Newbie....it is not cutting...????

[starzzmom]

I am a total newbie. I just unpacked my Cricut Expression tonight and read the SCAL help files. I am trying to cut vinyl for monograms. I am using Oracel 651 and have this loaded onto my mat. I have a page full of letters in SCAL and I went to Cutter - Cut design. A box pops up that says "Cutting with Cricut", checking mat...the cutter is going about it's business on the vinyl and looks like it should be cutting, but the blade is not touching the vinyl. I have the depth set to 4 and I started off using the blade that comes with the unit, but since it did not work I switched to the deep cutting blade. I have run the "cut design" twice now and nothing is being cut. I adjusted the pressure the second time around and did not notice a difference.

There is not a single mark on the vinyl after running the "cutting" session twice.

What am I doing wrong??????

Thanks in advance!
Karen

[HeatherM]

Remove the blade from the housing and check that the blade doesn't have anything stuck on it. Also check that the housing is installed correctly.

I wouldn't start out with a whole mat of cuts. You should try cutting something fairly small until you know what settings you need. I don't think you really want to use the deep blade housing on vinyl. You might try switching out the blade in the regular housing. Some of the machines came with bad blades. HTH

[starzzmom]

I just tried regular paper and the Plantin font using just the machine and it is not cutting at all. The blade is not even leaving a mark on the paper. I changed back to the factory blade and it is inserted correctly. I am using high pressure and blade depth 4 so I am perplexed as to why nothing is being cut.

Karen

[whimpysue]

try cutting on 6, also i always insert the blade housing incorrectly after i change a blade. Make sure your blade housing is inserted in the groove right under the numbers. I usually end up putting it on the very bottom right next to the blade! lol.. hth
if not, call Provo craft..just don't tell them you are using SCAL, tell them you were using the plantin font.
wendy

[starzzmom]

Update...I called Cricut and they are sending me a replacement machine because apparently there is a broken pressure spring. Phew.
Karen