Cut Settings on Sure Cuts A Lot Pro 3

Discuss various cutting machines for SCAL
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Katfoot
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Oct 14, 2017 12:57 pm

Cut Settings on Sure Cuts A Lot Pro 3

Post by Katfoot »

I have a USCutter MH-721 MK2 using SCAL 3 Pro. I have not been able to find what all the cut settings mean in SCAL and am having a lot of issues with cutting vinyl.

Issue/s
1. I cannot find a "happy medium" to cut Oracal 631 and 651. I either don't get the vinyl words cut completely or it cuts too deep.

Troubleshooting Done
1. I have replaced the cutting strip on the machine as recommended by several forums.
2. Changed the blade.
3. Adjusted the blade LOTS of times!
4. Tried adjusting the cut settings on the machine LOTS of times!
5. Tried the multi cut option in SCAL to cut 2 times.

Anyone have any ideas or "cheat sheet" on what the settings should be on both the machine and SCAL?

Any help is much appreciated!
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: Cut Settings on Sure Cuts A Lot Pro 3

Post by SandyMcC »

First off, if the blade cuts too deep, you don't adjust pressure... you adjust the blade exposure. With vinyl, only the tippity tip of the blade should be exposed because vinyl is so thin and you don't want to cut into the backing sheet. My personal guideline when setting the blade exposure is that if I can see the blade tip, then I most likely have too much showing. I can feel it with my finger tip but not really see it.

The best thing to do is use a small shape, such as the ring shape in SCAL's library, to do a test cut. The ring makes it easy because if you get a clean cut, you can lift ou the ring shape from your vinyl and easily see of the blade cut into the backing sheet based on the inner circle of the ring. If it did, then you need to reduce the blade exposure... but leave the pressure alone for now. If the ring cut in some parts but not others, then you know the exposure is fine and you only need to increase the pressure. If the ring didn't cut at all, then I would increase pressure AND increase the exposure just a TINY bit and test again.

Once you get a clean cut ring and no cut lines in the top of the backing sheet, then maybe try something a little more detailed... like a small ABC just to make sure you still get a good cut.

Note that I don't own a US Cutter... this is just the testing philosphy that works on most drag-blade cutters and I've been using it with great success for years.
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
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