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Here's your problem...your blade is extended out too far-that's why it cuts all the way through with too much pressure, and won't cut through with too little pressure.
I can't tell you the 'measurement' that the blade should stick out, but I can do it by eye!
Your material/vinyl is going to be anywhere from 1.5 mil to 4 mil thick, even 6 mil. You have to extend the blade (screw back the nosecone) until you have enough blade for the thickness of the material AND just enough to 'kiss' the backing sheet but not cut through. You should just barely be able to see the tip of the blade. If it is sticking way out there so you have no problem seeing it, that's too far.
Set up a simple test...my Datagraph plotter has it built in-just hit one key. It makes a circle, with a square inside that, and a triangle inside that. About 1" max. size.
Now go to 'cut' this...I don't know what pressure to tell you but start with what you were using that cut all the way through. After the first test, I know, it cut through...roll the material back, and move the carriage or the design an inch and a half over...take your blade, screw the nosecone out 1/4 turn. Test again, see if it cut through or just cut the vinyl. Don't change the force setting-this is to set the blade depth! If it still cut through the backing, again, 1/4 turn (nose cone goes OUT) and try it. As soon as it no longer cuts all the way through, if it didn't cut enough of the vinyl, turn the nosecone 1/8 turn back...and you should be right there. NOW, if it cuts the vinyl perfectly but is still almost going through the backing, decrease your pressure 5 pts and try again. Doing this, you will only waste about 2" of material across the roll. I have 3 blade holders for my datagraph, so that each one is set just for certain material-all I do on the machine is change force-and pop in the right blade holder for the different materials. Well worth having the extra holders!
Then you don't have to keep changing the nose cone and losing your settings.
Roland
I can't tell you the 'measurement' that the blade should stick out, but I can do it by eye!
Your material/vinyl is going to be anywhere from 1.5 mil to 4 mil thick, even 6 mil. You have to extend the blade (screw back the nosecone) until you have enough blade for the thickness of the material AND just enough to 'kiss' the backing sheet but not cut through. You should just barely be able to see the tip of the blade. If it is sticking way out there so you have no problem seeing it, that's too far.
Set up a simple test...my Datagraph plotter has it built in-just hit one key. It makes a circle, with a square inside that, and a triangle inside that. About 1" max. size.
Now go to 'cut' this...I don't know what pressure to tell you but start with what you were using that cut all the way through. After the first test, I know, it cut through...roll the material back, and move the carriage or the design an inch and a half over...take your blade, screw the nosecone out 1/4 turn. Test again, see if it cut through or just cut the vinyl. Don't change the force setting-this is to set the blade depth! If it still cut through the backing, again, 1/4 turn (nose cone goes OUT) and try it. As soon as it no longer cuts all the way through, if it didn't cut enough of the vinyl, turn the nosecone 1/8 turn back...and you should be right there. NOW, if it cuts the vinyl perfectly but is still almost going through the backing, decrease your pressure 5 pts and try again. Doing this, you will only waste about 2" of material across the roll. I have 3 blade holders for my datagraph, so that each one is set just for certain material-all I do on the machine is change force-and pop in the right blade holder for the different materials. Well worth having the extra holders!
Then you don't have to keep changing the nose cone and losing your settings.
Roland
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