OzzieLinda

Hi there,
I hope I am not rude to not introduce myelf on a seperate thread, but I am desperate for help here and have a short timeline.
I purchased a Creation CT900 from a business in Sydney, and they promised me that they would give a techinical support number upon purchase... but they didn't. Now I have our shop opening in 1 week, and I have NO SIGNS. I also have limited time on the computer as I work in the current shop during the day which has had computer problems and no internet all day until I arrive home... argh.
So here I am tonight, desperately hoping for help, and would really greatly appreciate your time if you can help.

My Creation CT900 comes with a USB cable, however it may be a converted Serial to USB inside the machine, because we have to load it as a COMPORT. I use WindowsVista.

When I plug in the machine, the system automatically loads a USB driver (that was until I paid $60- for a technician to have a play, not it thinks it can't install a driver). Then I use Artcut Software as the seller told me that Flexisign does not work with Vista.

Artcut goes ok, I have the file ready to cut, go to cut and ... nothing. The cut/plot screen just hangs, and the machine does nothing.

Sometimes the cut screen says nothing, sometimes the blue boxes go along the bar as if it thinks it is about to cut, but still nothing happens. Out of the blue on one of my many attempts it cut a square and a long line accross the vinyl (nothing like the word 'test' I asked it to cut). Weird?

I am stranded here in Australia, there is absolutely nowhere I can call for help, not even a technician I can pay. Can anybody at all help a total novice here?

Linda.

 

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Progeny

Hi Linda, I don't know about the Creation machines but have a look on the uscutters site, they sell them and I think there are some Q&A pages.

Have you checked all the settings? Baudrate etc must all match. I had an issue with Vista at first with my cutter and all i had to do was uncheck a box on the cutting screen. It can be something that simple but it's a pain to try and find the problem.

Best of luck.

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OzzieLinda

Thanks, I noticed Baudrate mentioned somewhere in my searches online tonight, but don't understand what it is. Could you explain? On my Creation machine it says the Baud is 19200.

Much appreciated,
Linda.

 

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OzzieLinda

It is the Baud, it is the Baud... can you hear me screaming from Australia. It worked, what a wonderful forum!!!

I am so very happy, you have helped me save a shop opening, and yes you are right, it was something so little!

Thank you thank you thank you I cannot thank you enough.

Once I have had this opening I will be back to see what I can do on tshirts with my machine.

Linda.

 

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OzzieLinda

Uh Oh, spoke too soon. Moved my cutter to another table so I could fit the Vinly Roll holder properly behind. Did exactly the same as above, but now when I go to cut it comes up with the following flashing letters in the Status: box... <CE-6> I have checked the BAUD and all is the same as before. Sorry to be a bother with another problem, but hoping you have seen this simple error also.

Linda.

 

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OzzieLinda

I am sorry for multiple posts, but it is after midnight here. I am just sooo close to getting this working.

The problem I am sure is the BAUD. I have set it all for 9600 (in device manager for the port and on the machine). I go to change the machine settings in Artcut, which was originally at 9600, but I changed it to 19.2k to kind of mache the machine before, and although it appeared at the time to refuse to shift from 9600, it now refuses to shift from 19.2k. This is all not making sense, as I am doing all of the right things I am sure.

I even removed all printers from the Artcut, and re added this machine, but it still insists on keeping the 19.2k BAUD that it previously refused to take on.

Has anybody dealt with Artcut? I think it is this program that may be the ultimate problem.

Linda.

 

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OzzieLinda

Ok it works again, un explainable. Promise I will stop posting on this now. Thanks so much again, it was all about the Baud and Artcut I suspect.

 

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Progeny

The thing with the baudrate is it has to be the same on the program and machine, the program has to match the machine. When I turn my machine on and press menu it displays the baudrate and this is the rate I set in my software (signblazer). Use the rate that the machine displays.

Glad to see you got it working.

Lee

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OzzieLinda

Hmmmm, I took it back into my shop today thinking it would all work, had the BAUD rates matching in the software/machine/USBdriver but it didn't work.

First it came up with the error message mentioned above, then after re starting it all, it looked like it would work... spent ages sending the file to the cutter, but nothing happened.

I don't know if it is Artcut or what, it almost seems as if the cord isn't powerful enough to get the message to the machine as silly as that sounds.

So still same Scenario, shop opening in 1 week, no signs, big headaches.

Linda.

 

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Progeny

Have you tried stating from scratch? Uninstall everything and start again checking it all 2-3 times, matching baudrate etc. Check you are using the right usb/com ports.

I don't use Artcut, is there another software you could download and use?

Did you look on the UScutters site?

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OzzieLinda

I don't actually I don't think. I do have Illustrator, does that work with a cutter, or does that only send to printers?

Linda.

 

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MotoskinGraphix

Flexi Pro 8.6 says XP or Vista on the website. Anyone use any version of flexi with Vista?

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OzzieLinda

That is what was supposed to go with the plotter, it was Flexisign, but they told me that they will give Artsign instead because of Vista. Now he answered myit email and said that I should try it on XP because Vista may be the problem, arghhh. I tried it on XP but their Driver Disc that came with the plotter won't load up the USB driver on XP as XP can't even read the CD.

Less than a week to go, oh why aren't there any cutter people in Australia for me to get on the phone with???

Linda.

 

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MancUK

Hi Linda. Firstly, you're not the only one with the problems regarding the CT900. I've heard others having problems where it would run on one computer and not another. I've also heard the drivers not working properly for it etc.

If you are using the USB you must install the drivers from the CD first, so I would ask them for a new driver disc if yours isn't working, or for a link to download it from.

Can I suggest you try and download the trial version of Signcut 2 to see if you make any progress with that. I believe it supports your cutter, and will work with XP, Vista and Illustrator. The trial will at least allow you to test cut.

Welcome to SignCut-X2 (sc-x2)

Also, one last thing to check is your COM port. Make sure the com port in Device manager is the same as in your software. To get to device manager, go to your "Control Panel" and then open up the "Device Manager" and it should say a COM port for your cutter in there somewhere, i.e COM 4. It needs to match the COM port in your cutting software as far as I am aware.

Well I hope some of this is of use to you.

 

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ino

Hi Linda,
My advise is to Forget artcut and do as Mancuk advised, get the Signcut x2. You'll save yourself a lot of frustrations.
cheers.

 

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