I don't know about your plotter but when I try to cut reflective material on mine it just don't work very well. I had an idea recently and tried it and it worked very well so I wanted to pass it on.
Simple fix: duplicate your graphic or lettering, right on top of itself and send both objects to the plotter; it'll be cutting it twice. You'll probably have to do a little vertical test strip to get the right pressure for your blade.
Posted by Brian Diver (Member # 1552) on :
Ricky,
Why not just crank down the pressure? I think I put mine to about 180 gms of force, maybe a new blade would help out too since I think I'm still using the orginal blade after 7 yrs. I can adjust the pressure from my software and made a reflective profile and if it needs a little tweaking I just do it.
I did have some problems cutting reflective when I first got my D60 but a call to tech support and they got me fixed up right over the phone. (I think there was something with the sensor not seeing the material from the reflective bouncing light back or summat?)
Anyway, thanks for the tip!
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
I cranked the pressure all the way up and slowed it down to a crawl and it didn't cut all the way thru.
Posted by Brian Diver (Member # 1552) on :
Ricky,
You silly, that wasn't reflective it was sandblast mask Maybe one of your employees turned the blade upside down as a joke
Well something doesn't smell right! You should certainly be able to cut through the paper with ease, even with that roll of concrete (I mean reflective). Maybe you should give Summa a jingle and ask what the heck is going on? Maybe your pressure thingamajiggie isn't working properly. It's worth a call and they are very helpful. 1-800.323.9766 toll free in USA and if you ever get back to Canada-eh! there too! Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
I think of reflective as "decorative sheet metal". Probably won't be going back to Canada until some of my buds here petition the govt to forgive me of my sin.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Ricky.. dude... I have an old PNC-5000 and even *I* can cut reflective... barely... but it works... you shouldn't be having any problems with that Summa!!
Posted by Tony McDonald (Member # 1158) on :
Hi Ricky, Not sure what software you're using, but Flexi has a "pass" option. I usually set it to two passes for reflective and sandblast mask. ( Same thing your doing with two copies )
We can set blade pressure on the cutter...or in the software. Maybe one is overriding the other in your situation.
We usually extend the blade out just a bit too, just to make sure it cuts all the way through, without the blade holder hitting the vinyl.
I don't cut a lot of ref. or sandblast, but we keep a blade around just for these materials, so as not to dull the normal blade.
One time, I didn't have the blade holder tight in the machine....it went through the motions like it was cutting, but no cuts at all on the vinyl. Had me scratchin' my head for a moment till I figured it out Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
Lately I been using a hammer n' chisel to cut reflective. The hammer is out of an old colt 45..
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
I'm not having any problems and Signlab will let me change the pressure but if you've ever done that and forgot to change it back before cutting the next job you know what a pia that can be. Just wanted to give a little tip to anyone else that may be having a problem with it. I know the D-60 is a very popular plotter.
Posted by captain ken (Member # 742) on :
I do the same as Tony for reflective in Flexi just choose 2 passes
Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
Ricky Never HAd a problem With reflective on the D60 or D610 But for thick Sandblast Just go into Signlab plotter setup in Version 5 and set your endpoint to orgin and when sending your cut do 2 copies. Slowing down your blade and raising your weight.. You will eliminate any streching of the mask. And if your using 7.1 it has a multi cut command in the setup now..
Posted by Bill Cosharek (Member # 1274) on :
Ricky, you don't say whether you're using the 36 degree blade or the 60 degree blade. The 60 is made for such materials & usually works quite well. of course, you'll need its special blade holder to use it. The down-force needs to obviously be greater than when cutting normal stuff, but that's no big deal since you'll need to put the reg. back in when done; so changing the force back shouldn't either be a problem. Good luck!
![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
Maybe one of your employees turned the blade upside down as a joke ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
Probably won't be going back to Canada until some of my buds here petition the govt to forgive me of my sin.
![[Confused]](confused.gif)