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Signlab Software

blade offset in sign lab

Posted by neilcallaway on 17 February 2009 at 12:03

hi all

i have a problem when im cutting lettering, it leaves gaps in the lettering
someone has said it is the blade offset does anyone know how to change the blade offset?
im using sign lab version 7.1
many thanks
neil

Philip Hammerton replied 16 years, 8 months ago 7 Members · 13 Replies
13 Replies

Brian Hays

Member
17 February 2009 at 13:05

You generally adjust the offset on the Vinyl Cutter, not the Software.

What cutter/model do you have?
neilcallaway

Member
18 February 2009 at 09:49

thanks mate its a foison usb 24 i spoke with the company that sold it to me and they have said its in the software not on the cutter so I’m not sure
Frank Droog

Member
20 February 2009 at 14:40

cut a rectangle.
If the corners are curved or spiked, its a blade offset issue.
If they are square, its not an offset issue.

If there is 1 small gap where the rectangle starts and ends, you can cure this with a bit of overcut.
In Signlab , go to Cut/Tool Options.
You should see Overcut.
Set it to something like 5 or 10
Brian Hays

Member
20 February 2009 at 17:42

quote neilcallaway:

thanks mate its a foison usb 24 i spoke with the company that sold it to me and they have said its in the software not on the cutter so I’m not sure

There is a surprise passing the buck. 🙄

Most Cutters have the facility to adjust the offset. Never used a Foison so don’t know if they do? where did you buy the Signlab from? maybe they can help. (?)
Ian Pople

Member
20 February 2009 at 18:12

I think that make of plotter has all the software sent on a nice disc free of charge.
Brian Hays

Member
20 February 2009 at 18:34

Did cross my mind on reflection. And it does surprise me somebody from Cadlink will help without qualifying software is legitimate first.

Apologies if it is legit Neil, but it is always going to make people wonder when you have expensive software & a comparatively cheap plotter.
neilcallaway

Member
20 February 2009 at 18:53

thanks guys for the help here much appreciated the software is legit and cad link are very help full but they have put it down to the cutter having the offset setting(which the suppliers say help full) i had a roland before but broke and had a lot of stuff save in sign lab and get on well with it 🙂
frank it will cut any shape no problem its only when i cut certain texts hope this helps mate
thank all
Neil
David Rogers

Member
20 February 2009 at 19:31

If it’s only on certain text – narrow that down.

Does it cut the VEFs perfectly and muck up TTFs?

Dave
neilcallaway

Member
20 February 2009 at 22:06

Dave i have done a test between the 2 and there seems to be no change in the cut quality it happens more often when I’m doing smaller work i.e i do some stickers for a guy they are 200mm long and contain "www.TDIsport.co.uk looks like aerial italic font but was set to me as an image it does it alot then when i do them

some fonts average size 2 in high it happens as well
feel free to email me at neil@neilcallaway.co.uk and i can send you the image if it will help
many thanks
Neil
Lynn Normington

Member
20 February 2009 at 23:53

silly question how it your cutting strip 🙄 and how new is your blade

Lynn
neilcallaway

Member
21 February 2009 at 09:06

hi Dave after some further tests this morning i tried to cut the http://www.etc out in aerial both vef and ttf and it has missed little bits in both of them i also recreated the text for the stickers I’m having problems with and still the same hope this helps

Lynn the cutting strip is brand new only had the cutter 1 month and i have put a new blade in to do these’s test to make sure im using 45 degree blades for the txt or smaller work and 60’s for bigger work

many thanks guys

Neil
neilcallaway

Member
21 February 2009 at 09:18

hi again guys since my last post i have managed to get the gap down to just a little nic by changing the over cut but it has mad the gap very messy by messy i mean not straight and very untidy hope this can help shed some light on my problem the over cut is set to 15 at the min

many thanks neil
Philip Hammerton

Member
21 February 2009 at 14:38

Hi – I have had a similar problem recently after purchasing some new 45 degree blades – finished characters not cutting complete & not completely square on corners especially on small text – I think its the blades – they supposed to be 45 degree the same as the blades that came with machine but the original blades have a less steep angle (maybe 35 – 40 degrees) and they cut fine.

However after a weeks cutting new blade seems to be improving and letters are looking better when cut – could be the point of new blade now it has some wear is closing / finishing the cut character better?

Maybe just give your plotter a cutting exercise for an hour – cutting lots of small rectangles & circles – hopefully you might see an improvement on the finished cut images once the blade has seen some use?

Although I am probably using a different plotter & software my blade settings are:-

OFFSET – 12 (45 degree blade)
CURVE RESOLUTION – 5
WEED VALUE – 0.15
START POINT ORIENTATION – on

Good luck