Pause or cancel a cut that's in progress?

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Katy8
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 4:39 pm

Pause or cancel a cut that's in progress?

Post by Katy8 »

Hi, I'm pretty new to SCAL, and am running v.5 pro on my KNK Force, cutting fabric. I've looked through Sandy McCauley's great manual, and also on the program's online help, but can't find any instructions for pausing or for cancelling a cut that's already in process. The only thing I've been able to do is hit the power button on my cutter, which is an awkward and time consuming way to stop a cut. Sometimes I'd also like to be able to pause, to do something like clear lint off the blade. If anyone has the magic answer, I'd certainly appreciate it.
Thanks,
Kate
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: Pause or cancel a cut that's in progress?

Post by SandyMcC »

Unfortunately, there's not. The way the Force and a number of other KNK's work, the data is sent all at once and stored in the cutter to process. The fastest way to abort a cut is to pull out the power cord on the side of the cutter... not ideal but it does immediately stop the cut.
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
Katy8
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 4:39 pm

Re: Pause or cancel a cut that's in progress?

Post by Katy8 »

Thanks so much for your quick reply, and also for the terrific manuals that have become my cutting bible! I was afraid that was the answer when I couldn't find anything in the materials about it. At least now, the mystery is cleared up.

I do have a couple of ancillary questions, though. I hadn't thought of simply pulling out the power cord, and instead have been pushing the lighted power button. My first question is, the Force running SCAL 5 pro, seems to go through a cycle when I press that button during a cut, but I haven't been able to figure out what that cycle is. The first time I press it, the machine does seem to pause with the blade staying exactly where it was when I pushed. Do you know, does the blade go up at this point, allowing me to remove the mat/work? If I push again, my best recollection is that there are some blinking lights and not much other change that I could see. A third push on the start button, again if I remember correctly, returns the blade to the start/origin. And, I have to push it still again to power down the machine. If this is a standard "4 push" cycle, could you elaborate as to what the steps are for each start-button push? I'm guessing that after the first push/pause, there aren't any press sequences that would restart the cut?

My second question is whether there is a SCAL/KNK user group (or user subgroup) dedicated to fabric cutting. I would love to get in touch! I'm working out settings for cutting fabrics other than quilting cottons, and would be happy to share what I've come up with so far and could use any wisdom others have accumulated. I design and make what I think of as "art" handbags that use a range of fabrics like vintage silk kimono cloth, as well as linen-like polyesters for linings, all interfaced.
Thanks much,
Kate
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: Pause or cancel a cut that's in progress?

Post by SandyMcC »

I'll have to test that out, Katie. I was certainly never told of any sequence for stopping a cut. I'm 99% certain you cannot resume a cut after pausing because there's simply no function in either SCAL or C3 to make that happen.

Regarding KNK owners doing fabric cutting, I'm not aware of a group just for that purpose. If you search on "fabric" at our design team site, www.teamknk.com, you'll find quite a few posts from our designers who cut fabric but that will include different models of KNK's besides the Force. But you should also find some interesting tips from those owners there. Also, Lynn Keniston, one of our past Team KNK designers wrote this document on stabilizers that you might find interesting: http://www.iloveknk.com/Support/Tutoria ... _LynnK.pdf

If you want more contact with other Force owners, the KNK Force Facebook group is, by far, the most active place to find that. There are two other KNK Facebook groups where KNK owners post regularly. Here are links to all three sites. If you're not a Facebook user, I strongly encourage you to try it for just this purpose alone.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/KNKForce/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/KNKZing/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/KNKMaxx/

Hope to see you there!
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: Pause or cancel a cut that's in progress?

Post by SandyMcC »

I tested it out and I don't get a 4 step "reaction" at all. I press once and it will pause with the head up (but that could also be coincidental). The light is blinking and pressing again doesn't do anything other than, after about 10 seconds, it powers off.
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
Katy8
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 4:39 pm

Re: Pause or cancel a cut that's in progress?

Post by Katy8 »

Sandy,
Thanks for your reply, and sorry I've been so tardy in replying myself!
I really appreciate you testing it out; it's interesting that the head goes up. I think I didn't wait the 10 seconds till power-off, and hit the button again instead.
I joined FaceBook to go to the site you referenced.
Also, I just left a message/questions on the KNK Force forum about a hardware matter.
Best,
Kate
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