my cutter just stops in the middle of a cut

[pbertsche 0]

im running sign cut pro, with us cutters mh871 cutter, and hptouchsmart 600 desktop, with windows 7, connected through usb. when i attempt to make a large decal the cutter just stops halfway through the cut, the image seems to totaly send to the cutter as the bar reaches 100 percent , but the cutter just stops half way through this is getting to be expensive some one help please

[MZ SKEETER 4,709]

from UScutter support

http://support.uscutter.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/57/1/why-did-my-cutter-just-stop-in-the-middle-of-my-cut

Why did my cutter just stop in the middle of my cut?

Posted by Jaster Nyasulu on 24 February 2011 11:14 AM

There are a few possible answers for this question 1.) Static Electrical Interference; 2.) Com port settings not correct and/or 3.) Memory overload.

1.) - Static interference can cause your cutter to fail on longer cuts and can potentially cause your motherboard to fail. You'll know static is interfering with your cutter by performing this simple test: Disconnect the cutter from the PC and turn it off for 20 seconds, then reconnect and power on. Remove the vinyl and blade holder from the machine and run a cut job that would typically fail, using only your pen and some paper (or just the vinyl backing). If it completes, run it 2 or 3 more times. Did it fail? If yes, probably not static. Finally, (still w/no blade) run the same job the same way WITH the vinyl. Does it fail? If yes, Static.

Vinyl is an insulator which is negatively charged; this is where the problem begins. During the process of simply un-rolling, your vinyl gets a strong negative charge. Because it's an insulator you cant simply wipe off the charge (as with anti-static wipes) unless you cut the sheet from the roll. The other point where this is an issue is when the media feeds out of the machine and lays on the floor (ESPECIALLY CARPET!) and then the cutter rolls it back in. Again the peeling away motion creates more static. Grounding the cutter ( or "bonding" to be precise) is your best option for helping to discharge the static that has built up on the cutter. Grounding can be done by running a copper wire/speaker wire from a screw on the base of the cutter to a point on the stand. Contact points should be metal on metal, which might require you to scrape away some paint. You can also try a humidifier to dampen the amount of environmental Static Electricity in the immediate area. The only real solutions: A) Ground the machine. B.) Get antistatic spray. You can find it at most computer or electronics stores or by simply doing a Bing search.

2.) Note: This only applies to cutters that DO NOT install as printers, ie: Creation, Refine, Copam etc.

When you plug your cutter into your computer, the computer gives it a Com port number (if you're using a Windows operating system.) That Com port also has specific settings. Both the Com port and com port settings need to be correct and match in your cutting software and the computer's Device Manager. Open your computer's device manager and locate the "Ports" listing. If you have the cutter connected to the computer via USB and turned on you should see a listing something to the effect of "USB serial port (com3)". You can know for sure which USB com port the computer has assigned to the cutter by disconnecting it from the computer. The com port will disappear. Plug it back in and you'll see the com port reappear. Right click on that com port and select "Properties", then "Port Settings". The values should be 9600,8,None,1, Hardware, and should also be reflected in your Cutting software setup. Once you have verified that these are correct in the Device Manager, you can also click on "advanced settings" (depending on your O/S) and check the box to enable serial printing. This will give the cutter more time to process data that the computer is sending it.

3.) - The processor on the MH cutters specifically were not designed to effectively handle the data required for cuts beyond 72 inches in length. Additionally, the onboard memory on an MH Cutter is only 8 megabits. This is a very miniscule amount and can be easily overloaded by a large image file. The only real solution is to upgrade the memory by purchasing a 4 megabyte chip from UScutter.com

from forum users:

some people also use dryer sheets and wipe their vinyl to get rid of the static.

also using a usb to serial cable helps. such as a Keyspan adapter. That is the brand name.