How Cutters Work

I have never used a vinyl cutter, how does it work and what can I do with it?

Vinyl Cutters, Software, Blades

·        I’m new to the vinyl business, which cutter do I choose?

·        Professional Series Cutters: Which is right for me?

·        Value Cutters: Which is right for me?

·        What is contour cutting?

·        What size cutter should I buy?

·        Why have two cutters?

·        What kind of software should I get with my cutter?

·        What do I need to get started?  

·       What’s the difference between 45 degree and 60 degree blades and how long will they last?

Vinyl

What different kinds of vinyl do you carry?

Is there anything else I am going to need to create a finished product?

T-Shirts

I want to start making T-Shirts using heat transfers, how do I get started?

How Cutters Work

Whether you are brand new to the vinyl industry or are a seasoned veteran, we have put together some frequently asked questions that deal with the basics of getting started as well as answers to more technical questions customers may have in trying to differentiate our products. 

I have never used a vinyl cutter, how does it work and what can I do with it? 

Many of our customers know little or nothing about how vinyl cutters work, the process of cutting and applying vinyl, or what they can do with their machines before their purchase. 

How they work:  Vinyl cutters take graphic files created in sign making software and cut them out of   vinyl loaded into the machine.  Their precision blade cuts just through the adhesive backed vinyl but not through the backing paper that protects the adhesive (pretty amazing!).  Depending on the features of the machine, you can cut letters and images smaller than 1/8” and as large as the cutting width and length of the machine.  Some of our machines can cut with precision continuously up to 50 feet.  Vinyl cutters accomplish these feats by moving the blade horizontally back and forth on the “Y” axis, and pulling the vinyl back and forth on the “X” axis. 

The process: Everything starts with an idea.  You need to get what’s in your head onto some type of surface in vinyl.  This process begins with you creating an original design or importing using design software.  Once you have completed your design, it is sent to the vinyl plotter to cut.  After you cutter has cut the design it may appear at first glance that your cutter did nothing more than make a bunch of noise and move the vinyl around.  Upon closer inspection you will notice tiny lines that form the outline of your design.  You now need to pull your design out of the vinyl.  You accomplish this task by “weeding” away the excess vinyl that is not part of your design.  This involves using a small sharp knife like an X-acto knife to carefully pick away the excess vinyl around your design.  You will steadily improve at this task with practice.  From here you need a way to get your design off the vinyl’s backing paper and onto whatever surface you are placing your vinyl.   This requires using application or transfer tape.  Apply the application tape face down over the remaining vinyl and squeegee down with a squeegee.  Now your vinyl is masked and ready to apply.  At this point you will tape your masked vinyl in position and possibly spray a generous amount of application fluid on the surface to which you are applying. Now begin removing the back paper from the top of the graphic and squeeging the masked vinyl as you pull away the rest of the backing paper.  You complete the application by pulling away the application tape and all that remains is your graphic.  We strongly recommend you watching someone else go through this process, see who is near your through our forum – and or watching videos (YouTube). 

A few words of advice for those of you about to purchase your first cutter:  There is a learning curve to cutting and applying vinyl.  Don’t get frustrated if you don’t figure everything out in the first 3 hours.  Setting up your machine, learning the software, and applying vinyl takes time.  Don’t buy a cutter and supplies on Monday for a job you took to be completed on Friday and you have never cut and applied vinyl before.  On the other hand don’t be intimidated by the unknown.  If you can find your way around a computer to accomplish such tasks as sending email, purchasing a products or services, or creating a birthday invitation, you are going to be fine cutting and applying vinyl. 

Vinyl Cutters

I’m new to the vinyl business, which cutter do I choose?

The first thing you need to ask yourself is how much cutting do I plan on doing and if things go better than expected, how much could I be doing?

If your answer to this question is: “I am cutting to make money as a business and I’ll take as much as comes my way”, then you need to look at our professional cutters first.  These cutters are designed to be run at production levels.  This means cutting vinyl every day hours at a time.  Our value cutters (entry level) or anybody else’s are not designed to handle the rigors of cutting vinyl every day over the long term.  It’s appropriate as a backup or to handle overflow when you need more capacity as a result of rush jobs.  Our professional models provide design features for the dependability necessary for those in business.  Simply stated, our professional models cut faster, through thicker material, run quieter, and operate with a larger variety of sign software, and last longer than our value cutters. 

Professional Series Cutters:    Which is right for me?

Copam

This machine is for someone serious about cutting vinyl on a production level now or in the future, but might not have the budget to afford our Graphtec Line.  The Copam is a workhorse loved by its users and respected in the industry.  Check out what our forum members say about it.  The powerful motor in this machine is fast and strong, able to cut heavier materials such as certain fabrics, sandblast mask, window tint and more.  It comes with a 2 year warranty.  Available in 24”, 48”, and 54”

Graphtec

This cutter is for someone committed to making a living cutting vinyl and wants the finest equipment in the industry.  These machines have been known to run for 10+ years every day and only needing blades replaced – Talk about dependable!  These cutters are compatible with almost any software and can contour cut.  Available in 2 models: 

Graphtec CE5000

Graphtec has traditionally been at the high end in price and quality in the industry.  In an effort to make its cutters affordable to a larger segment of the industry, Graphtec has introduced a scaled down, but still powerful version of its signature FK7000. The CE5000 comes with a 2 year warranty.  Available in 24” and 48”

Graphtec FK7000

The industry standard:  If you have to have the best cutter money can buy, Graphtec’s FK7000 has everything you want including contour cutting.  It comes with a 3 year warranty.  Available in 24”, 36”, 48”, and 64”

Value Cutters

If you are not planning on cutting vinyl everyday because you plan to use your cutter for personal use or just your business instead of buying cut vinyl, or you want to start slow because you don’t know if this is the business for you, or you simply don’t have the cash for a professional cutter at this time, then look at our strong lineup of value cutters.  These cutters also function well as backup cutters should you get overflow work or your main cutter is down for repairs. 

US Cutter MH Series

This is our lowest price cutter.  Perfect for a 2^nd cutter or someone just wanting to get their feet wet.   It is limited in the types of software that can be used, however it works well with the software we bundle with this machine, Sign Blazer Trial Version, and Sign Cut X2.  This cutter carries a 1 year warranty and is available in 12” (portable), 25”, and 50”. 

Creation PCUT

A step up in quality and reliability from our US Cutter MH Series, this line of cutters features a vacuum fan that eliminates the need for a third pinch roller.  These units are also compatible with more types of software including Sign Blazer Trial Version, Sign Cut X2, and Flexi Starter 8.5.  PCuts carry a 1 year warranty and are available in 24”, 36”, and 48”. 

US Laser Point

This cutter has all the same features of our Creation PCut, but with the added bonus of a laser register that allows you to contour cut around preprinted digital graphics (cutting out decals).  This step involves using a digital printer to print onto pressure sensitive vinyl first, then running the vinyl through the US Cutter Laserpoint to cut out the graphics.  This is a cost effective option for anyone who currently operates a digital printer, or plans on adding digital printing to their business in the future. 

Contour Cutting

What is contour cutting?

Have you ever seen a large, full color logo on the side of vehicle?  You know that it is too intricate to be multi layer applied vinyl.  It’s basically a decal that has been printed with outdoor inks on white vinyl with a digital printer.  Once printed onto the vinyl, the digitally printed shapes need to be cut out of the vinyl with a cutter.  But the cutter needs someone way of knowing how to cut around the printed portion of the vinyl.  Here is where the registration eye, or laser, comes into play with our contour cutters.  The eye or laser registers at the edges of the printed portion of the vinyl allowing the software to know where to start and stop cutting.  To contour cut with our US Cutter Laserpoint, you will need to print to your digital printer with the software bundled with the US Cutter Laserpoint, and then cut the preprinted vinyl using the same software.  Our Graphtec series have more advanced contour cutting features allowing for greater tolerances and to cut and print with almost any design software.  Contour cutting allows you to expand your product line as your capabilities are increased to create decals, full color t shirts, and vehicle wraps, just to name a few. 

What size cutter should I buy?

Vinyl cutters are available in sizes from 8” cutting width up to 60”  The question you need to ask is “Where am I willing to take my business? “  If your answer is:  “I am buying my cutter for a very specific application (paint stencils for a consistent product size) that I am already doing, or I am a hobbyist and not interested in anything more than I’m doing” (i.e.e. motorcycle detailing) then you should buy a cutter that will handle the single largest dimension you will ever need to cut – typically a 25” cutter is all these people will ever need. 

However if you answer the question, “If things go well, I’ll take whatever comes my way, then you need to think about a larger cutter.  For example once you get into vehicle graphics, it won’t be long before someone wants the side of their van, trailer, or truck done, and they are not going to allow you to seam their 30” logo with 2 pieces of vinyl you cut on your 25” cutter.  You might have to turn down that large light box face job, pay someone else to cut the graphics for you, or turn them over to your competitor because the job requires graphics that are larger than 24” in all directions.  A 36”, 48”, or 54” cutter might be worth the extra investment down the road.  The following is a rough guide for what you can do with different size cutters:

8” - 12” Cutting Width:   Good for craft people, hobbyists, extremely portable.  It can handle most wall lettering, lettering on some vehicles, and small decals.  Drawbacks – 12” vinyl is hard to find and you will probably be forced to cut down larger rolls of vinyl.

25”Cutting Width:  Vinyl comes commonly in 24” rolls.  A 24” cutter is somewhat portable.  It handles most vehicle graphics, smaller signs and banners, most storefront window lettering, lettering for interior walls or products, all heat transfer vinyl for t-shirts, and can cut smaller vinyl for all kinds of decals. 

30” - 36” Cutting Width – Good all purpose size.  It can create larger signs and can do most vehicle jobs including vans, and some trucks and trailers, Larger logos and decals.  Can handle vinyl 30” and larger which is commonly available.  It can also use 24” and smaller size vinyl. 

48” Cutting width:  Great for big jobs and large signs.  Large trucks, trailers, large storefront window applications.  Vinyl is commercially available in 48” lengths.  It can also handle smaller vinyl. 

54” Cutting width:  It can handle almost anything.  Special projects, large wall exhibits, wholesale work for other shops.  People with 54” – 60” cutters often pick up jobs from other sign shops that have smaller cutters.  60” is the largest size in commercially available vinyl. 

Blades

What’s the difference between 45 degree and 60 degree blades and how long will they last?

45 degree blades are universal and are what we ship with all our cutters.  60 degree blades are slightly longer and therefore can be good for cutting thicker material such as reflective vinyl or sandblast mask.  There is no good measure for how long your blades will last.  Everyone cuts different amounts and types of materials, as well frequency.  Your blade could last 1 month or 5 years.  You will know your blade is dull when you go to weed vinyl and start noticing that parts of your job will not be cut all the way through the vinyl to the backing paper. 

The argument for 2 vinyl cutters:

Consider having 2 cutters.  The graphics and apparel business is a deadline driven business.  Why?  Because often times the graphics business is event driven.  Grand Openings, trade shows, product launches, press releases, fairs, flea markets, and sporting events require signs, banners, t-shirts, and promotional items for these events.  As you build your business, you take jobs based on deadlines and assuming your equipment will work.  One missed deadline can mean the end of your best customer and a major stream of income that your business is based upon.  Every sign shop should have a backup cutter.  It’s the cheapest insurance you can buy and you will only buy it once.  Not to mention adding production capacity to your shop allows you to take on that rush job even while you are using your cutter for another job.  Many of our customers desperately have us overnight simple parts and even whole machines because the cost of losing a good customer is too great.  And remember your cutters have resale value. 

What kind of software should I get with my cutter? 

To begin with, you can use any type of Vector software to do your layout.  But not every type of software can communicate with every type of cutter.  Your software and cutter use drivers to communicate with each other.  Essentially these drivers are a set of electronic instructions that take your creation in the design software and translate it to a language your cutter can understand.  Typically, the more advanced cutters work with more types of design software because there are more drivers available.  The less advanced cutters are more limited in the types of compatible software.  The type of design software you choose should be a function of where you currently are in getting started and where you want to be.  For instance if you are going to start out right away with a higher end cutter, and know you want the powerful software, then you should consider the full version from the top software producers in the industry including: Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Flexi, or Sign Lab to name a few.  If you want to take it a little slower with your budget and equipment, consider the software we currently offer with our machines as they still possess a range of capabilities.   

The software currently offered with our machines have a range of capabilities. 

Bundled Software: This is software that we sell with our machines.  Most of it is a basic, or entry level version of commercial sign making software.  These versions have most of the capabilities to get started in vinyl cutting including the ability to import and vectorize images.  We bundle the following software with our cutters:

1 Sign Blazer Elements Trial Version Design Software - (see software section of website for details)

2. Sign Cut Importing and Cutting software– (see software section of website for details)

3. Flexi Starter for  Creation Pcut and Laserpoint  – (see software section of website for details)

Stand Alone Software:

SignBlazer Pro – Dongle Version – (see software section of website for details)

Sign Cut – Pro Dongle Version – (see software section of website for details)

Flexi Starter 8.5 Full Driver version - (see software section of website for details)

Now you’ve figured out what type of cutter you want and you have your software all picked out, what do you need to get started?

Vinyl

Premium, cast, or High Performance Vinyl:

This vinyl is more expensive and is defined by its long term outdoor durability – 7 years.  It is a thin vinyl (1 mil), extremely flexible, easy to weed, and ideal for small, intricate graphics.  There are usually greater varieties of colors available.  Premium vinyl should be used on anything where durability is important and for graphics that may need to be removed some day, like on vehicles.  We carry the brand Oracal 751 for our premium vinyl. 

Specialty Vinyl

Translucent:

To be used in any application where the surface is illumined with a light source from behind.  Most of these cases involve lighted cabinet faces, channel letter faces, and push thru acrylic back lighted signs.   

Reflective:

This film was first developed to help motorists see traffic control signs (stop signs) at night.  The reflective vinyl uses million of tiny particles to reflect light back to the source when applied.  Reflective vinyl does not glow on its own or pick up ambient light.  It works only when viewed with a light source, like sitting in a car with the lights on.  Today the most popular applications are on vehicles where the graphics appear to “pop” of the surface when viewed a night with your vehicles headlights.  This a more expensive vinyl and is harder to cut, and will dull your blades more quickly than other vinyl.  We Carry Oracal 5300 Economy reflective. 

Frosted/Dusted – gives the effect of etched glass.  Great for privacy on windows with the benefit of allowing light in.  We carry an intermediate BGS version and Orcacal.

Transparent: Can be used in applications similar to stained glass where you allow light through colored glass.  Artistic representations.  Orcacal

Positionable Vinyl: This low tack adhesive allows you to move the vinyl after you have applied it.  Great for short term vehicle graphics.  Oracal 631 Exhibition Grade.

Perforated Vinyl – Holes allow you to see out from close up, but not for those on the outside to see in.  Used for privacy on glass and often on widows for vehicle wraps. 

T-Shirt Transfer Vinyl: To be used with a heat press to produce t-shirts without the mess and space of screen printing.  Our brand is the industry standard Siser EZ Weed. 

Application/Transfer Tape 131

Whatever vinyl you choose, you need to weed it then get it off the backing paper and on to whatever surface you are going to apply.  This is where application or transfer tape comes in.  Transfer tape is relatively inexpensive compared to vinyl as it usually is packaged in 100 yd rolls.  Application Tape is not something you want to have to cut down to fit your smaller jobs nor do you want to “tile” smaller pieces for a larger graphic.  For this reason transfer tape usually comes in 1” increments.  We recommend you start off with a smaller roll 1.25 – 4.25” for small text, a 9” – 12” roll for larger text, vehicle graphics, and direct applied vinyl, and some 18” – 24” for large applications like signs and banners.  We carry R-Tape, regarded as the industry standard.  We stock 3 different types of R-Tape. 

General Purpose 4075: Appropriate for most applications and people just starting out. 

High Performance 4076: For professional use.  Higher quality ensures that your tape will lay flat on your vinyl and not wrinkle or peel.

Clear: Higher tack has the benefit of allowing you to clearly see the surface and the graphics you are applying.  Helpful for beginners learning how to register vinyl on surfaces and for multiple layers.  The tradeoff on using clear is that it is trickier to worth with due to its higher tackiness and rigidity.

Is there anything else I am going to need to create a finished product?

There are countless products and variations of products for specific vinyl applications but there are a few small tools and materials that will be a must:

·         A weeding tool: We recommend a set of good X acto knives with plenty of blades.  These are like pens in a sign shop, they seem to get up and walk away.

·         A quantity of good 4” squeegees – You will l loose these before they wear out.

·         Application Fluid. Action Tac and Window juice will make the vinyl application process go faster, smoother, and with less mistakes by allowing you to reposition your graphics after application.

·         Spray bottles for alcohol and application fluid.

·         Multiple pairs of scissors.

·         Rolls of 1” to 2” masking tape for applying graphics.

·         “Lil chizzler” vinyl removal tools

·         A good cutting mat or glass surface for cutting and weeding vinyl.  Well lighted. 

T-Shirts

I want to start making T-Shirts using heat transfers, how do I get started? Custom made T-Shirts are an exploding market.  People are paying a premium to express themselves in a unique way with custom, artistic t-shirts

First you will need a heat press.  We offer 2 types of heat presses.  Our 15” x 15” Economy Clam Shell Heat Press is a no frills heat press for those who want to get their feet wet.  It features a temperature read out (in Celsius), a timer, and buzzer.  For those who want some more bells and whistles we offer our 6 in 1 Digital Heat press.  It has all the features of our economy press but with more controls as well as attachments to make hats, mugs, pens, and more!

Next you will need a vinyl cutter to cut your designs in heat transfer materials.  Heat Transfer vinyl is a thicker material so ideally you will want to buy our 24” Copam or our CE 5000 Graphtech to handle the rigors of cutting this material daily, though any of our cutters will cut heat transfer material. 

Finally you will need Heat Transfer Vinyl.  To make your shirts.  We carry Siser EZ Weed 15” x 5yd rolls Heat Transfer Vinyl in a variety of colors.  This vinyl does not require application tape to apply to your shirts once it has been weeded.  We recommend that you buy some of our BGS intermediate vinyl to practice cutting if you are just getting started as EZ Weed material is too expensive to practice cutting on with.   Ask us for a sample of EZ Weed if you want to try it out.  Heat transfer vinyl does not need to be masked prior to application.