlexiStarter 8.5 for Windows. The version of Flexi didn't have a dongle, it required an internet connection to allow the apps to start.

I bought the unit for a few specific projects I was working on at the time. It's not been used in almost a year now. I don't recall but it seemed like the software had a web license and was also limited in time, maybe a year or two then it stopped working even with a web connection. I can't find any documentation stating anything about a limited timed demo that required a web connection to start the license. I've not reconnected the computer as it doesn't have a wireless card and I no longer have a hub in that room so I've not had the chance to test the old Flexi to see if it will sync up to the web server that unlocks it or not.

If anyone knows if there was a time limited web licensed version of flexi sold a few years ago please let me know what the time length was, if any.

I just saw a version of Flexistarter for Mac that was pretty cheap that is new and includes a dongle. I'd really like to use my mac to drive the cutter. All my pro editing apps are loaded and it's much faster.

I have an older XP PC tower I built with the web licensed Flexi driving the cutter and I'd really like to retire it and move to the Mac. Besides, the startup was always a pain with the Flexi software, about 40% of the time I'd have to try more than once to launch the apps. I'd get a license error or something on several occasions and I'd like to get away from that. If the Mac version is buggy I'd consider getting the PC version of FlexiStarter w/dongle but I'd just like to hear the latest input, especially any problems with 10.6 Mac OS and what version if any works with OS 10.6.

I really don't have much need to cut vinyl now but I'm looking to use it with the pen plotter and print some blueprints, schematics and templates on roll paper for some fairly large vector images.

My cutter came with a pen holder and what looks to be a regular bic pen type guts with the thin tube of ink and a typical pen tip. Looks like that will make a lot of drawings and it's just what I need.

I've only used this machine for cutting vinyl before. I'm guessing I'll have to turn off some offset value for the blade or select plot rather than cut? I don't remember how that works.

I don't mind paying the asking price of the mac Flexi Starter software, just wondering how well it works with a CR630 cutter. Also, does it work with 10.6 Snow Leopard?

I've got a 24" iMac running OS 10.6, it's a dual 2.8ghz with 4GB Ram. I've got an external powered USB 2.0 hub on it for my scanner and external drives and printers and hopefully the cutter

thanks!.

[Speedoggy]

Sounds like you have the softkey version of Flexistarter..   It has to be connected to the internet every 15 days or will not work, I would guess,  probably you can uninstall and just reinstall with your password and be reconnected again.  It will only be for a PC though.  It is not Mac version. I have the same thing with the no dongle.

[HowardI]

We discourage connecting cutters thru a hub but you can still use one for your other devices.  Just connect the cutter directly.

as for the pen just set your blade offset to 0 and that's all you need to do.  all the rest is the same.

If you're planning on using a cutter with a mac you will want to purchase a keyspan USA-19HS usb to serial adapter.  This bypasses the macos driver problems with the usb chipset in the cutters. 

Flexi starter is good but signcut is better.  You can get a 2 week free trial of signcut from www.signcutpro.com.  It connects to illustrator and inkscape with plugins so you can cut directly from illustrator or inkscape.  (Corel too but I don't think that's relevant for Mac users).


Howard Irwin
Support Specialist
US Cutter
425-481-3555
888-298-8143
  - Option 2

[StudioRay]

Hi Howard,

thanks for the info, I would like to move the app to my iMac so I will check out the Signcut first.

I think I have a Keyspan somewhere. I've used them for years in the Graphics Industry, just don't remember where it is, but it's easy enough to get one and cheap too. Yes, they do work well with certain devices.

I've got CS3 Suite on my iMac and know Illustrator well. I used to be a certified Adobe instructor a few years ago.

Thanks for the info and I'll keep you guys posted on what works. I went by my office before heading out of town this week on business. I found a roll of inkjet media that's uncoated and it's going to perfect for testing my plotter with the pen. I'll zero the blade offset like you said and give it a go. I hope to play with it when I get back home Friday or the weekend!

thanks again for the info.

Oh yea, one last question... the Flexi that I have, the web based license version, is there an expiration date on it or do I just keep it connected to the net when I launch it? I never could find a real answer to that question.

[Speedoggy]

you should keep it connected,   at least every 15 days,,  You will actually get a message telling you you need to connect to the internet or your license will need to be activated again.