Using same blade holder for vinyl & flock

[Robert Lambie]

hi russ

i know nothing about the pcut machine but can you not accurately add/decrease pressure using the control panel?

also, do you not use a different angle of blade for flock?

[Phil Barnfield]

I just alter the pressure when cutting flex and flock. Seems to work for me ok on a pCut machine. Also increase pressure with some casts and etched films. Took me ages to get the blade set up right in the holder….. so I never wish to change that unless its time for a new blade!!!

[Russ Draper]

As you prob know that the Pcut is a temperamental machine, everytime i switch it on my pressure setting is always set at 255, (i set it to 80 for my normal garment vinyl)

Using the grooves on the blade holder & locking ring I can get the setting accurate enough not to have any problems, been using this system for over a week now and it works for me!

I use the same blade angle for all my cutting jobs….but that is prob more my lack of knowledge than anything else!

Cheers

[Phil Barnfield]

dont worry about the blade angle thing………. Im the same!!! hehe :lol1:

[Paul Leicester]

PCut machines should remember pressure settings etc – what firmware are you running?

Spare blade holders are really inexpensive now, maybe buy an extra one – might save time in the long run.

Cheers Paul

quote Russ Draper:

As you prob know that the Pcut is a temperamental machine, everytime i switch it on my pressure setting is always set at 255, (i set it to 80 for my normal garment vinyl)

Using the grooves on the blade holder & locking ring I can get the setting accurate enough not to have any problems, been using this system for over a week now and it works for me!

I use the same blade angle for all my cutting jobs….but that is prob more my lack of knowledge than anything else!

Cheers

[Robert Lambie]

we cut flock many moons ago using an gerber 4b. about 14 years ago now… i remember having to have a differnt angle of blade for flock… im guessing by the replies this isnt the case anymore?

[Kate Griffiths]

i’d recommend using a 60 degree blade for cutting flock, the same as you would for sandblast plastic. Its thicker so you need a steeper angle, otherwise it will blunt the other quicker

[Robert Lambie]

thanks kate… yep, makes sense…

[Russ Draper]

FAO Paul:

I bought the PCut from yourself a couple of months ago, am I right in thinking the firmware version would be 4.22 (i dont have the cutter in front of me)

And yeah suppose I am being tight not buying a second holder lol I will order one soon1

Russ

[Phil Barnfield]

quote Kate – Grafityp:

i’d recommend using a 60 degree blade for cutting flock, the same as you would for sandblast plastic. Its thicker so you need a steeper angle, otherwise it will blunt the other quicker

might just order one in and give it a go!! Thanks

[ccheater]

Russ what Pcut have you got? I have the Pcut mini and cant see anywhere to set pressure, as far as I can see I have to do it manual as you have said. also what software do you use I have the artcut that came with it, but do not find it that great.

Chris

[Lorraine Clinch]

I’ve stopped using a 60 deg blade for flock-it doesn’t cut accurately, never finishes letters, and text ends up looking like something a blind man’s written!
I use an old blade now, set to the highest pressure on my Roland cx24.

[pintail]

quote Lorraine Clinch:

I’ve stopped using a 60 deg blade for flock-it doesn’t cut accurately, never finishes letters, and text ends up looking like something a blind man’s written!
I use an old blade now, set to the highest pressure on my Roland cx24.

I have similar problems. I am using a blade sold specifically by Xpres for cutting flock. I am finding similar problems where it never finishes the letters. I am using sign cut and this has special facility to start the cutting earlier so that the blade aligns itself before the cut.
More importantly, my biggest problem is the discrepancy between doing a cut with a normal pen and the blade.
I have attached two examples of whats happening.
Seems when cutting with a normal pen I get perfect results, but when I use the blade there are huge gaps that should be closed??
Anyone know how to fix this?
Hardware wise I am using a Refine or King for for cutting out the flock, this sample below was cut using the software signcut.
The dark bit was done with a pen and the orange is the backing from the orange flock.
I have circled the problem bits in red
http://gavin.myftp.org/ebay/result.jpg
anyone have any ideas whats causing the gaps shown on my flock?
Thanks
Gavin

[Nick Minall]

I thought you used the 60 degree blades for thick material because it has a longer cutting edge to it, the 30 degree will not cut right through, you will need to reset the offset though.

Nick.

[pintail]

quote Nick Minall:

I thought you used the 60 degree blades for thick material because it has a longer cutting edge to it, the 30 degree will not cut right through, you will need to reset the offset though.

Nick.

what is the offset?

[Chris Wool]

quote :

Seems when cutting with a normal pen I get perfect results, but when I use the blade there are huge gaps that should be closed??
Anyone know how to fix this?
Hardware wise I am using a Refine or King for for cutting out the flock, this sample below was cut using the software signcut.

turn off the overcut

i would expect that the material is buckling as its being cut caused by too much pressure as the letters are miss shaped as well as not finished the pen plots looks a mess as well.
how does it handel normal vinyl

chris

[pintail]

turn off the overcut
i would expect that the material is buckling as its being cut caused by too much pressure as the letters are miss shaped as well as not finished the pen plots looks a mess as well.
how does it handel normal vinyl

thank you very kindly for the advice
but what is overcut? I assume that must be related to the package or software I am using?
normal vinyl is a treat, no problems at all, weeds so nicely I can pull it off without any effort

I have noticed with the flock blade the "outer red ring" on the blade is not in contact with the flock. There is a similar "outer" plastic ring around my blade for vinyl that presses on the material with the blade protruding thro.

When cutting flock should both the blade and ring be in contact all the time? or only the blade?
thanks again for the help
regards
Gavin

[Chris Wool]

quote :

has special facility to start the cutting earlier so that the blade aligns itself before the cut.

turn this off.

as you say it cuts vinyl well then it should flock unless its nasty stuff.

the flocks i have used only require a little more pressure than vinyl and a bit more knife showing.

come to think of it you said that your picture of the faults were of the back of the backing it should not be that heavily marked back to to much pressure

chris