Page 209 - KNK Groove with MTC User Manual
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may also need to clean the inside of the blade holder by removing the blade and taking it apart, so that any
small pieces can be removed.
If the test cut was perfect, but the shapes failed to cut cleanly, the mat may not have been sticky enough to
hold the chipboard throughout the cut. Rather than add more adhesive, you may want to use a stabilizer as
described under Selecting Chipboard. Also try slowing the cut it the shapes were fairly detailed and the
uncut sections were on tight curves.
If a stuttering sound is heard during the cut and/or the shapes are distorted, then reduce the speed and
force and increase the number of passes. The blade is catching in the chipboard causing the mat to slip.
You need to make things easier on the cutter as the blade works its way through the dense chipboard.
10.03 Vinyl
Types of Vinyl
There are a number of different kinds of vinyl available at KNK USA:
Decal/Sign vinyl which can be used to make stickers for windows, tumblers, etching projects, etc.
Wall vinyl which can be removed without damaged to interior walls. It has a beautiful matte finish and
can also be applied to tiles, chargers, and even greeting cards.
Outdoor Vinyl which has an extended outdoor duration (3-5 years). There is also a 5-8 year High
Performance variety.
Metallic Vinyl which has a permanent adhesive and is suitable for outdoor use or for party decorations,
greeting cards, laptop covers, etc.
Accupro Wrap Vinyl for wrapping cell phones, laptops, notebooks, etc.
Iron-on Vinyl for decorating garments or other surfaces such as cardstock. Refer to Section 10.05 for
details on cutting and applying.
Settings
Vinyl has a backing sheet which can serve as the carrier/mat during cutting. The vinyl needs to be at least 4”
wide so that both sides will be gripped by the pinch wheels. If you are cutting from vinyl which is narrower
than this or cutting from scraps, then use a cutting mat to hold the vinyl during the cut.
On long cuts, it’s important to have the vinyl aligned straight in the machine. Cut the needed length from the
vinyl roll (add a few inches for error allowance). Feed the excess underneath the cutter and around to meet
the other end. Line up and drop the pinch wheels. Use the + and – buttons on the Control Panel to feed the
vinyl in and out, most of the way, to make sure the vinyl stays aligned.
Set the origin at least 1/2” away from the right side and a little ways in from the bottom. Make sure the edge
of the vinyl will not catch on any tables you may be using with the cutter.
While there are many types and thickness of vinyl, in general it is very easy to cut. Thus, start with a
conservative estimate for the force setting in the initial test cut, say 50. Use the red capped blade and start
with barely any blade exposed. Do the test cut and then gently lift the corner of the vinyl from the backing
sheet. Make sure the test cut is a clean cut and the blade did not penetrate the backing paper.
Vinyl can usually be cut at a speed of ~ 200 - 300 unless very small, intricate shapes are involved.
If you store your vinyl in a warm location, the adhesive can be affected and that can then affect the cutting.
Also note that some vinyl colors have a tendency to pull away from the backing sheet more easily than
others. If you notice the vinyl pulling up in corners and tight spots, try slowing the cutting speed.
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