Which is why I was asking. 1/2 credit card is about 10 times too much blade exposed out of the blade holder. . Vinyl is only about 2-3 mil thick and you only cut with the very tip of the blade.
This is correct way to set your blade depth.
To start with, you should set your blade depth correctly, by taking the blade holder out of the machine, and in your hand, 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.