Makerspace

A vinyl cutter is a CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) plotter which can outfitted with a blade or marker, to automatically perform mechanical cuts or drawings. The vinyl cutter is capable of cutting sticker vinyl, heat transfer vinyl and a variety of thin paper products. It's most frequently used to make custom stickers, or heat-transfer designs for t-shirts. In this workshop you will manufacture a sticker. After taking this workshop you are certified to use our vinyl cutter during drop-in hours. Refer to the makerspace calendar to find when this workshop is offered.

You will learn:
 - Design considerations for vinyl cutting
 - To operate a Silhouette vinyl cutter
 - Rules and Safety Protocols

Before attending this workshop:
 - Attend a "2D CAD w/ Inkscape" workshop
 - Download Silhouette Studio
 - Register to attend the workshop

Tool Slots

Slots 1 and 2 are very different and therefore, certain tools only work in slot 1 and other tools only work in slot 2. 

• Slot 1 - ONLY fits AutoBlade, Pen Holder and Adapters
• Slot 2 - ONLY fits the Kraft Blade, Punch Tool and Rotary Blade

Tool Adapters

The Silhouette come with specialty tools which each fit into their own adapters. These special tool adapters tell the Silhouette which tool is installed.

• Black Adapter - Black Ratchet Blade
• Blue Adapter - Sketch Pens
• Gray Adapter - Deep Cut Blade

Loading a Tool

1. Determine which slot the tool belongs in (see above "Tool Slots" section).
2. Grip the pull tab with the proper slot's number on it, and pull it towards you.
3. Insert the tool into the proper slot, ensuring the back of the tool lies flat against the back of the tool slot.
4. Holding the pull tab in place, push the tool all the way in.
5. Push the pull tab towards the machine until you hear a click, locking the tool in place. 

Unloading a Tool

Removing a blade is even easier! Simply pull the pull tab towards you to unlock the tool, then lift the tool out of the carriage.

Prepare the Cutting Mat

If it hasn't already been done, peel back the blue protective cover on the cutting mat. This reveals a sticky area where the material you wish to cut will adhere to. Cut a piece of vinyl big enough to fit your design and carefully align the vinyl to the top left corner and stick it down onto the cutting mat.

There are multiple strategies to make a design with multiple colors:

• Preferred Method: Cut each color of vinyl to the approximate shape needed. Stick each piece of vinyl to the cutting mat and cut out the design with a single cut. This method makes applying transfer paper much easier. 
• Alternative Method: Cut each colored part of the design separately, joining them later with transfer tape.

NOTE: Although convenient, the cutting mat is not always necessary. The cutting mat is best for using scrap material and materials without a backing. The cutting mat is not necessary when cutting materials with a backing. Simply load the vinyl as you would a cutting mat (just make sure to perform a test cut before cutting your design).

Load the Cutting Mat

Move your cutting mat so that it lines up with the guideline on the left, and is touching the rollers in the front. While gently holding the cutting mat in place with one hand, reach over and tap the button with an up arrow located on the right side of the machine. The rollers should activate, moving and locking the cutting mat into place.

Unload the Cutting Mat

After your cut is complete, the cutting mat will still be held in place by the rollers. To release it simply tap the down arrow button located on the right side of the machine. 

Cutting from a Roll

Towards the bottom of the Silhouette, put your fingers in the groove and pull the roll holder towards you. Expand it completely. The right roller slides back and forth to accommodate for multiple spool sizes. Move it to fit the size spool you are using. Place the spool atop the spool holder use the guiding slot to feed the roll towards the rollers.

1. Slide the bottom drawer out
2. Flip open the feeding flap
3. Slide the spool holder on the right to fit your spool size (up to 12")
4. Press the release lever down then click the lock button on the right-most roller and slide it to accommodate your spool size
5. Insert your material into the spool holder with the right side up (matte side up for heat transfer vinyl). Guide the material through the feeding flap and against the rollers.
6. Press the up arrow to load the material. 

When done you can cut the sheet using the cross cutter at the back of the machine. 

Starting a Cut

1. Connect your laptop to the Silhouette via USB cable and open Silhouette Studio.
2. Open your .dxf design file in Silhouette Studio.
3. Re-size and re-position your design on the cutting mat. Click the design to specify exact size and position.
4. Ensure 12"x12" cutting mat is selected.
5. Navigate to the Send Panel
6. Select the material you wish to cut from the dropdown menu. This will automatically specify the cutting settings (depth, force, speed, number of passes). If you are unsure what settings to use consult makerspace staff.
   • Perform a test cut: You can test the cutting settings on your material by using the arrow keys to position the blade over the material. Then click test to cut a small test square. 
     Be sure the blade is positioned over the cutting material before clicking test. Otherwise the mat can be damaged.
7. Click the design and select the "Cut" action. Ensure that the AutoBlade is selected from the dropdown and is inserted into slot 1.
8. Ensure the cutting mat is loaded without skew. Then click "Send" to start the cut. 
9. When finished remember to power down the Silhouette and pull the protective cover back to avoid any accidental damage to the carriage.

• TIP: If the blade is tearing through the material rather than cutting it, try slowing the cutting speed.
• TIP: If you are using heat transfer vinyl be sure to flip the design horizontally before cutting. 
• TIP: Is your design lifting up at the corners? For very curvy contours and complex cuts try using the segment cut option. Instead of performing the cut as one continuous cut, the contour is split into multiple segments cut segment-by-segment.  

On the left segment cut is used, on the right segment cut is not used

This was cut without the segment option and you can see some parts are not cut correctly which causes the parts to lift

 To add the segment cut option make sure the highlighted box is selected

Weeding

Weeding is the process of removing unwanted vinyl from your cut design. Weeding is always necessary when using heat transfer vinyl, and is sometimes recommended when cutting sticky vinyl (depending on the design). 

Transfer Tape

Transfer Tape is clear sticky vinyl which is used to...

• Combine multiple vinyl cuts, creating multi-colored stickers
• Transfer a finished vinyl sticker to a surface

Applying Vinyl to Transfer Tape

• Cut a rectangle of transfer tape large enough to fit the entire design
• Partially unpeel the backing from the transfer paper 
• Place the transfer tape atop the design 
• Using a squeegee, flatten the transfer tape onto the vinyl
• Carefully peel the transfer tape from the vinyl stock

Applying the Final Sticker

Once the entire design has been stuck to a sheet of transfer tape, the sticker is ready to be applied to the surface of your choice! To apply the sticker...

• Unpeel the backing from the transfer paper
• Place the vinyl on a surface (with the clear transfer tape facing you)
• Using a squeegee, flatten the sticker onto the surface
• Peel away the transfer tape

Applying Heat Transfer Vinyl

1. Place the fabric you wish to transfer the design to atop the pressing mat.
2. Press your fabric for 10 seconds to remove any moisture.
3. Place the vinyl atop the fabric (vinyl side down)
4. Set the heat press to the correct temperature and time.
   • Refer to the packaging of the heat transfer vinyl for specific instructions
   • You can also refer to Cricut's Heat Guide for specific instructions for your fabric. 
5. Pre-heat the heat press and place it atop your design and fabric, pressing lightly for the specified time. 
6. Place the heat press back on its cradle.