MZ SKEETER

thanks Jay2703, I had alot of help, copied it from UScutter EBAY ad. makes it easier to read, all in 1 place.

I cut happily everyday with Flexistarter, starting back at 7.6.. and have for over 5 years. Design elsewhere. Inkscape is FREE. I never would ever spend that BIG money to upgrade either...

You can contour cut with an MH series vinyl cutter using Flexistarter 10 with contour cutting. The cutter doesn't need a laser, the cutting software does all the work. You are measuring in the software, from the point of the blade.

Flexisignpro8.1 is old software, Flexisignpro 8.5, 8.6 and 10 have come out since then with all the newer design features and drivers. 8.1 is back from windows 2000 Me and xp days... These are new vinyl cutters. Some drivers may be on there, some not.. Most people will advise to get the Pcut, next Copam.

the brand of your vinyl cutter is NOT a Graphtec it is a LiYucut ..... SC series. so look under LiYucut or LiYU for the brand name in Flexistarter. Then SC for model. and your vinyl cutter is not a printer. Here is a start set up page, just look for your vinyl cutter first on the page. http://start.uscutter.com/

take some time and read. The first thing you need to ask yourself is how much cutting do I plan on doing, and if things go better than expected, how much could I be doing? If your answer to this question is: "I am cutting to make money as a business and I'll take as much as comes my way", then you need to look at our professional cutters first. These cutters are designed to be run at production levels. This means cutting vinyl every day hours at a time. Our value cutters (entry level) or anybody else's are not designed to handle the rigors of cutting vinyl every day over the long term. They are appropriate as a backup or to handle overflow when you need more capacity as a result of rush jobs. Our professional models provide design features for the dependability necessary for those in business. Simply stated, our professional models cut faster, through thicker material, run quieter, and operate with a larger variety of sign software, and last longer than our value cutters. Professional Series Cutters: Which is right for me? Copam This machine is for someone serious about cutting vinyl on a production level now or in the future, but might not have the budget to afford our Graphtec Line. The Copam is a workhorse loved by its users and respected in the industry. Check out what our forum members say about it. The powerful motor in this machine is fast and strong, able to cut heavier materials such as certain fabrics, sandblast mask, window tint and more. Available in 24", 48", and 54". Graphtec This cutter is for someone committed to making a living cutting vinyl and wants the finest equipment in the industry. These machines have been known to run for 10+ years every day and only needing blades replaced. Talk about dependable! These cutters are compatible with almost any software and can contour cut. Available in 2 models: Graphtec CE5000 Graphtec has traditionally been at the high end in price and quality in the industry. In an effort to make its cutters affordable to a larger segment of the industry, Graphtec has introduced a scaled down, but still powerful version of its signature FK7000. The CE5000 comes with a 2 year warranty. Available in 24" and 48". Graphtec FC8000 The industry standard: If you have to have the best cutter money can buy, Graphtec's F000 has everything you want including contour cutting. It comes with a 3 year warranty. Available in 24", 36", 48", and 64". Value Cutters If you are not planning on cutting vinyl every day because you plan to use your cutter for personal use or just your business instead of buying cut vinyl, or you want to start slow because you don't know if this is the business for you, or you simply don't have the cash for a professional cutter at this time, then look at our strong lineup of value cutters. These cutters also function well as backup cutters should you get overflow work, or if your main cutter is down for repairs. USCutter MH Series This is our lowest price cutter. Perfect for a 2nd cutter or someone just wanting to get their feet wet. It is limited in the types of software that can be used; however it works well with the software we bundle with this machine, SignBlazer Trial Version, and SignCut X2. This cutter is available in 12" (portable), 25", and 50". Creation PCUT A step up in quality and reliability from our USCutter MH Series, this line of cutters features a vacuum fan that eliminates the need for a third pinch roller. These units are also compatible with more types of software including Sign Blazer Trial Version, SignCut X2, and Flexi Starter 8.5. PCUTs are available in 24", 36", and 48". US Laser Point This cutter has all the same features of our Creation PCUT, but with the added bonus of a laser register that allows you to contour cut around preprinted digital graphics (cutting out decals). This step involves using a digital printer to print onto pressure sensitive vinyl first, then running the vinyl through the USCutter Laserpoint to cut out the graphics. This is a cost effective option for anyone who currently operates a digital printer, or plans on adding digital printing to their business in the future. Contour Cutting What is contour cutting? Have you ever seen a large, full color logo on the side of vehicle? You know that it is too intricate to be multi layer applied vinyl. It's basically a decal that has been printed with outdoor inks on white vinyl with a digital printer. Once printed onto the vinyl, the digitally printed shapes need to be cut out of the vinyl with a cutter. But the cutter needs someone way of knowing how to cut around the printed portion of the vinyl. Here is where the registration eye, or laser, comes into play with our contour cutters. The eye or laser registers at the edges of the printed portion of the vinyl allowing the software to know where to start and stop cutting. To contour cut with our USCutter Laserpoint, you will need to print to your digital printer with the software bundled with the USCutter Laserpoint, and then cut the preprinted vinyl using the same software. Our Graphtec series have more advanced contour cutting features allowing for greater tolerances and to cut and print with almost any design software. Contour cutting allows you to expand your product line as your capabilities are increased to create decals, full color t shirts, and vehicle wraps, just to name a few. What size cutter should I buy? Vinyl cutters are available in sizes from 8" cutting width up to 60". The question you need to ask is "Where am I willing to take my business?" If your answer is: "I am buying my cutter for a very specific application (paint stencils for a consistent product size) that I am already doing, or I am a hobbyist and not interested in anything more than I'm doing" (i.e. motorcycle detailing) then you should buy a cutter that will handle the single largest dimension you will ever need to cut. Typically a 25" cutter is all you will ever need. However if you answer the question, "If things go well, I'll take whatever comes my way, then you need to think about a larger cutter. For example once you get into vehicle graphics, it won't be long before someone wants the side of their van, trailer, or truck done, and they are not going to allow you to seam their 30" logo with 2 pieces of vinyl you cut on your 25" cutter. You might have to turn down that large light box face job, pay someone else to cut the graphics for you, or turn them over to your competitor because the job requires graphics that are larger than 24" in all directions. A 36", 48", or 54" cutter might be worth the extra investment down the road. The following is a rough guide for what you can do with different size cutters: 8" - 12" Cutting Width: Good for crafters and hobbyists; extremely portable. It can handle most wall lettering, lettering on some vehicles, and small decals. Drawbacks: 12" vinyl is hard to find and you will probably be forced to cut down larger rolls of vinyl. 24" - 25" Cutting Width: Vinyl comes commonly in 24" rolls. A 24" cutter is somewhat portable. It handles most vehicle graphics, smaller signs and banners, most storefront window lettering, lettering for interior walls or products, all heat transfer vinyl for t-shirts, and can cut smaller vinyl for all kinds of decals. 30" - 36" Cutting Width: Good all purpose size. It can create larger signs and can do most vehicle jobs including vans, and some trucks and trailers, Larger logos and decals. Can handle vinyl 30" and larger which is commonly available. It can also use 24" and smaller size vinyl. 48" - 50" Cutting width: Great for big jobs and large signs. Large trucks, trailers, large storefront window applications. Vinyl is commercially available in 48" lengths. It can also handle smaller vinyl. 54" Cutting width: It can handle almost anything. Special projects, large wall exhibits, wholesale work for other shops. People with 54" - 60" cutters often pick up jobs from other sign shops that have smaller cutters. 60" is the largest size in commercially available vinyl.

If your just cutting vinyl designs/images, then no... if your not going to get into cutting printed images.

Do you want to do any of this? If so, you need contour cutting.. Contour Cutting What is contour cutting? Have you ever seen a large, full color logo on the side of vehicle? You know that it is too intricate to be multi layer applied vinyl. It's basically a decal that has been printed with outdoor inks on white vinyl with a digital printer. Once printed onto the vinyl, the digitally printed shapes need to be cut out of the vinyl with a cutter. But the cutter needs someone way of knowing how to cut around the printed portion of the vinyl. Here is where the registration eye, or laser, comes into play with our contour cutters. The eye or laser registers at the edges of the printed portion of the vinyl allowing the software to know where to start and stop cutting. To contour cut with our USCutter Laserpoint, you will need to print to your digital printer with the software bundled with the USCutter Laserpoint, and then cut the preprinted vinyl using the same software. Our Graphtec series have more advanced contour cutting features allowing for greater tolerances and to cut and print with almost any design software. Contour cutting allows you to expand your product line as your capabilities are increased to create decals, full color t shirts, and vehicle wraps, just to name a few.

try going lower on offset.. at .05 intervals. definatley too high. what do the test cuts look like? You still don't want too much blade sticking out, it will lift your vinyl. You only should be cutting with the blade tip.

what do you have your blade offset set at? Also, the blade should barely be seen out of the end of the blade holder. You can take a scrap piece of vinyl and with the blade holder in your hand cut firmly across a piece of vinyl, should only cut the vinyl and barely or not at all, make a mark in the vinyl backing. Also make sure there is not any vinyl pieces stuck in the blade holder,, a drop of 3-1 oil in blade holder can help to make the blade spin freely..

Unless you purchased Signblazer with a dongle years ago, All you will have is the permanent trial version. Signblazer has been out of business several years, as the owner passed away.. You don't need a registration number. You can download Signblazer right here on the forum. FREE

well, good luck fixing that..

you need to have different colors on each inside and outside, and also place registration marks for layering... example video below

your welcome

http://www.screencast.com/users/jay2703/folders/Jing/media/abbd106c-8f1f-4de1-8b7f-0a11305782ce

try youtube.com do searches... I don't use LXI. It is just rebranded Flexi...

it wouldn't be called layering,, you would be cutting by color, selecting objects by color. layering is what you do with the vinyl after it is cut..

It has to be a vector file.. Inkscape.org It is a FREE program.. http://support.uscut...s-with-inkscape

you have to make registration marks on your design, don't put the design in wireframe mode. Click the color you want to cut first. then advance to the next color

Lxi apprentice is the same as Flexistarter, I have been using Flexistarter for over 5 years. No problems. Any design image will have be vectorized in any software you use or you can't cut it. Then you import the vector image in LXI.. You have to learn any software. Flexistarter will cut layers and so will LXI. At the top of your layout screen.. Should be HELP. Click it and read. You can't just cut clipart in any cutting software, without it being a vector first. Signblazer is FREE for windows only. LXI can import more different and current formats than Signblazer.

Your cutter is a Creation Pcut. Read the instructions for the Patch. Download to your desktop

Yes, it DOES make sense, I have asked you several times what driver you are using in Signblazer? What set up?, computer, operating system.?. You don't answer... The wrong driver can cause that. And they probably won't help you with Signblazer setup... Only their Graphtec software. and have you even tried to put it back to default factory settings? Goodluck

after you drop the load lever, you should be using an UP or DOWN arrow to get ROLL 1.... THEN hit enter. You don't say you are doing that. It has to be on ROLL 1, also hit ORIGIN after ENTER Under page 2-8 STEP 5, of user manual. On Graphtec website is where I am reading from. Then you should be pre-feeding the vinyl the length of your order,before you ever cut in Signblazer. That helps for your tracking. What driver are you using in Signblazer? Go back and read your user manual.

when you start the machine, and drop the media bar to hold the vinyl. what are you doing next? What buttons are you touching? Walk me thru from the time the power is turned on your vinyl cutter. Then what? I also asked you earlier as to what cutter driver name did you set up in Signblazer?

make sure when you are starting your vinyl cutter, that you use roll and not sheet. Also look in Signblazer and make sure you aren't advancing two feet or something in there. Make sure the vinyl is laying down on the back of the vinyl cutter. there is an eye there to detect vinyl.