Question Help! Contour Cut Issues

My first thought if it's ripping through I'd check the blade tip to see if its broken.

The blade tip should just be barely sticking out of the holder (helps if you have a loupe to see/adjust the depth).

What vinyl/laminate & pressure are you running?

When was the last time you replaced the Kevlar strip?

Are you sending cut pressure with the print/cut file or using the profile on the machine?

 

Not familiar with Mimakis at all - but have you checked the blade holder?

Did you suddenly start getting these results or did it gradually get worse?

Does it happen with all material combinations or just a specific one?

 

IMO you should use a 60º blade, but if 45º has been working for you then it’s obviously another problem. And this will sound CRAZY buuuuut.... when I started working at my present job, some idiot had loaded, AND WAS USING, the blade upside-down. It was cutting with the pivot end, making ragged edges. They didn’t notice because most everything we cut is very large.
So if you have employees, is it possible someone loaded a new blade upside-down. From experience I know that the pivot end WILL cut.
I can’t make this stuff up!

 

Sounds like the blade is too far out. You need to just be able to see the end of the tip. For laminated vinyl I usually have the pressure at 200 if that helps.

 

Set the blade out about the thickness of a credit card. 200 sounds like a lot of pressure, were 95-135 on laminated vinyl depending on the material, 40 on 651 cal vinyl and I think thats a bit high. The more downforce you have, the more wear youre gonna have.

 

Maybe I’ve just got the blade upside down

 

Sounds like your blade might be too far out. Lift it up and play around with the pressue

 

Another method would be to make two cuts. First cut normal then an outer offset contour cut about an eighth of an inch to do the punch cut or "Half Cut" as they like to call it.
Also note that the blades you buy come with specs to set your offset and speed. And for giggles...