FC8600-100 leaving "tails"

[SRITguy 1]

Apologies in advance, I'm a generalist IT guy and don't really know plotters or vinyl cutters well. The department I support accidentally changed the settings on their device - first the language was changed and then other settings were likely changed when trying to change the language back. You can see the issue in the attached image - the cutter is leaving rounded shapes at certain points on the design. I found a previous thread on this site that mentioned changing the INITIAL BLADE POSITION>OUTSIDE setting or it will "make a little J in your design". I thought that might have been the issue but I changed the setting and it did not fix the issue. I changed the Initial Blade Position back to the original setting but now I have no clue what to try next. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

[slice&dice 2,464]

We routinely encounter this issue, it's related to offset.

You must first make sure you have the blade depth set correctly. Too much blade out is not good. You should just barely see the tip, to the degree where it seems like it's not even extending beyond the holder.

Offset control is in the software. What is the current setting you have?

 

 

[MZ SKEETER 4,717]

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. 

 

[SRITguy 1]

Thank you both, this was it! The offset was set to 0.020in, I just unchecked the box (no offset?), had them test and it printed perfectly. Pardon the phone picture, I didn't have time to take an actual screenshot.

Thanks again, I learned something new and the sign crew team is happy again.

[darcshadow 1,641]

Gotta love the easy fixes.