Vinyl Cutter How-To – Stateline Makerspace

User Restrictions

You must be a currently active member in good standing to use this equipment.
You must be trained and authorized before using this equipment!
If you lose or damage an item, YOU are responsible for repair or replacement.
Do NOT install or update any software on the PC without the prior permission of the Area Captain.
Do NOT attempt to register or deactivate any of the software on the PC.
Do NOT open or attempt to “repair” the PC or vinyl cutter. Please notify the Area Captain of any issues.
In order to ensure availability of the equipment for all users, we currently charge for time used on the PC. We strongly suggest that you use one of the other PCs in the lab, or your own computer at home, to do most of your design work. This will reduce “wear and tear” on the equipment, improve availability for all members, and save you money — which is always a good thing!

General Info

Your design must be a vector to be able to cut it. Rasters do not work.

★ Helpful hint: If all you have is a bitmapped/raster (i.e., non-vector) image, there is a handy Trace Image tool on the File menu in SCAL. It does pretty good on relatively simple, monochrome graphics.

You may draw a design using the tools in SCAL, or import a picture to create your own design. Complex pictures will be very difficult to turn into designs. Clean lines work best.

Primarily, you will want your design to be one color. It is possible to create a design with multiple colors. This involves creating multiple layers with registration marks and very carefully placing layers of vinyl on top of, or next to, each other.

Importing File Types: ai, svg, pdf, eps, png, plt, wpc

Exporting File Types: svg, bmp, jpg, png, tiff, plt

On the desktop there is a folder called “Vinyl Design Files”. The first time you log in with your key fob, a folder will be created under your name in that folder in which you can save your designs. Or you may use a USB flash drive or a web browser to save your files elsewhere. Note: The software works better with files stored on the PC, but personal files stored on the PC are not backed up. We recommend you maintain your own copy elsewhere.

There are some handy utilities on the Desktop on the PC, and some handy links in the Chrome and Firefox web browsers.

Setting up the Vinyl Cutter machine

Make sure that the Sure Cuts a Lot software is already running.

Turn on the machine (the switch is on the left side).

If using a roll of vinyl (wide-carriage machine only), place the roll on the two rollers on the back of the machine stand. The vinyl should be toward the right side of the machine. Note: Make sure the vinyl is coming off the back side of the roll.
- Do NOT use rolls of vinyl on the desktop vinyl cutter!

Unlock the support rollers by putting their levers in the up position. Insert the vinyl between the support roller and the metal roller, from back to front. Square the front edge of the vinyl to the machine and lock the support roller in place by pushing the lever so that it is parallel to the ground.

Preferably you want at least two support rollers holding your vinyl. If your piece is very small, you can get away with using just one. If using a 24” or larger roll, 3 rollers should be used.
- The rollers can be moved from side to side as needed to accommodate different widths of materials. The rollers MUST be disengaged before they are moved. Failure to do so WILL damage them, and YOU are responsible for the repair cost!
- The rollers also tend to “bind” as they are being moved. Move them slowly and gently! (Wiggle them very slightly if needed to help them move along.) Trying to move them quickly and having them bind can result in damage to the rollers and the guide rail! Again, YOU are responsible for any damage!
- DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT lubricating the rollers or the guide rail! Doing so WILL damage the machine.

Note: Make sure the support rollers are on the metal rollers and not on the black space between the metal rollers.

Once your vinyl is locked down, press “Offline”.

Use the up, down, left, and right arrows to position the blade holder inside the lower right corner of your vinyl. Note: Use short taps of the buttons to make minor adjustments; holding down the buttons makes larger, faster moves. There should be vinyl at least ½” to the right and below the blade holder.

Tip: To make sure that your vinyl is square, position the blade holder in the lower right corner and use the arrow keys to move the vinyl forward and backward. Watch that the blade holder is consistently the same distance from the edge.

If cutting a larger or longer piece, make sure that as much vinyl as you will use has been unwound from the roll (wide-carriage machine only). You do not want the machine to have to pull the roll because it wears out the motors faster.

Once you are satisfied with the position of the blade holder, press “Origin”.

Confirm that the Speed is set to 210 mm/s and the Pressure to 030g. Change these settings only if you are using a different thickness of vinyl or other material that requires different settings.

IMPORTANT:

The vinyl cutter is NOT intended to cut completely through materials being fed through it! It is intended to cut through the top layer (normally, the adhesive-backed vinyl), leaving the bottom layer (normally, the backing paper) relatively untouched. If you are cutting all the way through the bottom layer, you are NOT using the vinyl cutter correctly and are likely to damage it! As stated repeatedly above, YOU are responsible for repair costs!

If you are cutting material that has only ONE layer, you should use a “carrier” as a backing material to prevent cutting into the strip on the machine. Failure to do so WILL damage the cutting strip and possibly the machine! And, once again, YOU are responsible for repair costs!

Preparing and Cutting your File in Sure Cuts A Lot

Setup your vector image.

   A vector image consists of points connected by paths forming an image. 
   The vector file tells the machine where and how to move the blade.

It is difficult to create vectors in SCAL. It has only simple text, path, and node tools and would be time consuming to create a complex design. Instead, use a program such as Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator to create images from scratch, or to import images and manipulate them into vectors. You may export your vector image into an appropriate filetype (such as .svg), or you may use a plugin (available from the SCAL website) to export it directly into the format specific to SCAL.

To open a vector file in SCAL, click

   >File>Import, and select your file.

Once you have your vector file created and ready to cut, click on your design, look in the upper right hand corner at the “Position & Size” tab. Here you can adjust the size and orientation of your design.

Confirm that the image is the correct dimensions.

Deselect everything and look in the upper right hand corner again at the “Document” tab. Here you can adjust the mat size. You can set the size of your material, which can be very useful if you are using a scrap piece.

Next, click on

  Cutter > Cut with USCutter.

Settings:

   >General
       >Cut Mode: Origin Point
       >End Action
           >Rewind to origin
               >Advance Amount: will determine how much the machine spits out when it’s done.
               >Do nothing
   >Cut by Color
           *An advanced technique, you can multicolor designs by layering pieces. To assist this             
               technique, you can create layers in your design and designate various colors to correspond            
               with which color vinyl that particular layer will need to be cut in.
   >Tiles
       *You can make the program separate your file into pieces if your application requires it.
   >Extras
       >Cut Copies
           *When this is selected, you can automatically cut multiple copies of your design 
               by setting how many rows and columns, and you can set the distance between copies.

When you are satisfied with your settings and double-checked that the vinyl cutter machine is setup correctly, press “Cut”.

Listen to the fun noises!

Once it’s done, if the machine didn’t advance enough vinyl to reveal your image, either (1) release the clamps and pull the vinyl out of the back of the machine, or (2) press “Offline” on the machine and the down arrow until enough material is exposed that you can cut off your work.

Use scissors to cut your design off the roll. No blades on the machine please!. Please cut all the way across the roll. If you have extra pieces that are at least 2” x 4”, please place them in the scrap bin.

Current prices for use and materials can be found on the Vinyl Cutter info page.

Weeding

Your design is cut, but now you need to remove the vinyl that is not part of your design. This process is called weeding.

Use tweezers, dental picks, Xacto knives, and scissors to remove the excess vinyl.

Be careful not to let the extra vinyl stick to other vinyl. It doesn’t like to come off and may ruin your design.

If there are large amounts of vinyl around your design, or if your design is encompassed, it can help to cut lines from the outermost line of your design to the edge of the piece to create smaller, easier to remove excess pieces. These are often called “weed lines” and can be automated by certain programs, or added to the original file manually.

If you use an Xacto blade, please use a cutting mat under your vinyl.

Remember to return the tools to their proper storage locations!

Application

Now it’s time to apply your design.

Make sure the surface where you will be applying your work is clean and dry.

Take the roll of transfer tape and pull loose enough to cover your design, then cut that piece off the roll. Note: For larger designs, applying the tape as you pull it off the roll can be easier than cutting the whole piece off first.

Carefully apply the transfer tape to your design, trying to prevent bubbles and creases. It helps if you start from the inside and press towards the outside.

Use a squeegee to smooth the tape and to make sure the tape is securely attached to the vinyl.

Remove the paper backing slowly.

Carefully position your design on your application surface and place either the center or one corner first and smooth towards the outside.

Use a squeegee to make sure the vinyl is securely attached to the application surface.

Pull the transfer tape away at one side and pull away as close to 180 degrees as possible. Be careful that none of your vinyl is sticking to the transfer tape!

Voila!

Remember to return the tools to their proper storage locations!

Finishing Up

Now don’t forget to clean up after yourself.

Save your work (if desired).
Exit from the SCAL program.
- Don’t forget to note your charges!
Shut down the computer.
Remove vinyl from the vinyl cutter.
Turn off the vinyl cutter.
Put away any tools.
Put any usable scraps in the scrap bin.
Throw away your garbage.
PAY for any vinyl used (except for scraps taken from the scrap bin) and PC time used.

Tips & Tricks

Where to Find Artwork

We have some links to vector graphics here on our website.

Where to Buy

Note: The following links are provided for your convenience only. They should NOT be considered endorsements.

Applying Large Pieces

There are sprays you can buy, or you can use soapy water that makes applying large pieces much easier. Spray your surface wet with the liquid, then apply your sticker. The liquid will allow your sticker to float, allowing you to align perfectly before it is permanently stuck to the surface. Once it is in the correct spot, use a squeegee, starting from the center and going out, to press the liquid and any air bubbles out.

Air Bubbles

Got air bubbles? Poke a small hole with a needle or an Xacto knife to allow the air to release. Then just smooth the bump out with a squeegee.

Getting More Help Online

We have some links to online tutorials here on our website.