Vinyl cutter: Difference between revisions

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{{sewing}}
= Vinyl Cutter =
= Vinyl Cutter =
[[File:Vinyl_cutter.jpg|800px|The vinyl cutter station in all its glory.]]
== Latest News ==
== Latest News ==
* June 2013 - C repaired the vinyl cutter, it's up and running again!
* Dec 21 2021 - Sophia and Daniel got it working again.
 


''View the https://noisebridge.net/wiki/Talk:Vinyl_cutter for a maintenance log''
''View the https://noisebridge.net/wiki/Talk:Vinyl_cutter for a maintenance log''
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Quick params:<br/>
Quick params:<br/>
Cut speed - this depends on the complexity of the cut. 10mm/sec for complicated cuts, up to 200mm/sec for big stuff.<br/>
Cut speed - this depends on the complexity of the cut. 10mm/sec for complicated cuts, up to 200mm/sec for big stuff.<br/>
Cut Press - play around with this - 50g works well.
Cut Press - play around with this - 50g works well. <br/>
When cutting the printer cuts 7% larger than the mm scale in inkscape, so for size-precise cuts, downscale by 7%.


=== Important rules ===
=== Important rules ===
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=== New Vinyl setup ===
=== New Vinyl setup ===
# Load your vinyl in the roller rack. Note, however, that the cutter does not have the strength to unroll any vinyl, so be sure to unroll more than you need and leave it slack
# Load your vinyl in the roller rack. Note, however, that the cutter does not have the strength to unroll any vinyl, so be sure to unroll more than you need and leave it slack
# Flip all the pinch rollers down, and pull the vinyl through the machine
# Flip all the pinch rollers down, and pull the [https://topvinylcutters.com/best-heat-press-for-cricut/ vinyl through the machine]
# Slide the pinch rollers sideways and arrange them over the vinyl. You probably want to use three rollers - two an inch from each of the sides, and one in the middle
# Slide the pinch rollers sideways and arrange them over the vinyl. You probably want to use three rollers - two an inch from each of the sides, and one in the middle
# Flip the pinch roller levers up.
# Flip the pinch roller levers up.
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## Set the locknut
## Set the locknut
## Press the test button If the backing paper is deeply scored, then blade is too low. If the vinyl isn't cut, the blade is too high. Adjust, lather, rinse, repeat
## Press the test button If the backing paper is deeply scored, then blade is too low. If the vinyl isn't cut, the blade is too high. Adjust, lather, rinse, repeat
## Pressure is higher on the ends of the machine, lower in the middle. For wider cuts, you may want to place the material in the middle. You may still cut the backing sheet on the ends and not through the vinyl in the middle. Optimize the pressure for the edges, and you may need to do some manual cut works in the middle..
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-fdVSq0bro&t=612s video instructions for loading vinyl and setting the origin]


=== Setting the origin ===
=== Setting the origin ===
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# Press the Origin button
# Press the Origin button


=== Software ===
=== Software Instructions ===
==== Inkscape on Linux ====
* Launch Inkcut by running this on Terminal: "Desktop/Run_this_in_terminal.sh".
* Download the app and get it installed. https://github.com/slandis/InkCutter/
* Click File > Open and choose your file.
* Make sure you've got the right python libs:
* When you're ready select vinyl cutter 2 as the device and click Device > Send to Device to send it to the device.
** $ sudo dnf install python-cups pyserial
* Ensure that the usb in the computer is plugged in and the serial port on the cutter is also plugged in.
* Make sure you're in the dialout user group
* Plug in the serial to USB cable from the cutter (USB to USB will not work)
* Open up InkScape
* Draw some useful paths
* Go open up Inkcut in the Extensions menu
* Go adjust the configs, match up the baud rate at 2400 on both the software and on the cutter.  Make sure you turn on hardware flow control ("Hardware (DSR/DTR + RTS/CTS)") in the inkscape plot settings. Make sure that the Serial port is set to /dev/ttyUSB0.
* Go ahead and cut what you wanna cut
 
==== If you have a PostScript file ====
If the above is way too complicated and you are like Henner, just write your stuff directly in PostScript (or generate it otherwise), convert to HPGL and send it to the plotter in a one-liner without leaving the comfort of your shell.
 
Make sure to set the plotter to 9600 baud before, the 2400 baud mentioned above in the InkScape setup seems to ''not'' work and run into buffer-troubles.
 
  pstoedit -xscale 0.98425 -yscale 0.98425 -dt -f hpgl &lt; <b>mypostscript-file.ps</b> | socat STDIO /dev/ttyUSB0,raw,echo=0,crtscts=1,b9600
 
The '''pstoedit''' command converts the PostScript file to HPGL, which is the command language typically used by pen plotters or vinyl cutters.
We need to scale to 0.98425 because the cutter seems to have 1/1000" units instead of standard HPGL 1/40mm. The -dt option makes sure to trace letters (the cutter can't deal with text otherwise). Note, only text sufficiently large makes sense on the cutter.
 
The '''socat''' command sends the HPGL output of the previous command to the serial interface. It is useful in itself if you already have a HPGL file and want to send it over.
 
=== Cutting ===
Note that the Sure Cuts a Lot software is no longer installed on the computer by the laser cutter, as of August 10, 2016.
Vinyl cutter users generally use the Inkscape plugin.
* Open Sure Cuts a Lot
* Draw
* Unroll enough vinyl
* Click Cut (Cutter if using Sure Cuts a Lot Pro?) -> Cut With US Cutter
* Set mode to "Origin", not "WYSIWYG". This is usually already set.
* Click Cut.
* Profit
 
 
== Old information about pledges ==
 
It was [https://www.noisebridge.net/pipermail/noisebridge-discuss/2013-January/033976.html suggested] that Noisebridge should have a vinyl cutter, which can be purchased for ~$300.
 
If you would like to contribute funds toward it, edit this page to add your name to this list:
 
* [[User:Yesac|Casey]] - $250 - paid
* [[User:Leif|Leif]] - $50 - paid
* [[User:Lizzard|Liz]] - $20  A bit extra for supplies
* [[User:Molly|Molly]] - $25 - paid
* [[User:Turkshead|Shannon]] - $25 - paid
* Dan -  $20 - paid
 
If people opt to get the 50" model, the following people will contribute money
 
* [[User:Coreyfro|Coreyfro]] - $25
* Larry - $100 - paid
* Arlen - $25 - paid
* Merlin - $25 - paid
 
 
Invoice
* 50" Derpaderpa cutter w/ shipping + spare blades: 409
 
Vinyl we want
* Some matte vinyl - looks better for laptop decals
* Oracal transfer tape is the best

Latest revision as of 17:08, 1 April 2023

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Vinyl Cutter[edit]

The vinyl cutter station in all its glory.

Latest News[edit]

  • Dec 21 2021 - Sophia and Daniel got it working again.


View the https://noisebridge.net/wiki/Talk:Vinyl_cutter for a maintenance log

Vinyl cutting![edit]

Vinyl cutters take paper-backed vinyl and cut them robotically. They talk HPGL. HPGL can be generated from various vector tools.

Our cutter[edit]

We have a 50" USCutter MH1351-MK2.

Using the cutter[edit]

Quick params:
Cut speed - this depends on the complexity of the cut. 10mm/sec for complicated cuts, up to 200mm/sec for big stuff.
Cut Press - play around with this - 50g works well.
When cutting the printer cuts 7% larger than the mm scale in inkscape, so for size-precise cuts, downscale by 7%.

Important rules[edit]

  • Don't touch the blade. Not only is it poky, getting any kind of dirt or skin oil on it makes it very unhappy
  • Be aware of static electricity - unrolling the vinyl is a mini maelstrom of sparks. Ground yourself and the machine
  • Cover the machine when done. Dust is bad.


New Vinyl setup[edit]

  1. Load your vinyl in the roller rack. Note, however, that the cutter does not have the strength to unroll any vinyl, so be sure to unroll more than you need and leave it slack
  2. Flip all the pinch rollers down, and pull the vinyl through the machine
  3. Slide the pinch rollers sideways and arrange them over the vinyl. You probably want to use three rollers - two an inch from each of the sides, and one in the middle
  4. Flip the pinch roller levers up.
  5. Adjust the cutter blade height. The cutter blade should be exactly as tall as the vinyl. Too tall and it will ruin the cutting surface below. Too short and it won't cut all the way through
    1. Loosen the brass locknut
    2. Turn the top, aluminum nut until the blade is completely retracted
    3. Expose the blade to your guess as to the depth of the vinyl
    4. Set the locknut
    5. Press the test button If the backing paper is deeply scored, then blade is too low. If the vinyl isn't cut, the blade is too high. Adjust, lather, rinse, repeat
    6. Pressure is higher on the ends of the machine, lower in the middle. For wider cuts, you may want to place the material in the middle. You may still cut the backing sheet on the ends and not through the vinyl in the middle. Optimize the pressure for the edges, and you may need to do some manual cut works in the middle..

video instructions for loading vinyl and setting the origin

Setting the origin[edit]

  1. Press the Pause button
  2. Navigate to the desired origin
  3. Press the Origin button

Software Instructions[edit]

  • Launch Inkcut by running this on Terminal: "Desktop/Run_this_in_terminal.sh".
  • Click File > Open and choose your file.
  • When you're ready select vinyl cutter 2 as the device and click Device > Send to Device to send it to the device.
  • Ensure that the usb in the computer is plugged in and the serial port on the cutter is also plugged in.
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