Settings for Cutting

[nikaylaking]

I just peeled the paper of my cutting mat from my last cut job and the surface was really torn up and it didn't even cut all the way through at F 60 and V 550 on my 80lb card stock. It appears depth is a factor but I am not sure what exactly is amiss. The click holder was set to 3 . The weird thing to me is the first time on these settings it was fairly decent and every subsequent cut has just gotten worse and worse.

[Tyler]

Make sure you are using the guide when setting the blade height. For an 80 lb paper, I would use a force about 90.

[Gigi]

And you shouldn't need the click holder on 3. For 80 lb. paper, the click blade on 1 should be plenty. As Tyler said, definitely use the setting tool AND remember to do a test cut to be sure you will get a clean cut. And brayer your paper onto the mat.... that is super important.

[Elizabeth]

With the click holder, I really think it depends on how the blade is set in the holder. I have mine set so three is my standard setting. I cut my standard papers at 3, and can adjust up for heavier papers, or down for vinyl and text weight.

(I spent a lot of time in my first year of having my machine adjusting the click holder so that it was just right. I rarely mess with it now. This is with the older red click holder. )

[Gigi]

Good point Elizabeth - it is how it is adjusted - and I have the newer one which may make a difference as well.

Thanks for explaining how you do it. It's interesting how we all have our way that works and that is great. Mine is always on 1 - well almost always and I just increase or decrease the force depending on the medium and that works. There are lots of ways to get fabulous results and it's all about what works best for each of us. Thanks for reminding me of that!!

[nikaylaking]

Just a question on the red click holder. When I insert a blade it just pops into the one spot and then the various settings are within the click number choices. For adjusting the blade depth there didn't appear to be options besides that. With the other generic one I can fiddle more with the depth of the blade. I think I am beginning to understand now the importance of that depth setting and finding the exact measurement of force needed. I know I will figure it out thanks to this amazing forum. A humbling one for me!!

Also with using the" setting tool " to adjust the blade depth, when I slide it under the blade my cutting mat has a lot of play in it. Should I press down on the mat and then have the blade just touch the surface of this setting tool plate underneath for the correct height?

[Gigi]

The instructions for adjusting the blade depth are in the learning center http://learn.silverbulletcutters.com/ac ... ck-holder/

Using this as a resource is so important as it shows how to do it so much better than any of us can explain!! Yes you are right about the importance of the setting and the force - it's the difference between a good cut and a disastrous one.

There should not be a lot of play in your mat already. Are you rotating it so the pinch wheels are not in the same place all of the time and storing it flat. I have been using the same mat for months and mine is still really flat. That being said, no dont push the setting tool down - just rest it on the paper on the mat, and let the blade just touch the setting tool. What I do is let it fall all the way down (to where it is hitting the setting tool too hard - so if I pulled it out it would scratch the tool ) and then I pull the blade holder up just a little so I can easily move the tool out of the way and set the clamp on the blade holder.

[nikaylaking]

I went out and bought a few Cricut blades today and put one in my red click holder at the 1 setting. I used the setting tool to adjust the depth and set the F to 10...it did a nice test cut. The paper is maybe a 60 weight. Is this normal to have the Force Setting so low and still have it cut through?

[Angel135612]

Yes, you can have the force that low and it would cut paper that is that thin. 60lb paper isn't a thick paper, so it shouldn't take a lot of force to cut it.

[nikaylaking]

Thanks, just needed to know if I'm on the right track