Silhouette Cameo 2 Help Please

2776 Views 28 Replies 8 Participants Last post by into the T, Nov 11, 2017

socalthreads

Discussion Starter · Oct 30, 2017 (Edited)

Hello forum, I have a Silhouette Cameo 2 and I could use some help. I use siser easyweed and when cutting out on my plotter i get spots of the design that do not cut all the way through. I mean a tiny spot and the rest cuts perfect. I have to use a razor blade to cut it. I've used new blades and have the same thing happen. If I cut a design multiple times it will happen in the same spot on all of the designs. Any idea how I can fix this? It gets really frustrating. Thank you for any help.

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Amw

· #2 · Oct 30, 2017

socalthreads said:
Hello forum, I have a Silhouette Cameo 2 and I could use some help. I use siser easyweed and when cutting out on my plotter i get spots of the design that do not cut all the way through. I mean a tiny spot and the rest cuts perfect. I have to use a razor blade to cut it. I've used new blades and have the same thing happen. If I cut a design multiple times it will happen in the same spot on all of the designs. Any idea how I can fix this? It gets really frustrating. Thank you for any help.

First off I dont and have never used a craft plotter, so I may be wrong (using professional plotters for 20 years).
If the spots that are not cutting are always in the same area Example..if you cut out the word "website" and the "e & b" are not cutting completely and then you cut out Numbers 012345 (about the same size as the text) and your having the same problem with "1 & 2". Then it is most likely the cutting strip.

If you have a new blade and the file art is correct then the only things left are the cutting strip and the blade holder. Blade holder issues are usually noticed in multipal places vs 1 same area regardless of what you are cutting out.

socalthreads

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 30, 2017

Thanks for the reply Marsha & Tony. I'm saving to buy a professional plotter. The area that does not get cut is not always in the same exact spot on every design. It will be different areas of different designs. I was just using an example if I cut 5 of one design that one design will not be cut in a certain spot on all deigns but then on a new design it could be in a total different area.

Amw

· #4 · Oct 30, 2017

socalthreads said:
Thanks for the reply Marsha & Tony. I'm saving to buy a professional plotter. The area that does not get cut is not always in the same exact spot on every design. It will be different areas of different designs. I was just using an example if I cut 5 of one design that one design will not be cut in a certain spot on all deigns but then on a new design it could be in a total different area.

Then I would try the blade holder. Check the cutting strip and see if there are cuts in it. If this uses a mat that goes back in each time you cut...might need a new one of those. It could have cuts/gouges in it and that would cause cutting issues.

You will be amazed how much better a pro model will be when you can upgrade.

into the T

· #5 · Oct 31, 2017

cameo is a pro-model, only in 12" size
that is the beauty of it

first you should update your studio software
(the new one has a little different ui, but it is worth the small learning curve for the extras and bug-fixes)

check this setting first:
in studio go to 'edit', 'preferences', 'advanced', scroll to bottom and look for 'packet size information',
change this from 'auto (1000)' to '500 bytes', then 'apply'

also make sure you are not sending info to any other hardware whilst cutting (even throwing other studio files into the queue)

remove the cutter blade and take a small pair of needle-nose pliers
and place on the bottom where the two flat indents are (by the blade)
gently turn the piers counter-clockwise (lefty-loosey, righty-tighty) to remove the bottom cap,
be careful as the blade is now exposed and is sharp
remove any stray vinyl/paper pieces in the housing and replace the bottom cap
re-insert into the cameo with the fin pointing straight-away from the cameo

my settings for siser easyweed are:
blade - 2
speed - 3-5 (3 for finely detailed designs/small text)
depth - 10
down-force - 2 (in studio's cut settings there is a pic of the blade assembly, default is one, move to two)

this is a starting point and may need slight adjustments on your end,
you want the vinyl cut and no cut at all in the carrier sheet

i have also had designs where i forgot to close the end nodes,
switch to node mode and zoom in looking for red circles

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Amw

· #6 · Oct 31, 2017

into the T said:
cameo is a pro-model, only in 12" size
that is the beauty of it

No it is not, but we can agree to disagree.

into the T

· #7 · Oct 31, 2017

then we need to ascertain your criteria for what constitutes a pro model?

is it simple usage by professionals? cameo ticks that box

is it the ability to cut fine details in a variety of materials? cameo ticks that box

is it longevity of the machine? cameo ticks that box

is it the inclusion of a decent cutting program? cameo ticks that box

is it the ability to cut lengths up to 10'? cameo ticks that box

is it the ability to contour cut? cameo ticks that box (even some 'pro' models do not have this feature)

is it the ability to fine tune adjustments to perfectly match material/effect? cameo ticks this box

is it manufactured by a reputable company? cameo ticks that box (made by graphtec)

is it sold by reputable transfer/sign vinyl supply companies? cameo ticks that box

please add your criteria for a 'pro model' that the cameo does not meet
also, please let me know which manufacturer you directly buy your htv from

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Amw

· #8 · Nov 1, 2017

into the T said:
then we need to ascertain your criteria for what constitutes a pro model?

is it simple usage by professionals? cameo ticks that box
So places like sign a rama, signs by tomorrow, fast signs, etc. are using these now? (Those are just a few large franchise sign companies, not to mention the 1000's of independent companies).
I have visited a lot of shops over the years and none has had one.

is it the ability to cut fine details in a variety of materials? cameo ticks that box
Can you cut engineering grade reflective vinyl for a fleet of police and fire vehicles? (Over and over) And how long will it take to cut vinyl out for a dozen landscapers trucks (even a 1 color design)

is it longevity of the machine? cameo ticks that box

is it the inclusion of a decent cutting program? cameo ticks that box
Your typical user wouldn't have any way to use it if it didn't come with that. I can run just about any plotter/printer/laser/rotary/etc. using flexi, signlab, or engravelab. Or cut directly from illustrator, etc. Usually only professionals would have that software.

is it the ability to cut lengths up to 10'? cameo ticks that box
What do you do after 10'? We do semi trailers, sports arenas, schools, military, etc. and regularly need lengths over 10'. While everyone knows you can make a second section to put up...why would you make more work. We just did 48" tall x just over 20' (It was 16' of text and a 4x4' logo on the wall inside a large warehouse.)

is it the ability to contour cut? cameo ticks that box (even some 'pro' models do not have this feature)
Can you contour cut Convex (laminated) on these? Printed reflective vinyl? Also what about images larger then 12"?

is it the ability to fine tune adjustments to perfectly match material/effect? cameo ticks this box

is it manufactured by a reputable company? cameo ticks that box (made by graphtec)
I never said it wasn't nice or build bad. We love graphtec. They consider it a hobby cutter too, I see the graphtec guys all the time at trade shows.

is it sold by reputable transfer/sign vinyl supply companies? cameo ticks that box
I have never seen it in any of my equipment suppliers catalogs. I have seen it on some websites of a lot of the smaller suppliers that deal with a lot of the crafters/hobbyists.

please add your criteria for a 'pro model' that the cameo does not meet
also, please let me know which manufacturer you directly buy your htv from

The 12" max is a big issue. A lot of materials are not available in those sizes and would have to be cut down or converted at the supplier. What do you do when someone wants 14" lettering x 11'? We do a lot of installs and not cutting it as one piece wastes time and labor, not to mention takes longer to cut, and is more wear and tear on equipment.
If all you do is shirts I can see how it could work to use it, but it doesn't change that it was designed to be used as a hobbyist/craft cutter. I have seen countless videos of them cutting and they are slow, and loud.
No one said you cant run a business with them, and no one said that it cant make a quality cut or anything else of that nature. Time is money and i would need dozens of them to get our work done on time.

Like i said we can agree to disagree, I said the OP will be happy when they can upgrade. No size limitation, cut all materials, run 24hrs a day if need be, speed. Go to a trade show and ask a graphtec rep to show off one of the FC8600's and you will see what i mean.

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into the T

· #9 · Nov 1, 2017

you do know you are on a t-shirt forum, right?

Reactions: 1

Dekzion

· #10 · Nov 2, 2017

Getting contracts for military, sports arenas etc etc, oh, and etc, would mean there would be a muther of a plotter turning up on my door too.
But I wouldn't be wanging out huge bucks for a machine to sit there twiddling it's thumbs waiting for anything larger than hoodies and t's no matter how pro it looks sitting there.
My Cameo is coming up three years old now so I was thinking of starting a retirement fund for it and replace it with,,, lets see,,, Oh go on, I'll have another Cameo.

Reactions: 3

Dekzion

· #11 · Nov 2, 2017

Hey Jesse, you've probably got it sussed by now but Iwould have suggested your cutting depth wasn't deep enough, if it's a fiddly bit you can always do a double cut. It wouldn't be the cutting strip if you are using a mat or htv because you'll go no-where near it (or shouldn't), there may also be fluff around the blade bearing stopping it rotating so unscrew the cap (not the adjuster complete) and give it a blow out (sometimes it'll need a bit of a poke with a needle).

elcielo

· #12 · Nov 2, 2017

It wouldn't be the cutting strip if you are using a mat or htv because you'll go no-where near it (or shouldn't), there may also be fluff around the blade bearing stopping it rotating so unscrew the cap (not the adjuster complete) and give it a blow out (sometimes it'll need a bit of a poke with a needle).

In theory, I think you are correct...In practice...I've never used my Cameo without the mat, and have replaced my cutting strip twice. Hey, no one's perfect...

My first thought was the cutting strip.

Something that Silhouette told me on the phone when I was having problems was to turn off the machine and put some oil on the post that the cutting thingy rolls on (I used WD-40). Put some paper towel underneath so it doesn't get messy. Then manually move the cutting thingy back and forth. Had something to do with the teeth on the belt sometimes getting out of whack. (Thingy, whack, yes, they are technical terms.)

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djque

· #13 · Nov 2, 2017

The cameo is a craft cutter made for cutting card stock and paper. It is not a professional cutter. Its only competitor is the cricuit machines not the pro machines. If you think that they are then you never been to a iss Show or nbm and if you have and still think so then that's on you. The material cost double and only comes in 12" rolls. They just started making siser easyweed for it cuz the other htv brand was bs and they just started making oracal vinyl for it why cuz the other brand was bs to. Any crafter will tell you they never knew there were bigger and better machines. My girl has the very first cameo and when she saw my machines she was like what's that. When she found out her cutter could cut vinyl she got into making t-shirts but the vinyl was to high so I hook her to where I get mines from and she buys the 15"and cuts it down. A year later at the iss show she buys a ce6000-40 and now her cameo is back as her crafter machine.

Reactions: 1

djque

· #14 · Nov 2, 2017

into the T said:
you do know you are on a t-shirt forum, right?

but the cameo was not made to be a tshirt making machine just cardstock and stuff like that. Its a crafter machine. Yes this is a Tshirt forum but the crafters just started making t-shirts with them.. just like on Facebook there is a group that's called crafting with the silhouette (cameo) they will argue with you if you call them anything less. That group started making crafting stuff like cardstock and stencils for door mats etc. Now since they found out they can make tshirts there is never anything about crafting on there and they have lost quite a few people cuz all they talk about is making t-shirts or look I made my kids this tshirt. There where a few people on there that said what happen to the crafting ideals I'm going to another site.

djque

· #15 · Nov 2, 2017

socalthreads said:
Hello forum, I have a Silhouette Cameo 2 and I could use some help. I use siser easyweed and when cutting out on my plotter i get spots of the design that do not cut all the way through. I mean a tiny spot and the rest cuts perfect. I have to use a razor blade to cut it. I've used new blades and have the same thing happen. If I cut a design multiple times it will happen in the same spot on all of the designs. Any idea how I can fix this? It gets really frustrating. Thank you for any help.

your probable better of going on the fb group called crafting with the silhouette. They know more about this machine. I don't even think there is a cutting strip for it cuz they use a cricuit cutting mat.

into the T

· #16 · Nov 2, 2017

djque said:
but the cameo was not made to be a tshirt making machine just cardstock and stuff like that. Its a crafter machine. Yes this is a Tshirt forum but the crafters just started making t-shirts with them..

well it is good to know we have one of the original group of graphtec designers in our midst
please expound upon your group's original vision for the cameo machine,
do you have some original notes stipulating the machine is to be made for 'just cardstock and stuff like that'?

the reason i mentioned that this is a t-shirt forum because every attempt to dispute my arguments was a sign issue,
not t-shirts

without focus there is anarchy,
you might as well argue that you can't spread asphalt with a cameo

i will give a very simple analogy:

bob - oh! you only have a push mower, that is not a professional machine,
a professional machine is a zero-turn mower

joe - but i have a company, i charge the same rate as your zero-turn, i pay taxes on my work like you

bob - nope, those were only made for personal lawn mowing,
there is even a facebook group called 'personal push mowers',
and they get very angry if you call them anything else
my young daughter has a push mower and when she saw my zero-turn she said what's that?
so there you go, it's not a professional machine

joe - but what about all the businesses using them?

bob - anyone with a push mower will tell you they never knew there was anything but push mowers
when they see a professional machine they immediately break-down and weep at their ignorance

joe - you are not making appropriate cognitive connections,
is it the fact you bought one machine and i bought ten for the same price,
or is it that i charge the same for the end product?

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into the T

· #17 · Nov 2, 2017

djque said:
your probable better of going on the fb group called crafting with the silhouette. They know more about this machine. I don't even think there is a cutting strip for it cuz they use a cricuit cutting mat.

there are literally three different posters in this thread giving helpful advice

the second poster admitting they don't have a clue what they are talking about,
yet come here to bash the machine

hmmm....

reminds me of the posters bashing jpss, even though they have never used it or know anyone who has

Reactions: 1

socalthreads

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 2, 2017

Sorry guys I wasn't trying to start an argument about my plotter. I think it's a good plotter I've only used it for making shirts and have done really well with it only working part time on it after work. I made upwards of $17,000 from June-Dec of last year and have had no complaints about the craftsmanship of the shirts being produced with it or one single return. I was just frustrated with small little areas here and there not getting cut all the way through even after installing a new blade. It wasn't always same area so it had me stumped.

Reactions: 1

seacookie

· #19 · Nov 2, 2017

socalthreads said:
Sorry guys I wasn't trying to start an argument about my plotter. I think it's a good plotter I've only used it for making shirts and have done really well with it only working part time on it after work. I made upwards of $17,000 from June-Dec of last year and have had no complaints about the craftsmanship of the shirts being produced with it or one single return. I was just frustrated with small little areas here and there not getting cut all the way through even after installing a new blade. It wasn't always same area so it had me stumped.

Trust into the T with this one

We have a lot of threads where owners of more expensive machines try to destroy threads. The last one I was reading was about chinese press which is copy of stahls if I remember correctly. Then the guy comes to visit that topic so he could say he will stay at his stahl,george knight and one more expensive press. Sure ... and topic was about his presses...

People like to act like they drive porsche and not yugo... into the T has a lot under his belt, he doesn't have I drive''porsche'' complex and he knows a lot. And bottom line, his advices gonna save you some money.

I don't care what ''porsche'' complex guys say pro machine is. For me it is: The machine which can deliver what I need

If that is for 300 bucks instead of 3k even better.

Reactions: 4

Amw

· #20 · Nov 2, 2017

into the T said:
there are literally three different posters in this thread giving helpful advice

the second poster admitting they don't have a clue what they are talking about,
yet come here to bash the machine

hmmm....

reminds me of the posters bashing jpss, even though they have never used it or know anyone who has

Since i was the 2nd poster, you need to re read the posts.
I said it was great, for what it was designed for.

I can make 1 shirt on a cameo or i can make 2 or more in the same amount of time on a professional plotter. If you are doing 20 shirts a day that's fine but most people want to make as many as they can. Maybe you dont get large orders so it works for you. Great...the 1st thing I said to you was we can agree to disagree..you wanted to keep it going. Your stepping over dollars to pick up pennies. I dont have time to show you all the reasons why professional equipment is better. When your cameo wears out go get another, and run your business how you see fit. We have been in business almost 20 years I know what works for us and most shops. Have a great evening.

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