Blade Offset question

[cbauer50]

I am trying to cut some things out on vinyl and am having some problems with real small areas (small circles, ovals). I am sure I need to change the offset, but I am not sure if I should increase it or decrease it.

Anyone??

Thanks.

Carol

[newbiecat]

Morning Carol

Not too sure why you want to change the offset ? What sort of problems are you having with the vinyl ?
Can you take a picture of the issue and post it ? Often it is eaiser to spot the problem with a picture
In the past I have had issues like this which have been caused by various things such as a small nick in the blade, a small piece of vinyl caught on the blade, too many nodes on the file , too much or too little pressure
so try to show a picture of the offending small areas or describe what is happening and lets see how we can help you
Pandora
ps; if I dont reply for a while I am not ignoring you it is 2.39 am here in the uk so I have probably gone back to sleep .............

[cbauer50]

It's not the blade because I put a new one in. The circles/ovals aren't cutting completely and therefore, when I weed it, the circles/ovals come off with the rest of the vinyl.

I am almost sure it's the offset, so first I want to know if I should decrease/increase it. I thought I would try that first.

Carol

[rachellann]

which software are you using ? if scal you don't need to change the off set but change the over cut so it cuts past the first few nodes.
MTC I don't see an option to do an over cut but you may just have to cut twice.

[cbauer50]

Rachellann - MTC does have an option to change the blade offset. I'm using the Black Cat Cougar plug-in (v.1.1.0) and WYSIWYG.

I just wanted to know a little more about overcut - what does a higher number do vs. a lower number.

Carol

[Thyme]

Overcut is not the same as offset.

Offset is the amount of difference between the blade tip and the centre of the shaft.
Overcut is the distance travelled after the shape has been cut in order to join the two ends of a shape together

[cbauer50]

In MTC software, as I understand (with the Cougar plug-in) the offset/overcut are "combined" - at least that was my understanding. So if my circles/ovals seem like they are not fully joining the 2 ends, do I increase or decrease the offset. I can't change just the overcut in MTC with the Cougar plug-in.

Carol

[rachellann]

offset and overcut are two different things and changing them in MTC and the BE plugin will not make it do what you are wanting it to do, it will only change the center point of the blade it does not do the overcut.

[Thyme]

Rachel is correct, in MTC you can only change the offset

[Gigi]

I think the moral of the story is you might be a lot happier with your results if you try SCAL! Just my two cents worth........

[MeFlick]

Sorry, I'm biting my tongue - I'm quite happy with MTC - I regularly cut vinyl with it and don't have any problems. It "seems" that I recall some talk that Andy had it programmed in to always do an "over cut" so there is no need to make any changes on that. You could check with SBryanW to see for sure however.

[Thyme]

Yes I believe that is correct, its set into the software.

[Gigi]

Sorry Melanie - no offense meant. Just thought if she couldnt get the letters to close it might be the software.Of course it could be the font chosen as well.

I apologize if I offended.