MZ SKEETER

You can go ahead and put that INITIAL BLADE POSITION>OUTSIDE, or it will leave a little J. in your design. But you should be looking for Blade offset. Blade offset is ZERO on Graphtecs. Which Cutting software are you using? Are you running the cutting on Windows or a Mac? If Windows, that cutter has a Graphtec cutting controller that you can make changes right from your computer. Before wasting vinyl and cutting text, use the TEST feature right from the vinyl cutter, and your triangle and square should be perfect. https://www.graphtecamerica.com/cp-downloads-fc8600 Under drivers is Win Controller V.OPS67.. Cutter must be ready to cut when using this operation. User manual is also on this page. This is the correct way to set the blade depth on any vinyl cutter. To start with, you should set your blade depth correctly, by taking the blade holder out of the machine, and 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 barely see and feel the blade tip out of the blade holder. Regular sign vinyl is only 2-3 mil thick. You only cut with the very tip of the blade. When you think the blade is so far in the blade holder, that you think it would not even cut, that is probably correct.

Yes, cutting software. https://www.graphtecamerica.com/software, Which model is it? https://www.graphtecamerica.com/software Also under .Legacy models.

According to the Vinyl Master compare list, It is available in 2 upgrades. https://vinylmaster.software/tools-features

There are parts available. Maybe cheaper than this. I just posted the first one I saw. https://vinylcutterparts.com/control-panel-assembly-for-gcc-puma-iii-and-jaguar-iv.html

FOUND THIS. Test Cut 1) Select ON/OFF LINE for screen to read “Offline for System Setup” 2) Select CUT TEST so screen reads “Square Cut” 3) Select ENTER 4) Move blade into an area to perform a test cut with the arrows on the keypad. 5) Select Enter https://assets.stahls.com/stahls/content/pdf/education/Training-Resource-gcc-pumaIII-vinyl-cutter.pdf This is for PUMA IV Looks the same.

Here is the service manual for that machine. It might be possible to replace the ribbon, if you can see the numbers on the ribbon. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/897431/Graphtec-Fc7000-75.html?page=103#manual

At the top of your main layout screen is the word HELP.> HELP TOPICS. That is your user manual. Every design software that I have ever seen has a CIRCLE feature. Just like it has a Rectangle feature. You will probably see it on the left hand side. Or look up shapes.

The 1485 mm that I posted above, is for the Graphtec FC8600. That is why the flatbed is so much slower. Here is the spec sheet right from Graphtec. https://www.graphtecamerica.com/fcx2000 The Graphtec FC8600 = 1485 mm vs 400 mm= FCX2000 (MAX CUTTING SPEEDS)

It does not matter what you have the speed value at on the machine. You must compare the cutter specs to each machine. They are not the same machines, nor do they have the same boards in them or the same specs. Compare to the specs of this Graphtec FC8600 at 1485mm Max. cutting speed 4 ft 10.46 in/s (1485 mm/s) at 45° direction You cannot make a vinyl cutter run faster than it is designed/manufactured to cut. Model name FCX2000-120VC Mountable media (Y-axis) 950mm Roll media support Roll media stocker (manual feeding), supported media; width: up to 950 mm, weight: up to 5 kg Maximum cutting speed 400 mm/s (1 to 40 cm/s in 16 steps), in all directions Cutting force Tool 1: Max. 4.9 N (500 gf), Tool 2: Max. 9.8 N (1 kgf)

Those are pretty old cutters, like late 90's. But on my newer 2008 model. usually the alarm error comes on when the cutter head is too far out of the cutting area. Too far to the right side or left side. Move the cutting head more to the middle and see if anything changes. Sensors could be bad. Only parts you may find is from another cutter. No one here uses those cutters. And only a couple handfuls of people here answer questions. I can only find a service manual for the FC2231. But Graphtecs are pretty much alike for a few years. Isn't that a flatbed model.? >• Movement of the pen carriage is being obstructed. • The pen carriage was subjected to external pressure during cutting. • Scraps of the medium in the plotter's moving parts are impeding operation. Turn off the plotter, remove the scraps, and then turn the plotter back on. • The writing panel was in a tilted position when a key reset operation was performed (the [ENTER] and [ORIGIN] keys were held down simultaneously). Move the pen carriage to its lowermost position, and then turn the plotter off and on. Nothing more that I can add.

Have you tried a different USB cable? I had one that must have had a broken wire in it, It was years old. I wiggled it and the cutter took off again. I never had an error or anything. New USB cable fixed it. A 16ft cable would not work either, too long. Went back to 12ft, Never stopped again.

You may get an answer by contacting Vinyl Master tech support. Only a handful of people here answer questions. I do not use Vinyl Master but, As a cutter with a business, for many years and a forum member here, you will want to save your files off, somewhere else. Computers go down, power surges etc.. I personally save my files off 2 other places than my computer. I have them saved in an external hard drive, and drafts in an email account as well as documents on my computer. I have 1,000's saved. You cannot depend on those files remaining in your Vinyl Master program. Plus save them off in .eps format, (it's a universal file format) so you can use them in any cutting software. Not just Vinyl Master. We have seen too many people lose all of their files, fonts, etc too many times and have to start over from scratch. It takes no time to import a file.

It may still be possible to get it to fire up in SAFE MODE F8 with Networking.. Not sure what crashed means to them. I have fixed some computers with the F8 and download, Bleeping Computer ADWCLEANER. I have had Blue screens etc.

I don't know of anyone... I pretty much skip printing threads/posts. It's nothing that I do.

Is that top picture how you start out? I only have my vinyl extended past the cutting strip. 1/2" Push ORIGIN button. Media sensor and pinch roller sensor turned off. I have been running 16 years with those sensors off. I don't waste vinyl. I can put the carriage head in the far right corner. push the ORIGIN Button and the design starts measuring from there to cut.