This post is part of my Checklists series. Each post in the series is a set of brief reminders to help you remember the sequence of steps to use as you work on a project. With each checklist, I provide links to more information about the topics. You’ll find those links at the bottom of the post this time. The Cutting Checklist helps you remember each step to take before, during and after you cut a project.
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Before Cutting
–Correct page size and orientation set.
–Correct mat selection.
–Designs to be cut are on the usable material area within the borders.
–If using HTV, tattoo paper, or any material where you are cutting on the back side, designs are flipped horizontally (mirrored).
–Cut Mode (Action by: Simple, Line, Fill or Layer) chosen.
Simple cut mode (Action by: Simple)
–Material selected.
–Action and Tool selected.
–Blade number, Speed, Force, Passes and Line Segment Overcut checked and adjusted as needed. For Line Segment overcut, if it’s on make sure to check the starting and ending extensions.
–If using a Cameo 3 or Curio, then ensure that the choices are all made on the correct tool (Tool 1 and/or Tool 2).
–Correct cut style (No Cut, Cut or Cut Edge) selected for each piece individually.
Advanced Cut Mode (Action by: Line, Fill or Layer)
–For each color line, check:
–Cut (box checked) or No Cut (box unchecked).
–If using a Cameo 3 or Curio, correct Tool (1—left/red or 2—right/blue) chosen.
–Auto-weld off or on.
–Material type.
–Action.
–Tool.
–Cut Order checked.
–Pauses added as needed.
–For each material, check and adjust as needed:
–Blade number.
–Speed.
–Force.
–Passes.
–Line Segment overcut off or on and starting and ending extensions.
–Cut Preview checked.
–Blade cap removed and any debris cleared out, then blade cap replaced carefully.
–If not using an Auto-blade, blade adjusted.
–Blade or tool sitting all the way down in blade holder, with the collar sitting on the holder.
–If there’s a fin on the blade, it’s facing forward.
–Blade locked fully.
–If using a new mat, you’ve used a tshirt or jeans to add a few fibers to it to cut down the stickiness just a bit.
–Material loaded onto mat, if using one. If you aren’t using a mat, be sure to check the “Cutting Without the Mat” checklist.
–Machine on and free from obstructions behind.
–Software detecting connection of machine.
–If using a Cameo without the mat or with a Portrait or stamp mat, right white roller is moved in and roller bar is relocked.
–Mat or material loaded in correct orientation using correct loading method and guideline.
While Cutting
–Test cut done, ease of weeding checked, settings adjustments made.
–Job sent.
–Watch the machine during the cut to make sure everything is working correctly.
–If you notice an issue during the cut, pause the machine and decide what to do – cancel the job or adjust the settings and resume.
–Try to not ever turn the machine completely off during a cut, as you’ll never get it cutting again in the same spot. Instead, pause and make adjustments or cancel. You can always remove the blade or other tool so that the machine goes through the motions of the job without ever actually touching the material, thus allowing you to salvage at least part of the design and material.
–When cutting with pauses, make sure to hit “Resume” and not “Send” again.
After Cutting
–Check the cut before unloading. If it’s not cut all the way through, adjust the settings and send it again from the software. With a ratchet blade, make sure to adjust the blade itself.
–Unload the mat or material.
–When using a thin material that’s likely to curl when removed from a mat, flip the mat over and peel it off the material rather than vice versa.
–If you’ve found a material setting that you want to keep, create and save a custom setting.
–If you aren’t going to be using the machine again for a while, turn it off.
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