Quick links: Usage • Troubleshooting • Maintenance

Nickname	Make	Model	Where	Manual	Issue Tracker	Status
"Harry Plotter"	Silhouette	Portrait	[Workshop](/DoESLiverpool/somebody-should/wiki/Rooms)	Getting Started (PDF) Software (PDF)	Tool: Vinyl Cutter & Plotter (Harry Plotter)	TBC

See full safety information below

About

This machine is used to create vinyl transfers, which can then be applied to (usually flat) surfaces. It can also be used for plotting on paper (using a special pen).

How it works

You create your design using vector image editing software, and then "print" that design on to the vinyl using the cutter. Vinyl cutting works by cutting through just the vinyl layer, while leaving the backing untouched. This is accomplished by very precise blade positioning prior to starting your print job.

After printing (cutting your shapes in the vinyl), you remove any unwanted vinyl, leaving just your image, before applying application tape to the non-sticky side, removing the backing paper and sticking the whole thing to some surface. Very carefully you then remove the backing tape, leaving each individual shape on the surface.

As you might imagine this can be very delicate, and you’ll want to think carefully about the sections of your design and how you will apply it. Bigger and simpler shapes are much easier to work with than smaller, more intricate, shapes.

Using the machine

To use this machine, you'll need to:

• Follow safety precautions
• Design your shape
• Obtain materials
• Place vinyl in cutter
• Test the blade force
• Scale and print the vector
• Apply your vinyl to a surface

Let's get started...

Safety precautions

The machine is generally safe to use, but there is a risk of injury if your fingers get near the cutting blade.

• Workshop Safety

Step 1: Design your shape

A vector image is used to instruct the cutter where to cut:

• We recommend designing this on your own computer before visiting DoES
• The Silhouette software can accept the .DXF file format
• We use Inkscape, a free vector drawing app for Windows, Mac and Linux.
  • There are lots of tutorials on their website showing how to use it.
  • You can import many file formats and save them as SVG.
  • Importing to Inkscape can change vector dimensions and cause other issues, so we highly recommend that you download Inkscape yourself and ensure your vector is correct in Inkscape before you come to DoES.
• Your vector must be stroke only (not fill, or it will cut each line twice and ruin your cut).
• Avoid text with a height less than 30mm; it causes the plotter to jam or yields vinyl that's difficult to work with. Small Cyrillic or italic text is particularly troublesome.
• If cutting t-shirt vinyl you will need to mirror your design horizontally.
• Once your vector design is ready, copy it to your USB drive so you can transfer it to the computer in the workshop.

Step 2: Obtain materials

• We have some scraps of Vinyl lying around, which you are free to use and test with, however we suggest you buy your own for any extensive work
• MDP supplies on the Wirral stock it - they do quick delivery, or you can collect directly from their shop

Step 3: Download the software

• Download and install Silhouette Studio from https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/software#silhouette-studio or use the Vinyl Cutter PC where it is already installed.

Step 4:

• Follow the instructions in the Silhouette Getting Started guide. (Quick start: It only loads DXF, which you can position on on the A4 shape, and look for the tab on top right to get it into the "send" mode.)
• For vinyl which already has a backing, that can be loaded into the machine on its own. For card, you'll need to use the cutting mat as a backing.

Step 4b Exporting to Silhouette Software from Inkscape

Open your Inkscape .svg file on the workshop PC in Inkscape and select Save As and choose .dxf. When prompted for options, select:

• use ROBO-Master type of spline output
• use LWPOLYLINE type of line output

Choose Base unit in mm Character encoding UTF8

Then open your .dxf in the Silhouette software

Be aware that this quite terrible software scales artwork down, so generally either have a 10mm x 10mm reference object in your original .svg file to help check for that. Recent files seem to need scaling up by about 1.144. I've also found some circular objects are warped weirdly and inconsistently so check the artwork before cutting/plotting.

Once you are happy with the design in Silhouette, select SEND and then select cut settings from the drop down material options which generally work well.

Follow instructions carefully under Harry Plotter's drop down lid for changing height settings on the blade and cleaning/changing blade/pen.

Here are some example settings for materials not in the defaults

Material	Height Setting on Blade	Speed	Force	Passes	Cut/Sketch	Notes
Vinyl, Matte	1	5	10	1	Cut
Mylar	7	3	33	1	Cut	Material slips
Clear adhesive	1	5	20	1	Cut

Step 6: Apply your vinyl to a surface

First, you need to prepare it:

• Give yourself plenty of clean workspace
• Remove the vinyl from the cutter, and cut across the width of the sheet to remove unused remainder of vinyl sheet or roll
• Using a fresh blade or a scalpel, carefully peel and remove the negative parts (bits you don't want) from the sheet
  • Do one a section at a time
  • Use the scalpel lightly; cut the vinyl but not the backing
  • Don’t lift up the part you want by mistake; it will stick to the negative parts and be irretrievable!
• Take the low tack transparent roll of application tape and roll evenly onto the prepared vinyl and its backing: there is a knack to this; use another empty cardboard roll to roll the application tape off its roll and onto your vinyl then cut off excess

Now you can apply it to a surface:

• When applying to your surface make sure it’s clean then CAREFULLY peel off the vinyl from its backing using the transparent low tack application tape & ensure you don’t lose any items. Use your finger or blunt scalpel or a plastic squeedgy (near the machine) to make sure it adheres to the application tape
• Lightly place on surface; don't fully commit until you sure it’s in the right spot then press vinyl to surface through tape FIRMLY
• You can press down smaller sections of vinyl using the back of a spoon, or appropriate object
• Finally, gently remove the application tape

Print and Cut Using Registration Marks

The cutter can use registration marks to help align images and cut marks. First ensure the page is set up for the correct printer and the cutting board in Silhouette Studio.

Then add some images to your document and use the pen tool to draw lines around the shape where you want to cut.

To add the registration marks, swap to that tab, select the below options:

Ensure none of your images are in the hashed area

Print to the traditional printer, to get a piece of paper with registration marks, then align it up as shown below, and click the top button on the printer to feed the paper in.

Swap to the send tab, and click the send button, if registration fails, ensure the marks are clear and the paper is in the right place. IF you look closely you can see the red laser firing, is it hitting your black registration mark? If not, try adjusting your paper!

You can use the manual mode and the arrow keys to place the cutter head on top of the black square if you're having trouble and this might help.

Troubleshooting

If the advice below doesn't solve the problem, please create a new issue to let us know. Also check out the existing open issues in case someone has already had the problem and documented it there.

Maintenance

• If the machine is broken or needs maintenance, create an issue in the issue tracker (link in Troubleshooting above)
  • Label the issue: Tool: Vinyl Cutter & Plotter (Harry Plotter)
  • If broken, add Broken label (this triggers various systems to flag the machine unavailable)
  • If maintenance required, add Maintenance label (the machine is working, but needs TLC)
  • If parts or consumables need purchasing, add Shopping label
• MDP supplies on the Wirral stock vinyl