SCAL4 or SCAL5 or SCAL6 with legacy Cricut machines

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Cserebogar
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2020 12:30 pm

Re: SCAL4 or SCAL5 with legacy Cricut machines

Post by Cserebogar »

So I have a creat crv20001 with win 10 and I downloaded the SCAL5 Pro. I pick a simple heart image to test. I downloaded the 3rd part driver and I went intot he SCAL5 Pro software settings and I added the Create. I try to Cut the image but it doesn't. I know it's not the machine since I can put a cartridge in and it works. Any ideas as when I hit Cut the bar goes about 1/4 of the way sending the data to it and freezes.
Thanks in advance since I'm not sure what I'm doing or not doing correctly.
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: SCAL4 or SCAL5 with legacy Cricut machines

Post by SandyMcC »

I will do my best to help you with this but I need you to provide some info. First of all, are you on a PC or a Mac? We'll need to see if the driver that tells the computer what kind of USB device is attached is properly installed and working. This is not tied to the libcutter file or SCAL... but rather an outside driver that's needed.
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
dlweninger
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2020 9:49 pm

Re: SCAL4 or SCAL5 with legacy Cricut machines

Post by dlweninger »

Is this plugin going to be compatible with Catalina? I can't seem to get it to work on 2015 MacBook Pro.
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: SCAL4 or SCAL5 with legacy Cricut machines

Post by SandyMcC »

I'm fairly certain it works. I've not read about any issues on the various Facebook groups by those using Macs. Here's a video showing the entire process... make sure this is what you're doing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUZY2HnowHc&t=277s
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
cadcoke5
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:22 pm

Re: SCAL4 or SCAL5 with legacy Cricut machines

Post by cadcoke5 »

Following the video, I can only get to the point where I should install the drivers for the Expression machine using Cricut Design Space. It directs me to a drivers sub directory in the Roaming/Appdata/Cricut directory. However, that drivers directory did not exist. So, I went to Cricut's site, and they had a drivers directory available for download. I copied it into the Appdata/Cricut directory. But, when I got to that point, the driver didn't install. I also tried the Windows update driver for the USB connection, and that also failed.

I wonder if the Cricut manufacturer, Provo Craft, actually removed the drivers for the Expression from their download?

-Joe
bdanyeur
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2009 3:37 pm

Re: SCAL4 or SCAL5 with legacy Cricut machines

Post by bdanyeur »

I too am having problems getting my cricut, a Cake Mini, to cut directly in SCAL5. From my understanding from the forum, I should be able to cut with my Cricut directly in SCAL5 once I have installed the plugin into the SCALPLUGIN directory. I have the FTDI drivers installed and Windows 10 recognizes my Cricut and just fine. This is a new to me laptop and I didn't have SCAL2 on it. Having a legitimate serial number for SCAL2 I downloaded it . The Cricut works perfectly in SCAL2. So i know i can cut by transferring to SCAL2 but I want to cut directly with SCAL5. Did i download the wrong version of the plugins? Is this still possible to use a cricut in SCAL5 without having a SCAL2 license/serial number?

Bill
Jkwoodbury
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue May 04, 2021 12:31 pm

Re: SCAL4 or SCAL5 with legacy Cricut machines

Post by Jkwoodbury »

I have the cricut cake and have recently purchased SCAL5 and completed all the downloads needed to be able to run with my cricut. My question is, can I change the cutting speed through SCAL5 as it currently cuts very slow and ripping the vinyl. I have the speed on high on the cricut itself but that has not changed the speed when cutting from SCAL5.
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: SCAL4 or SCAL5 with legacy Cricut machines

Post by SandyMcC »

Cutting slowly would not cause a material to rip. Having too much blade exposed is the reason for that.

I do recall reading that using SCAL5 with a Cricut does not provide speed control.
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
ohmandd
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri May 07, 2021 10:21 am

Re: SCAL4 or SCAL5 with legacy Cricut machines

Post by ohmandd »

I have an iMac (v10.15.7 Catalina) hooked up to a Cricut personal.

I followed the video (https://youtu.be/rUZY2HnowHc), and everything is set up as described.

when I try my test print, the cricut screen momentarily reads "USB Active..."; then, it goes back to the "Use the keypad..." without doing anything.

Any ideas/advise?

Thank you,
Dustin

Update: I have been reading and found a post stating that the drivers may need to be updated; so, I followed the links (to update my Cricut Personal driver). Well, now I don't even see my cricut in the SCAL Ports drop-down. :cry:
Last edited by ohmandd on Sun May 09, 2021 7:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: SCAL4 or SCAL5 with legacy Cricut machines

Post by SandyMcC »

Just a reminder that SCAL cannot legally provide Cricut support because Provo Craft (owner of Cricut) is a paranoid company that wants full control over every breath taken by their customers. (Note that I am an independent business owner and NOT an employee or contractor with Craft Edge... this is just my personal venting about a company that I have despised for many years).

Anyhow, you should try updating your Windows 10 driver that recognizes cutters as Serial-USB devices and assigns them a Com Port number. I've helped a number of cutter owners (including Cricut owners) with this process and here are the instructions I provide:

(1) Unplug your USB cable if you have it plugged into your computer.
(2) Go to this link, scroll down to the table

https://ftdichip.com/drivers/d2xx-drivers/

(3) On the far right side you'll see "setup executable"... click on that link, download, extract, and run it.
(4) After running that file, reboot Windows and wait for Windows to fully come back up.
(5) Then connect the USB cable to your computer, turn on the cutter, and wait like 15 seconds or so.
(6) Open SCAL, go to the Cut Settings window, click on the refresh icon (to the left of Test Connection).
(7) Click on Test Connection and the cutter head should do a small jog back and forth.
(8) If you still get no response, right click on the Windows Start button and select Device Manager. Look for a Ports folder and report back what it shows inside. If there is no Ports folder, look for any listing of an Unknown Device in the Device Manager menu and report that.
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
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