Vinyl Cutter: User Manual & Assembly Instructions
Vinyl Cutter: User Manual & Assembly Instructions
Thank you for your purchase of this new MH Cutter CAUTION IS STRONGLY ADVISED WHEN USING THIS EQUIPMENT
By mastering the use of this equipment and 4 Site Selection & Preparation sharp blades and caution should be taken to make sure that fingers do
accompanying software, understanding which materials not get caught in moving gears during operation.
to use for different projects, and learning a few basic 5 Stand Parts & Set Up
application techniques there’s not much you won’t be
able to do.
10 Blade Set Up
Disconnect power during assembly, service and maintenance. Vinyl
11 Installing the Pen Carriage cutters are subject to static build-up. Use of anti-static devices
18 Connecting to a Computer Vinyl cutting is a creative medium and can be an enjoyable hobby or
19 classroom learning experience, but this vinyl cutter is not a toy and
Preparing for Cutting
should not be used by children without supervision.
24 Making Your First Test Cut
26 Troubleshooting
Banners & Signage 28 Care and Maintenance Except where noted, all Contents Copyright © 2015 USCutter
and may not be reproduced without express written permission.
30 Hardware Bundles
If you are setting up for the first time please take a moment to refer to the Packaging Guide to Your MH Cutter purchase may
take account of all the included components and accessories. For help with Stand Assembly, have included a stand, if you
please refer to included instructions. selected that option. If so, you’ll
want to set it up first. Please see
instructions on the following
The first step to setting up your cutter is finding page for assembly instructions.
a good location for the machine. Consider these A Short Screw
factors when you are selecting a suitable place: B Bolt Cap
C Bolt
D Long Screw
Place your cutter near the PC that will be used to drive content to the vinyl cutter. E Screw Sleeve Cap
F Screw Sleeve
You will need to have access to both the front and rear of the machine for operation and I Center Crossbeam
changing out of vinyl rolls. Find a space that has adequate access and where the roll can roll J Right Column
freely on the rollers or on the table top.
K Left Column
L Roller
M Foot
Stability is key. Your MH cutter is a precision cutting device and the carriage head will move
quickly back and forth across the vinyl. If it vibrates due to an uneven or unstable surface,
it will result in issues with your cut. Whether placing the machine on a stand or table top,
choose a level and stable surface. E
A
Fans located inside of the cutter can draw in outside dust from the area surrounding the
cutter. Excessive buildup of dust can cause either mechanical or electrical malfunctions.
Keeping the cutter as dust free as possible will help ensure trouble free operation. Try to find
an area for the cutter that will be free of any excessive dust and use the supplied cover when
C
not in use.
B F
D
All cutters will produce a small amount of noise while operating. Please take this into
consideration when selecting a location for your cutting purposes.
G I
J L
H K
A 110 outlet with a grounding plug is required for operation of the vinyl cutter/plotter and you
will want internet access for our PC in order to download software and drivers required for
operation. DO NOT attempt to use the cutter when it has not been properly grounded. M
2 4
K
6 8
5 6 7
Screw the cap back Adjust the carriage cap until the Adjust the Brass Ring until it
onto the Blade blade is protruding approximately fits snug against the Cap. This
Carriage. 1/64th of an inch. will help keep the cap in place 1 2 3
during operation.
Loosen the locking knob Place blade carriage Tighten the locking knob
on the carriage arm. into the carriage arm. on the carriage arm.
1 2 3
Unscrew the top cap Remove the top cap, the pen Slide the spring onto the pen
from the pen carriage. and the spring. Replace the from the top and insert it back
pen and/or spring as necessary. into the pen carriage.
FEED ROLLERS
PORT to a wall outlet or surge
POWER SWITCH protector.
POSITIONING BUTTON
LEFT SIDE COVER Main power switch for
POWER SWITCH turning the power of the
RIGHT SIDE COVER cutter on (1) or off (0).
PINCH ROLLERS Holds the media tightly to the feed roller below.
Holds the blade carriage
CARRIAGE SLOT
FEED ROLLERS Positions the cutting material during operation. in place.
CARRIAGE SLOT
Allows access to the
POSITIONING Used by the cutter to determine the location of the carriage blade/pen carriage slots
BUTTON arm. LOCKING KNOB for exchanging/replacing
carriages.
Contains the power cable port, power switch, and fuse
LEFT SIDE COVER cartridge for the cutter.
RIGHT SIDE COVER Contains the USB and serial cable ports for the cutter.
LOCKING KNOB
The main screen of the cutter allows you to set the main settings of the cutter including the cutting speed and cutting Offline mode is used to reposition the cutting material and blade so that a new starting position can be set
force options. It also allows you to cut a test pattern or check the amount of force that is currently set. for the next design. Offline mode can also be accessed while the cutter is in operation and will pause the
current cutting process. Although changes can be made to the material and blade positions if Offline/Pause mode is
accessed during cutting, making changes to either setting is not normally recommended.
Resets by stopping the cutter, and setting the origin of the carriage arm to
Resets by stopping the cutter, and setting the origin of the carriage arm to its RESET BUTTON
RESET BUTTON right most position.
its right most position.
Ignores any changes that have been made to the material or blade positions
OFFLINE/PAUSE BUTTON Accesses the Offline/Pause mode.
and exits Offline/Pause mode, returning the cutter to the main screen.
OFFLINE/PAUSE BUTTON Resumes any cutting that was taking place when Offline/Pause mode was
entered.
SETUP BUTTON Accesses the Setup mode.
Will cut a small test shape so that the current force and speed settings of SETUP BUTTON Has no function in this mode.
the cutter can be tested. You can use this to determine the proper cutting
TEST BUTTON speed and force settings needed for different materials without wasting large Accepts any changes that have been made to the material or blade
amounts of material from cutting full designs. positions and exits Offline/Pause mode returning the cutter to the main
TEST BUTTON screen. Resumes any cutting that was taking place when Offline/Pause
mode was entered from the new blade/material positions.
Used to test z-axis functionality (by dropping the blade down if the carriage
ORIGIN BUTTON is functioning properly) or to set a new origin point when the machine is in its Accepts any changes that have been made to the material or blade
offline mode. positions and exits Offline/Pause mode returning the cutter to the main
ORIGIN BUTTON screen. Resumes any cutting that was taking place when Offline/Pause
mode was entered from the new blade/material positions.
Adjusts the cutting speed. A cutting speed of 300 mm/s is a reasonable Repositions the material by moving the feed rollers. After movements
default speed that can be used for most cuts. When working with smaller and V+ / V- BUTTONS are made you can confirm the changes by pressing the TEST or ORIGIN
V+ / V- BUTTONS more detailed images, a slower speed may be required. When working with buttons or cancel by pressing the OFFLINE/PAUSE button.
larger and less detailed images, a higher speed can be used to shorten the
operation time.
Repositions the blade by moving the carriage arm. After movements are
F+ / F- BUTTONS made you can confirm the changes by pressing the TEST or ORIGIN buttons
or cancel by pressing the OFFLINE/PAUSE button.
Adjusts the cutting force. A cutting force of 100g is a good general starting
place to work from when trying to determine the force needed for a specific
material. All cuttable materials will differ in the amount of force needed so
F+ / F- BUTTONS proper testing should always be made to determine the amount of force to
use. The amount of force used should be enough to fully penetrate the material
to be cut while not enough to cut through the backing material.
The Setup screen allows you to adjust some of the more technical settings of the cutter.
For most users, these settings should not be changed.
Signage
V+ / V- BUTTONS Adjusts the Up Speed of the cutter.
425.481.3555
MEDIA
Attach the power cord to the cutter and then If you are going to cut from a scrap or single sheet instead of a roll, then skip the
plug in the unit and turn on the power. next step on placing a vinyl roll. All other steps will be the same.
Your MH Vinyl Cutter comes bundled with VinylMaster Cut software, an easy to use software with the tools to
help you take your projects from concept to a ready to cut computer image file.
You can download and install the VinylMaster Cut software at www.uscutter.com/download, and you will need
the key code packaged with this cutter to activate the software.
Training for VinylMaster is all done via short videos accessed through the software.
Feed the vinyl underneath the pinch rollers Leave a gap of between 1/2”-1 1/2” from the
(if working from a single sheet instead of edge of the roller and the edge of the vinyl
a roll, the vinyl can also be feed from the on both sides.
front).
Now press the Origin button to tell the cutter that this is the
1 Press the OFFLINE/PAUSE button to enter offline mode.
4 location where you would like the cut to begin.
Adjust the vinyl to where you want to make your cut to start by
2 using the Up and Down arrow keys on the control panel.
When choosing a starting location for your design, remember that the process
will start in the bottom right area of the design. Please leave enough room to
the left of and behind the starting location to finish your cut.
If you would like to make other adjustments to the pressure, speed, or other
settings you can do so now. If you are setting up for your first cut with the
machine then the default values should be a good starting point.
If you make any adjustments to your cutter, make sure that you return to the
main screen before you attempt to cut.
Now, adjust the blade to where you want your cut to start by using
3 the Left and Right arrow keys.
CUT SPEED
CHOOSE BLADE Load the blade so
This setting determines how fast the design is
cut out and is usually measured in centimeters
BLADE
BLADE
BLADE
BLADE
per second.
that the length of
For thin and regular sized the blade shown 60 60 small intricate DECREASE
media, use a 45o blade. designs CUT SPEED
is not longer than
MEDIA MEDIA
MEDIA CARRIER MEDIA
BLADE
CARRIER
BLADE
CARRIER CARRIER
the media is thick.
For thicker materials, such as
60 Siser StripFlock, Siser Glitter, and large simpler INCREASE
designs CUT SPEED
MEDIA
CARRIER
MEDIA
CARRIER
Hexis CutFlex 600 Reflective,
a 60o blade is needed. MEDIA
CARRIER
MEDIA
4
CARRIER
1 2 3
MEDIA
CARRIER
ISSUE ISSUE
PROBLEM SOLUTION
Cut has dashes or looks perforated. Cut line tapers and not cutting
The cutter performs erratically Some computers do not work well when connected via the USB port of the towards the end.
during cuts, stops cutting cutters. If you are having problems while cutting and are using the USB cable
to connect from your cutter to computer, you may wish to try the serial cable
before the cut is finished, or connection to avoid further problems. If a serial cable connection is not available
cuts lines that do not appear in on your computer, you can try a third party USB to serial connector or a PCI card EXAMPLE EXAMPLE
the design. serial adapter for your computer.
Sometimes, during shipping or movement of the machine, the right pinch roller ISSUE ISSUE
Vinyl not feeding straight and will become stuck on a screw located on the back of the machine. If this occurs
the right most Pinch Roller will and is affecting your cutting, press forcefully against the pinch roller until it
not move. becomes dislodged from its position. If needed, remove the screw to reposition Blade is skipping turns and corners. Corners are not cutting correctly.
the pinch roller in the desired position.
CAUSE CAUSE
Part of the blade is dragging on its Offset setting is incorrect.
side during turns.
SOLUTION SOLUTION
Clean the inside of the blade holder by Change the offset setting.
coating the blade with WD40 and moving
it in and out of the blade holder. Clean off
any debris that comes out. Replacement
blade holder may be needed. RAISE OFFSET LOWER OFFSET
Some Cutter Parts will require periodic replacement: USCutter will repair or replace parts and equipment found to be defective in materials or workmanship during
the warranty period subject to the following:
• The blades packaged with your MH cutter will dull with time and usage. In general, the
blades with the sharpest points like the 60 degree blade will dull fastest in much the same • On Cutter equipment, USCutter will supply new or rebuilt parts to replace parts that are found to be defective within the warranty period
way that a very sharp pencil point will wear down quickly. To keep your cuts clean and to instead of replacing the equipment outright. USCutter will ship these parts via with no cost to the customer as long as the shipment is within
avoid wasting media and vinyl, it is recommended you replace blades after 6 months of use the United States. Full telephone based support will be given by USCutter representatives to aid the customer in the replacement of any parts
or whenever cutting becomes jagged or inconsistent. sent.
• If USCutter, at its sole discretion, determines that the equipment is not able to be repaired, then an RMA number will be assigned and the
• Cutting Strips will also require periodic replacement: The cutting strip is the protective strip customer authorized to return the equipment for replacement.
that is found right below the carriage arm that prevents damage to the cutting blade. Over • The standard MH Vinyl Cutter series warranty is 90 days from day the product is received. In the event of a purchase of an extended warranty
time it will develop small cuts and abrasions – and it may happen quickly if you are creating after date of initial equipment sale, extended warranty begins day after last day of initial warranty. Extended warranties must be purchased
decals or other projects where the blade will cut through the liner of the media. during the time initial warranty is in effect.
• Any equipment older than 30 days may be replaced with a certified refurbished unit at our discretion.
• Blade holders will gather small bits of material in them: Over time, this accumulated debris • Included software with this cutter, if any, will be covered by a separate warranty included with software.
can prevent the blade from moving smoothly over the cut media. Occasionally removing the • USCutter reserves the right to discontinue the sale of “Extended 1 Year Warranty” as part of original purchase or purchase during warranty
blade holder cap and cleaning out the debris will help prolong the life of the bladeholder, but period at any time and for any reason.
they do wear out with time.
Warranty and Exchange Process:
Replacement blades, blade holders and cutting strips for MH Cutters can be found at: http://
www.uscutter.com/Cutter-Blades-Bladeholders • If you are having issues with a product or service purchased from the company, please contact the support department at
USCuttersupport.com.
• All returns must be authorized by an USCutter representative before the product shipped. The USCutter representative will issue a Return
Storage of Your Cutter Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number that must be put on the outside of the returned item packaging. US Cutter will not be responsible
for any item sent back without an RMA in place and it may be returned to customer only if they will be responsible for any shipping costs.
• During periods when the cutter is not in use, please unplug the cutter from the power source. • Any item being returned to USCutter (excluding items over 70 lbs which require freight shipping) are eligible for a flat rate ground shipping
label at the market rate. Items determined to be defective within first 30 days or improperly shipped will receive this label free of charge. The
• Covering the cutter with a plastic sheet or other lint free cloth or water resistant material to customer may choose their own shipping method as long as tracking information is communicated to and acknowledged by USCutter.
prevent accumulation of dust is also recommended. • Items should be returned in their original packaging. Items returned in other than the original packaging may be assessed additional restocking
fees of up to 50% and USCutter will not be responsible for any damage of returned items that is a result of improper shipping methods.
• Always store your cutter in a cool, dry location • Items returned for a refund may be subject to restocking fees. Once a refund is processed it will usually be returned to the originating account
within 7 to 10 business days, depending on the customer’s bank.
Note about pricing: Pricing on these pages reflects what is currently on our website and is subject to change without
notice. Visit www.uscutter.com or call 1-425-481-3555 for up-to-date pricing on these featured products.
425.481.3555 30 www.uscutter.com 425.481.3555 31 www.uscutter.com
WE RECOMMEND USAGE OF THE FOLLOWING VINYL
WITH YOUR NEW MH CUTTER:
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or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without
the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical
reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests,
write to USCutter, 7945 NE 65th St., Suite 200, Redmond, WA 98052