MZ SKEETER

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.

Wasting vinyl where? Front? sides? You don't state. You are not explaining enough as to what you are doing. Are you pushing the ORIGIN Button, before you are sending your design? How much vinyl do you have extended in front of cutting strip? You have to have some vinyl extended, You can't start right on the cutting strip. How are you placing the vinyl exactly? Can you show some pictures? Personally I turned off my media sensor and pinch roller sensor on day 1 (FC7000). Your cutter should be able to do the same. No longer measuring the vinyl width. I can put my blade right to the edge of the vinyl width. Push Origin and can cut past the pinch rollers both sides, no problem.

You just got the cutter and you don't know how to set it up correctly. This is a skilled job. Everyone thinks it's just a piece of cake. It takes time and patience to learn the instructions, how to set up and correctly run a vinyl cutter. First you must start with the blade depth, Too many new users see instructions to use a credit card or post it notes to set blade depth and that is about 10 times too much blade exposed out of the blade holder. These instructions have been posted hundreds of times. If the blade is set correctly it is not possible to cut thru the wax paper backing . Run your cutter slow until you learn it. Too much blade exposed is a good reason you don't stop and start at the same point. You can use your pen tool also on paper until you get more relaxed with the cutting software. There is no problem on this forum that hasn't been discussed hundreds of times.. Learn what the features do in your cutting software. The HELP at the top of your layout screen is the user manual for your cutting software. Read the forum. You are not even showing what your TEST cuts look like right from the TEST feature. Unless they are a PERFECT square and triangle, and barely a mark in the wax paper backing, then you don't have the machine set up correctly. Until that is correct, you will not be cutting anything correctly. Once you get the blade depth correctly set, then you set the blade offset. Look at the picture below. That is where you have to start. We can't just guess what you are trying to do. What have you tried to do to fix these problems? 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.

Seeing as how you are using a Mac, you don't have a lot of choices of cutting software. But I think Signcut has a 30 day trial. It will work for Mac. Not a lot of Mac users here. I am still back on Windows XP. with my Graphtec. You do want a little marking on the backing paper, so that you know you are cutting all the way thru the adhesive. The correct combo is less blade more force.

Also adding, make sure that your cutter is calibrated to your cutting software. Calibration should be in your cutting software. You can tell if it is correct by cutting a 3" x 3" square and it measures exactly 3" x 3". If the square is not exactly the correct size you will need to calibrate your cutting software to your vinyl cutter.

What has Graphtec told you? First, no mention of how you set your blade depth. That is where you start trouble shooting. You are not showing the TEST pattern, cut with the TEST feature. That must be perfect. square and triangle. Make sure the blade holder is clean, add a drop or 2 of light oil, 3-1, sewing machine. etc. Blade must spin freely. Make sure there is no scratches and gouges in the cutting strip. Always have enough vinyl prefed to do your entire order. Never be pulling from the vinyl roll while cutting. This has been posted hundreds of times on here and it works. No using a credit card depth, or post it notes. This works. 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. Turn your speed down. You want quality, it's not a race. Especially cutting text. Start with speed 4 and trouble shoot there. When you get it to cut correctly, then maybe you can cut a little faster. Don't mess with the FIRMWARE!!. There were some problems with the tracking on those cutters when they first came out. The knurled grit rollers were different. Toward the end of this thread OP Dakotagraphx is showing the difference.

Make sure that you have enough vinyl unrolled and slack to do the order. Never be pulling from the roll while cutting. It is best to use a Tripplite Keyspan Adapter and null modem cable with the value cutters. Tripplite is the brand name. Others will not work with a vinyl cutter. Those cutters have a cheap Chinese chipset. It has been mentioned hundreds of times on this forum. find the best price. https://www.amazon.com/TRIPP-Keyspan-Serial-Adapter-USA-19HS-C/dp/B07GXBVDNM/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1TECBH9F5OEOK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aEhnvt6bG4Cehkpcv_KGPl1NNSuYZBbrmYC_v9Fx7vopgB4C2mJYxhqpQJ600I7YQXKK6OevDyiGrFuwqxA0o8xE5RI2GRDdvZ46N6XzstmXc6vZJP7G31rzyYNJCF4o7yUGNMn13ycpVFFX9xo9NUf_DDaOc3d1ZEvOUK_uUhM.Ko0za_tnLtBQKSBZTBnNVkDfp_GQpd6esUATgU7MIng&dib_tag=se&keywords=tripp+lite+keyspan+usa-19hs&qid=1718460520&sprefix=Tripplite+keysp%2Caps%2C450&sr=8-2

I don't know of any real large cutting mats, but many are sold. They are just the Cricut cutting mats. Or mats for crafting vinyl cutters. People buy mats on here, They are sold at UScutter..Walmart's and hobby stores. There are people who buy large rolls of paper and spray adhesive. Glad you got it going...Make sure to calibrate your cutter to what ever software you have. Make a 4" x 4" square and cut it. Make sure it really measures 4" x 4" .

Nothing more that I can add, maybe adjusting x/y belt tension. Those kind of things are in the service manual.

I did see your problem online with a couple other people. 1 7000 and 1 8000,, One person thought it was in the cross cutter. Have you looked into your carriage head? "#2 · Jun 28, 2020 hey bud, im having the same thing happen to my pro fc 7000-75. i think its the cross cut blade holder but i cant seem to fined what it is that is lose. it almost makes a jagged cut on low res. so when i bump it up past 5 on the resolution the cut cleans up but still chatters... have you found a solution yet? and did you have any problem with it erring out with the feed going crazy and ripping the sub straight to fast?" SaveShare

I have FC7000MK2-75 cutter head moves freely when machine is off. Graphtec does have "SERVICE" manuals online.

If that is the cutter advertised with 2 cutter heads, I doubt that regular software would work. That is what I find. OP, is there a HELP at the top of the layout screen? Most software, that is where the user manual is.

Is this a new cutter? Or one that you have had a while, then started problem? The pinch roller has to be perfectly in the middle of the grit roller below. And Always, there has to be a pinch roller on the right large grit roller. Personally what I did with my pinch roller sensor was to turn it off on day 1 and never looked back. I also turned off the media sensor. I can put my blade right to the right edge of the vinyl, no problem. No need to measure vinyl width. Maybe sensor went out on pinch roller. Contact Graphtec, see what they say.