CE8000 can not get settings right

[SR25 2]

Hello all

I recently bought a CE8000.  I cant seem to get the cut settings right. Right now I print on a Roland SG3 and I have been laminating and then cutting on the SG3 but wanted a separate cutter. I print stickers.

I am wanting to perf cut/die cut. So right now, if I set the blade depth where I think it looks right, it wont cut through the vinyl and laminate, even at 38 force.  When I extend the blade enough to get it to cut through (which is too much. ends up about a full credit card width. I know thats not a good unit of measurement, but i do know thats sticking out too much), then the cut lines are not straight. I dont like using the build in square/triangle cut test because its too small, so I make a 1 inch square and circle side by side.  When I have the blade extended too far to where it actually cuts through, it makes the circle not perfect and the corners of the square rounded and messed up.  When I have the blade depth set to where I think it should be, it cuts the shapes perfect, but wont cut through the backing.

I have the blade holder set in the channel (closest to me), not on the cut strip. Not using a carrier sheet. Any suggestions on getting this thing dialed in??

[haumana 1,228]

why aren't you using the blade holder to be situated over the cutting strip?

[slice&dice 2,467]

The blade mechanism of a vinyl cutter is dependent on free rotation of the blade in the holder (spins on a bearing).

The unit's cutting head slides the blade across the vinyl ('floats' on the backing paper) and allows that blade to drag and spin according to direction of travel.

Once you go through the backing paper, you've created blockage of that motion.

[MZ SKEETER 4,726]

 This is on a FC9000, but the set up should be no different on any newer Graphtec cutter.   A few things you don't mention, type of blade you are using and your speed. Run the speed very slow, and don't use the normal blade, That is all mentioned in this video. Get a red top  blade holder and blade.CB15U.  The blade has a lot of wear and tear on them going thru the wax paper backing. Also take the blade holder out of the machine, and with your hand cut thru the vinyl and laminate with your hand. Adjust blade to get it to just cut thru laminate and vinyl. That will give you a starting point to adjust your force. Correct combo is less blade more force.

 

[SR25 2]

 

 This is on a FC9000, but the set up should be no different on any newer Graphtec cutter.   A few things you don't mention, type of blade you are using and your speed. Run the speed very slow, and don't use the normal blade, That is all mentioned in this video. Get a red top  blade holder and blade.CB15U.  The blade has a lot of wear and tear on them going thru the wax paper backing. Also take the blade holder out of the machine, and with your hand cut thru the vinyl and laminate with your hand. Adjust blade to get it to just cut thru laminate and vinyl. That will give you a starting point to adjust your force. Correct combo is less blade more force.

 

Thank you.  I was using the CB09U that came with the machine with the blue blade holder.  I will try the CB15U and red blade holder.   My speed was set to 6, sorry I forgot to mention that before.  I didnt have any real reason to cut above a 6 or 8 speed.

[SR25 2]

 

why aren't you using the blade holder to be situated over the cutting strip?

because these cutters have a channel made to cut through so you can have Perf Cut stickers without as much wear on the cut strip.

[SR25 2]

 

The blade mechanism of a vinyl cutter is dependent on free rotation of the blade in the holder (spins on a bearing).

The unit's cutting head slides the blade across the vinyl ('floats' on the backing paper) and allows that blade to drag and spin according to direction of travel.

Once you go through the backing paper, you've created blockage of that motion.

but aren't the graphtecs meant to perf cut? Isn't that why the channel is there?

[MZ SKEETER 4,726]

Your welcome.  It seems like this person in the video, knows what he is talking about. He posted his settings pretty good.  I only cut slow also. I don't think I have had my cutter past 5. My niche' is detailed designs. Plus I cut while answering questions on here. I hope you can get fixed with "his" knowledge. I have an older FC model. with the cross cutter blade, reason for the channel in front on my cutter. No dual carriage head for changing position in the carriage head though. 

[haumana 1,228]

If doing a perforated cut, wouldn't that require a carrier sheet, just to make sure that a) there's a good surface under the blade to make the cut, instead of the forgiveness an trough would allow, and b) so that the material will no accidentally snag on blade from 'popping' up from being cut?

Sorry, I don't do perforated cuts, so I'm just trying to get a better grasp of this.

[SR25 2]

 

If doing a perforated cut, wouldn't that require a carrier sheet, just to make sure that a) there's a good surface under the blade to make the cut, instead of the forgiveness an trough would allow, and b) so that the material will no accidentally snag on blade from 'popping' up from being cut?

Sorry, I don't do perforated cuts, so I'm just trying to get a better grasp of this.

What i actually meant is a full die cut, I just called it a Perf Cut.  However a lot of stickers I do are kiss cut and die cut, so Ill have to feed the sheet twice.

[SR25 2]

 

Your welcome.  It seems like this person in the video, knows what he is talking about. He posted his settings pretty good.  I only cut slow also. I don't think I have had my cutter past 5. My niche' is detailed designs. Plus I cut while answering questions on here. I hope you can get fixed with "his" knowledge. I have an older FC model. with the cross cutter blade, reason for the channel in front on my cutter. No dual carriage head for changing position in the carriage head though. 

I'm going to leave the cutter alone until I get the new blades and blade holder in, so I will update here in a few weeks and let you know how it does!

Different question, on your FC, can you kiss cut and die cut easily on the same run?  you said it doesn't have a dual carriage head, but does it still have a channel and a cut strip? does it move the blade holder back and forth automatically?  A lot of what I do is kiss and die cut (stickers with a peel here spot basically).

[MZ SKEETER 4,726]

My cutter is an older FC7000-MK2-75.  I would have to use a carrier mat.  But for what you are asking, the videos I have seen, they are using 2 different blade holders with their blades already set for blade depth, to do what they are going to cut.  They set 2 different conditions.  They do it all on 1 run. The cutter stops so they can change blade holders to finish the job. I don't do print and cut jobs. I do straight  vinyl cutting, mostly detailed jobs. I read a lot. I have been on here since 2008, and research a lot of questions.  I have watched that video before. Youtube is your friend.  My cutter has a channel, but not under the blade. The cross cutter in my carriage head sits a little forward of the blade, so cross cutter is over the channel. Cut strip behind channel. Small gap between. It's been awhile since I have seen that video. But it was out there. A perf cut has little spaces, in the cut, to just punch out the decal. That is using 2 different conditions. And don't call it a die cut.  A die cut (although) Graphtec says die-cut.  Is a press, with each individual die, to press out a decal. Factories die cut decals with presses.  They press the design out like a cookie cutter would.  So, you are contour cutting?  Most forum members on here that answer questions, don't make "stickers." And we don't call our vinyl decals  "stickers". I make vinyl graphics mostly  20"- 28" wide x 8'-16' long. detailed designs. When I think of "stickers",  It's  peel/stick. 

[SR25 2]

 

My cutter is an older FC7000-MK2-75.  I would have to use a carrier mat.  But for what you are asking, the videos I have seen, they are using 2 different blade holders with their blades already set for blade depth, to do what they are going to cut.  They set 2 different conditions.  They do it all on 1 run. The cutter stops so they can change blade holders to finish the job. I don't do print and cut jobs. I do straight  vinyl cutting, mostly detailed jobs. I read a lot. I have been on here since 2008, and research a lot of questions.  I have watched that video before. Youtube is your friend.  My cutter has a channel, but not under the blade. The cross cutter in my carriage head sits a little forward of the blade, so cross cutter is over the channel. Cut strip behind channel. Small gap between. It's been awhile since I have seen that video. But it was out there. A perf cut has little spaces, in the cut, to just punch out the decal. That is using 2 different conditions. And don't call it a die cut.  A die cut (although) Graphtec says die-cut.  Is a press, with each individual die, to press out a decal. Factories die cut decals with presses.  They press the design out like a cookie cutter would.  So, you are contour cutting?  Most forum members on here that answer questions, don't make "stickers." And we don't call our vinyl decals  "stickers". I make vinyl graphics mostly  20"- 28" wide x 8'-16' long. detailed designs. When I think of "stickers",  It's  peel/stick. 

Thank you again!

I am picky on stickers vs decals too.  decals are all vinyl cut to shape, and stickers are printed and cut out.  You're absolutley right, theyre not die cut, they are perf cut, but I feel like people dont know what im talking about sometimes unless I say die cut.

So right now I have the standard blue blade holder with the cb09u blades, and I ordered the CB15U blades and holder, and another blue blade holder and more cb09u blades also, so then I should be able to have a set up ready to go for everything that I need.  I will watch the video you posted and do a little more research so when my red blade holder arrives, ill be ready for testing again.  I kept looking for videos strictly on the ce8000, but there werent many, so I am looking at other graphtec videos since they will be similar.

Thank you again for your help!

[MZ SKEETER 4,726]

Check this video   You are welcome.