[Stuffy]

(please see video below..when i get to the letter Y you will see what im speaking about...) I have been cutting T SHIRT vinyl for a while now with no problems BUT-
im cutting sign / sticker vinyl...tried 2 different brands. also tried multiple settings for : Blade, offsets, speed, and pressure. Im using an expert 24 with greatcut software and a fairly new blade. However no matter what design/ fonts/ or size of object i always have trouble weeding. Its like parts of the design are still connected to the scrap material. Its hard to describe and i havent found any answers on the forum yet. Any help is appreciated.

 

[KB Graphics]

Check your cutting strip it may need to be replaced

 

[ocmedia]

I use a Roland CX-500 and I have these problems sometimes as well.

Usually it is resolved for us with a technique... different for everyone. We simply cut guidelines with an exacto around the letter and peel out the rest, with a little more focus on the problem letter.

I have also found it is sometimes the "points" in the vector art. simplifying it to less points or defining the corner better helps on some letters.

 

[Stuffy]

thnx ill try that. How long do they typically last?

 

[Stuffy]

@ocmedia. Thnx for the reply. However im having this problem with everything i print. sometimes a little better then others but went threw about 10 yrds today just trying different settings and stuff...and the letters/ designs still grab on.

 

[KB Graphics]

It depend on how much vinyl you cut. I change mine every 6 months. Also a drop of oil in the blade holder helps

 

[Stuffy]

ok. ill add im using inkscape..dont know if this could be the issue. or if others have come across problems with it..EVERYTHING still works great for t shirt vinyl..its just this sign vinyl.

 

[Stuffy]

also im using the stock blade (not sure of the size i think 45) and the vinyl is 3 mil. Is this ok to use?

 

[royster13]

I have an Expert 24...I cut heat press vinyl (Spectra Eco Film or Siser Easy Weed) and sign vinyl (Oracal 651, 751 or 631) using the same settings....
Pressure - 35
Speed - 50
And they work just fine......

Make sure you blade is so far inside the holder you can hardly see it.....If you run it across a scrap of sign vinyl and it cuts or is even visible on the backer it is too far out.....If your cut goes too deep in the vinyl it pushes the adhesive into the cut in the backer and makes it hard to weed.....

 

[Fenrir]

I don't know about your specific setup, but many sign cutters have an "overcut" setting, where it will continue to cut the design a few mm or more ahead of the starting point to make sure it's cut out all the way. Another issue could be too much pressure. You want the blade to barely scratch the backing. If you start cutting into the backing it can squeeze the adhesive into the groove, thus making it harder to weed and harder to remove the transfer tape. Also, some people think that particular brands of vinyl are harder or easier to weed.

Instead of an x-acto knife afterward, it is easier to place rectangle cut-outs around areas you have trouble weeding, thus you can work on a little bit at a time instead of the whole design at once.

If all else fails you can reverse-weed after applying transfer tape, lift up and weed, then put back down onto the backing.

 

[Stuffy]

@ Royster are you familiar with the setting that fenrir is speaking of? the overcut? if so where can i find it on our expert 24's?

I will try those settings royster however they seem far off from what has been working best for me...
With t shirt vinyl im at pressure 60 / speed 40...
with sticker vinyl what has been working best is pressure 80 / speed 15

 

[Stuffy]

Update- cleaned blade / changed strip. Still same problem -Tried settings listed above and it wouldnt cut through vinyl ( surface cuts)

 

[Skidream37]

I have had similar problems due to:

• Size of job larger than material and the travel path will error out, leaving uncut edges
• Insufficient RAM and missing data in buffer when spooled.
• Missing or incorrect vector points.

Check the job size and material size on the plotter. Restart the computer and plotter to dump any memory issues. View the outlines and bits to make sure the cut path is correct.

The staff at Sign Warehouse are pretty helpful.

PS, my plotter is 8 years old and has never seen a drop of oil near it. Dust, Oil and Adhesive don’t mix.

 

[Stuffy]

both of the styles of vinyl i got were off ebay. this may be the problem but i did get 6 rolls..i doubt they all went bad. 1 brand is scotchprint / and the other just says American Mfg. calendered vinyl..

 

[Stuffy]

I have had similar problems due to:

• Size of job larger than material and the travel path will error out, leaving uncut edges
• Insufficient RAM and missing data in buffer when spooled.
• Missing or incorrect vector points.

Check the job size and material size on the plotter. Restart the computer and plotter to dump any memory issues. View the outlines and bits to make sure the cut path is correct.

The staff at Sign Warehouse are pretty helpful.

PS, my plotter is 8 years old and has never seen a drop of oil near it. Dust, Oil and Adhesive don’t mix.

thanks. i have shutdown both and rebooted. sizes on cutter match computer.

 

[royster13]

I guess I have never used over cut because I did not know it existed....And if it does in Great Cut, I have not found it yet...

 

[Stuffy]

i was looking also..cant find it.

 

[royster13]

Apparently it is not on the Expert 24.....It is on their higher up models like a Puma and Jaguar....

 

[Stuffy]

Apparently it is not on the Expert 24.....It is on their higher up models like a Puma and Jaguar....

any other suggestions?

 

[coolbeansgifts]

I really have had good luck with Cleancut blades. These blades cost a little more,but a worth every penny.Theses blade seem a little tougher,and last longer, than the stock blades that came with my Expert 24.
I use Oracal 651 outdoor Vinyl and 631 wall vinyl and I could really tell the difference weeding Oracal, compared to the cheaper vinyl ,inwhich I bought to start with.

Good Luck