Linda

I just got my LP up and cutting today and have been having some problems. One is that I keep getting a "WAITING" message on the cutter after it cuts. ON the computer screen I have an "After Cutting" window. Everything seems to freeze up and I can't close out the window on the computer or change the waiting message on the cutter. I'm not trying to cut a big job here... mainly just doing a few repeats with a single word of 2" brush script letters. I do have many big jobs due asap and this problem is frustrating me like crazy. I'm afraid to cut the big things until I have some of these issues solved. BTW, I'm not new to the vinyl sign business (15+ years)... just wanted to make a little extra money working from home.

One last update: The Waiting message on my LP cutter was resolved with a $35 Serial to USB cable from Radio Shack. I also upgraded to Corel x3 and now EVERYTHING is operating smoothly and easily, just the way I want... No more memory problems or cutting issues. I've used alot of cutters over the years and I have to admit for the cost this is a pretty nifty cutter! Ken, haumana, BannerJohn, mustangconv85, jay2703... Thanks for the help!

50% deposit is very typical for the industry. Ask for a deposit up front on every order. Insist on one with substantial orders where you must purchase materials. If a customer balks at leaving a deposit, I'd ask why. There are some legit reasons, but, I'd be leery nonetheless. In the past I've had checks returned for insufficient funds from a doctor, a lawyer, a fitness center, several real estate agents and especially new businesses. Some people even fail to pick up the order at all. One time after calling a gazillion times on a phoned-in, one-day turnaround order that wasn't picked up after a week, I found out that the person actually ordered the same wood sign from several local shops and picked up from whoever finished first! Often, the person you least expect will be the one to stiff you!

That's a great resource! I noticed they even had waterslide decals... not too long ago I had to send a customer away for that. Thanks for the info, BannerJohn!

I've been thinking about this too... I cut digital print media to 8.5 x 11 size and ran it through my printer and the ink came out very wet and smeared. So what kind is correct to use? and do you have to overcoat it with something to keep the ink from coming off?

No big secret... NW suburban Detroit... or should I be more specific Jenny

Clear app tape rarely adheres to vinyl well since it is so low tack. The only thing I use it for is if I have to layer vinyl at a clients site. Even then it can be a pain since you can't do a wet application with it.

Hi Roy, I'm new and from Michigan too.

Find out where the local sign companies purchase their supplies. I live in a large suburban area and we have 3 major supply warehouses and several smaller ones. Most of my purchases are from the major suppliers. Their stock turns over quickly and they sell only brands and materials their clientele repeatedly purchase. You can try looking up "Sign Equipment & Supplies" in the yellow pages of the phone book. One of my suppliers is listed there. The other 2 are listed under signs. None of them actually has the term "Supplies" in their name, so you may have to do some calling around. These companies may not sell to the general public. One of my major suppliers will, but at higher retail prices. An online source I sometimes use is Beacon Graphics, www.beacongraphics.com, but you'll having shipping charges. They carry Transfer Rite and R-Tape, both good brands of pre-mask. They also carry tons of other supplies. You'll need a company name, address, billing info etc. to set up an account. I'm not sure if you need a EIN number.

Hi everyone! I've been in the vinyl sign business for 15+ years. Have owned a company, sold a company, worked for several other sign companies and have now decided to work from home. I just received my LaserPoint 2 days ago and got it cutting, sort of, today. I'm designing in Corel 9 on one computer and cutting with Signcut x2 on another computer with Vista and I'm having a few problems... would love some help. I can get the LP to cut, but problem is when it's done the everything freezes and I have to shut the computer and cutter down in order to recut. Any ideas on why that's happening?

UPDATE: I sure hope I don't jinx myself, but so far so good! I'm getting my 4x4 banners cut with multiple lines of text. I had to reset the cutter origin in SC, somehow it changed and the cutter head kept hitting the kill switch, but I managed to luck out with that problem and got it solved. Still getting the "waiting" message on the cutter and having to shut everything down between each panel cut. But atleast it's cutting and hopefully once Ken calls me back, I can get this issue resolved as well. I know I keep saying it, but srsly, thanks for the help!

I'm a newbie for sure, but I just had this problem 5 minutes ago as well. Here's what I did that seemed to work: 1. unplug cutter at power source and plug back in 2. unplug usb cable at computer 3. close out signcut 4. reset the origin on cutter 5. replace usb connection to computer 6. open signcut 7. under "Cutter" make sure vinyl is correct height 7. click "Reset cutter" 8. open your file There may be some unessasary steps in there, but this reset the cutter to the edge of the vinyl where I want it. Good luck!

Hi haumana and BannerJohn. I'm back after a few hours sleep and going to try the scaled down eps files. I'll keep you updated as to how it goes. Again THANKS, THANKS, THANKS for all your help haumana!

Thanks I'll give it a try... btw what did you do to it? LOOKS LIKE THAT DID THE TRICK! The whole thing cut... so what's your secret? Thanks... and really, please share what you did to the file. *on knees pleading/begging* I have 18 large banners to cut and customer wants them asap (like Sunday! ) All are different, 4' h by either 4' or 8' lengths with lots of text on some.

I'm running off a laptop and my husband did get me a usb to serial cable and loaded the software but we couldn't get the cutter to communicate with the computer then. Probably a com problem but we didn't want to mke too many change and completely ruin our chances of cutting anything! I have a call in to tech support, maybe they can help with that. Unless of course you can?

Thanks I'll give it a try... btw what did you do to it?

Zipping the file for SBE? or to post online? Ok, looks like it attached... I changed it to black & white file. Fred Lavery Company.eps Fred Lavery Company.eps

I didn't think so either, but it will not cut the whole thing. I was only able to cut lines or partial lines of the text and now have to piece it all together. How frustrating!

the file is made up of text, but it should be converted to curves. My corel just crashed I have to reboot and will check the to make sure it converted to curves... give me a few minutes.

Apparently the eps file is too large. The ai is attached hopefully address phone 5.ai address phone 5.ai

haumana, it was text created in corel 9 and exported in ai with text converted to curves, so should have come into sbe as a graphic I believe. How do I post the file? Do you want a screen pic of it or the actual ai file?

Goo Gone works well, just let it sit for a few minutes to soften the glue and scrape off with a squeeggee or "thumbnail". Clean the surface several times with alchohol though to make sure all the residue is removed or the new vinyl will not stick.

As the application tape ages it looses its tack especially if its stored improperly. I use Transfer Rite app tape and as long as I squeegee it down well, it lifts the vinyl with very few problems.

haumana, the text and graphics I'm cutting are for a 4' x 8' banner, so maybe large by LP standards? Not so large by mine. I've tried 2 usb cables and have the same problems. The usb is connected directly to the LP. The files are vectors. As for SC, you are not able to type text in, it's strictly for cutting. Ken sent me SBE software that I also tried. When I cut from that I have the very same problems... cutter stops before finishing. I cannot reload the software btw since I do not have cds for it. I tried but it wouldn't load.

Thanks haumana, I've been trying to cut thru signcut x2 but will try SBe again and see if that helps solve some problems. I'm currently trying to cut letters for a banner and cannot seem to cut a whole line for the life of me. Have you been able to do this? I get a few letters and it just stops cutting... the green progress line stops advancing as well and then I know it's not going to finish. Is there a memory problem with this device? I actually work in a sign shop and have never had a problem with cutting multiple lines of text or complicated graphics before. With the LP, I can't seen to even get a whole line of text. Do you think SBE will solve that problem. BTW, I'm designing in Corel 9 and exporting to ai, could that be the problem? Sorry for asking so many questions... hopefully I can eventually contribute to the forum instead of just asking, asking, asking! I actually do have many years of sign biz experience.