by Gigi » December 1st, 2017, 6:34 pm
I asked if you had cut other materials to try to determine if you have had some success cutting or if this is the first thing you have tried to cut. If you have not cut regular card stock with success, I highly recommend you do that first to get a better feel for the pressure needed for basic things. When you start cutting plastics/acetate, it's a different animal. The plastic in the acetate will wear down your blade quicker than cutting regular materials. Just something you need to be aware of.
I just test cut (with the test button) a piece of .007 acetate. I cut it almost completely with the 45 degree blade at 80 - perfectly at 90. So you could be in that range and should be able to cut it just fine.
Are you sure your blade is not chipped - that often happens to new users. Again - have you cut other materials with that blade successfully? Is the acetate firmly adhered to the mat (brayered down)? Is your mat flat? I would assume it is flat since you are new, but just want to be sure as a warped mat will affect cutting.
A force of 175 is double what it should be. If the blade was good and set properly, you would be cutting into the mat with that force. Is the clamp tight around the blade holder so it is firmly set in the carriage. Again, check your blade under a magnifying glass to be sure it is not chipped. If they hit the mat they can easily chip. Most of us have chipped a blade or two in the early stages - and even now - it happens. Be sure when you use the setting tool that you are barely lifting the blade above the tool to clear it. If it is up too high it won't cut the material.
Please check all of those things and always do a test cut to be sure you have the correct force. Even if I think I am pretty sure about the force needed, if I am cutting a new material to me, I still do a test cut to be sure I am not using more force than I need to (I dont want to ruin the blade or mat) or too little force.
Once you are sure you have a good blade in place and in the right place, please test cut some medium weight card stock until you have success before you go back to the acetate. If you have other questions, let us know.
Silver Bullet Admin/Tech Support
Happily using an 24" Silver Bullet Platinum
Gigi