Setting up the cutting plotter

New to plotting with vinyl film? Discover in this article how to quickly achieve professional results with a few handy tips and tricks.

How do I create the perfect blade setting?

An optimal setting saves a lot of time and frustration.
In practice, we see that many cutting plotter users cut Flex and other media unnecessarily deep.
If the blade cuts deeper than necessary, this has several disadvantages:
Unclearly cut corners. The blade unnecessarily pinches the Flex film when cutting corners.
Inaccurate cutting results. Because the plotter has to pull too hard on the Flex film to get the blade through, space is created, resulting in poor cutting results.
The blade wears out faster. The more the blade unnecessarily cuts into the carrier, the more it wears out unnecessarily.
What is a good setting then?
When the blade cuts into the carrier as little as possible.

Example Cutting Blade

How do I create a good setting?

For Silhouette plotters

• Use our cutting plotter settings overview to find the recommended settings for the Flex you’re using.

• Enter the recommended setting in the cutting settings in Silhouette Studio.

• Click “Generate Test Shape” and place the test shape on the media.

• Click “Send Test” and the Cameo will cut the test.

• Take your peeling tool and try to peel it. If it doesn’t peel, increase the blade pressure (not the blade depth!).

• Try another test. If it peels, check how deeply the backing has been cut. If the backing “snaps” at the cutting line when bent, the cut has been made too deeply. Reduce the blade pressure one notch and repeat the test.

• Do this until the blade just barely cuts through the media and only very slightly into the backing.

For Graphtec plotters

• Use our cutting plotter settings overview to find the recommended settings for the Flex used.

• Set the selected “Condition” on the Graphtec using the values ​​found.

• Try a test cut on the plotter via the menu on the plotter.

• Take your peeling tool and try to peel it. Can’t peel? Then increase the blade pressure first.

• Try another test. Is the result exactly the same? Then also increase the blade depth by turning the adjustment knob on the blade holder clockwise for less than a quarter turn.

• Still can’t peel? Then repeat the above.

• Can peel? Then check how deep the backing has been cut. If the backing “snaps” at the cutting line when bent, the cut has been made too deeply. Reduce the blade pressure one notch and repeat the test.

• Do this until you reach the point where the blade just cuts through the media and only very slightly into the carrier.