Author Topic: Print with WF1100, how do you cut? (Read 1394 times)

lasersharkdesign · « **on:** June 17, 2011, 08:07:34 AM »

So it seems the WF1100 is a real popular option here on these forums. Obviously being a desktop printer and not a vinyl printer/cutter, you must move the vinyl to your cutter after printing.

How do ya'll get the cuts right? Print registration marks, and go off that?

Right now I'm just using a small desktop cutter, a Silhouette SD that we bought for my wife's scrapbooking stuff. It has a sensor but I think it only works through the actual Craft Robo software, and wont do registration marks through illustrator. Not sure, gotta find out.

Or do you use another technique?

Clawgfx · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2011, 08:21:01 AM »

I use the software that came with my graphtech to both print and cut the designs whether its vinyl or t-shirt paper.

It will print registration marks that the cutters ARMS system read and cut's it out for me.

I believe also some folks where able to get this to work through flexi for printing and cutting as well..

lasersharkdesign · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2011, 08:22:57 AM »

Edumacate me - whats flexi?

Clawgfx · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2011, 08:46:33 AM »

http://www.saintl.biz/Flexi8482;_FAMILY28.asp

Flexi Sign is a design,print and cut software.

I use flexi for vinyl decals and cutting but then use the Graphtec Robo Cutting Master software for Print and Cut items.

mountaingraphic · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2011, 09:35:34 AM »

Flexi is a great program. Very expensive for the pro versions since it has a rip but I use it daily for easy designs and cutting

lasersharkdesign · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2011, 09:38:15 AM »

What does flexi do (or not do) that illustrator doesnt do (or does)? I'm a fan of illustrator. I know photoshop well and it's very close in it's functionality and hotkeys. What makes Flexi great?

Clawgfx · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2011, 09:56:27 AM »

Flexi Interfaces directly with the cutter. It is built for design and cutting. It has options specifically related to the cutters drivers that Illy does not (someone correct me if I'm wrong, There maybe plugins you can get to interface with illy) You can totally design in illy if you want. But flexi basically cuts out the middle man.

You design, Print, Cut all from one software.

This is what I use

FlexSign - Vinyl Decal Cutting
Photoshop - Raster image design for shirts of sublimation
Robo Cutting Master - Printing and Cutting of said printed vinyl stickers

I could get mine working with Flexi all in one but I just find it easier to use Robo for doing contour cutting.

locknload1 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2011, 11:20:16 AM »

I don't have contour cutting on my $180 PCut CR630 so I do an outline of the image using inkscape to create a silhouette and move the project from the printer to the plotter, then I eyeball the starting point and hit cut. the first couple of times were a lot of trial and error but I have the process/placement/spacing down now. Other than that my printed stuff is usually square or round (use a punch for the round decals) because I charge a set up fee for countour decals that discourages buyers from requesting the service.

lasersharkdesign · « **Reply #8 on:** June 17, 2011, 11:22:43 AM »

Until I upgrade my cutter I'm stuck with my silhouette SD... which apparently CAN place registration marks in an illustrator document. Right now I'm trying to get it to find them and cut. Its being picky

mountaingraphic · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2011, 02:08:14 PM »

Some of the cheaper cutters are unable to jog the cut head so I had to modify my dll to work with flexi when printing reg marks. Wasnt as hard as I made it out to be in my head however it is not something I will be doing for customers until I get a print/cut combo. Too much thought involved and not enough registration for my liking to sell just yet.

lasersharkdesign · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2011, 02:11:32 PM »

Mine jogs fine (and I got a good cut) once I figured it out. Problem NOW is that my cutter does not appear to have an offset function. when cutting small detailed letters they look wavy and like crap because of the offset.

So now I need to start hunting down a mid-range cutter. I actually owned a Graphtec Pro2 for a while but it was more than I needed, so I sold it for a small loss. Now I'm wishing I held onto it.

Any recomendations for a good, easy to use cutter in the $300-$600 range? Prefferably nothing massive. My problem right now is space. Everything I have is huge. I'm using a WF1100 so dont need something larger than a 13" cut path. Thats why I like the silhouette sd. Small. But without being able to tweak the blade offset, its worthless for small detail work.

boosted · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2011, 02:38:28 PM »

some software will let you change offset(flexi and signblazer).

lasersharkdesign · « **Reply #12 on:** June 17, 2011, 02:59:25 PM »

Aaah... now I'm interested in those

I'll google, see if they have a demo or trial available

Dakotagrafx · « **Reply #13 on:** June 17, 2011, 03:32:04 PM »

a cheaper version of flexi without the rip function is available from signwarehouse as ve-lxi-master. available in different flavors to meet your needs. I have even found some around used cheap. made by the same company as flexi they just remove the rip feature used with wide format printers

lasersharkdesign · « **Reply #14 on:** June 17, 2011, 03:38:45 PM »

What is the rip feature?

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Author Topic: Print with WF1100, how do you cut? (Read 1394 times)

lasersharkdesign

Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

Clawgfx

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

lasersharkdesign

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

Clawgfx

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

mountaingraphic

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

lasersharkdesign

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

Clawgfx

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

locknload1

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

lasersharkdesign

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

mountaingraphic

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

lasersharkdesign

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

boosted

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

lasersharkdesign

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

Dakotagrafx

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?

lasersharkdesign

Re: Print with WF1100, how do you cut?