Anyone here have any experience with vinyl cutters?

[jonny round boy]

I'm trying to work out how to cut vinyl using a plotter/cutter (a Graphtec CE300-60, if that means anything to anyone!). I've never used one before, so have no real idea what I'm doing!

I know that you can get various programs/add-ons for converting jpeg or similar images into SVG files, but that's not what I'm looking to do. I want to create (from scratch) and print some simple geometric patterns.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to use SketchUp to draw the patterns. The free version can't export SVG files (the full version can) but surely you'd only need to convert them if you wanted to use the files in another program? If I was to print them to the cutter from within SketchUp, would it really matter what format the file was? The info going to the cutter would still be the same, wouldn't it?

If that isn't possible, is there a free SVG drawing program that anyone could recommend? I've had a look online, but they all seem to be fairly complex, aimed at artists & animators. What I'm looking for is a basic 2D 'outline only' program, with basic geometry tools (circles/elipses, polygons and lines).

Any assistance/guidance would be greatly appreciated!

 

[joraft]

I'm trying to work out how to cut vinyl using a plotter/cutter (a Graphtec CE300-60, if that means anything to anyone!). I've never used one before, so have no real idea what I'm doing!

I know that you can get various programs/add-ons for converting jpeg or similar images into SVG files, but that's not what I'm looking to do. I want to create (from scratch) and print some simple geometric patterns.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to use SketchUp to draw the patterns. The free version can't export SVG files (the full version can) but surely you'd only need to convert them if you wanted to use the files in another program? If I was to print them to the cutter from within SketchUp, would it really matter what format the file was? The info going to the cutter would still be the same, wouldn't it?

If that isn't possible, is there a free SVG drawing program that anyone could recommend? I've had a look online, but they all seem to be fairly complex, aimed at artists & animators. What I'm looking for is a basic 2D 'outline only' program, with basic geometry tools (circles/elipses, polygons and lines).

Any assistance/guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Jonny, SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is a vector based file format similar to CDR (CorelDraw), AI (Adobe Illustrator), and others. These files can be created, opened, and output by vector based software, but they cannot be read by a plotter/cutter. I think your plotter/cutter may be a Graphtec CE3000, which is an older model. That machine actually accepts information in only two formats, GP-GL (Graphtec's own) and HP-GL (a commonly used format developed by Hewlitt Packard). The CE3000 came with it's own software (called QuickCuts) that converted several of the common graphic file formats into either GP-GL or HP-GL and sent it to the plotter/cutter. Also included with the CE3000 were plug-ins for both Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw (both vector based applications) so that they could communicate directly with the plotter/cutter. I have a Roland cutter and it also came with plug-ins. I create all my artwork in CorelDraw (which can handle just about any graphic file format known to man) and then send it to the cutter directly.

My advice is to see if you can find a copy of QuickCut, or contact Graphtec and see if their newer software will work with your machine.

 

[jonny round boy]

Thanks, John - that's really helpful.

Yes, it is a CE3000-60 (typo!). I found Graphtec's website to see if I could find their software, but there was none available from there. In the downloads section there were drivers listed, but no QuickCuts. I'll do another search now I have a name to go on! There wasn't a manual listed either, which doesn't help.

CorelDraw is available, so that may be the best option. I've never used it before, so will have to learn. I've had a look around in it and it seemed pretty daunting...

One last question - I've read somewhere that you can vary the cutting pressure (ie to cut just the top layer, or all the way through). Is that controlled from within CorelDraw, and if so, how?

 

[joraft]

Thanks, John - that's really helpful.

Yes, it is a CE3000-60 (typo!). I found Graphtec's website to see if I could find their software, but there was none available from there. In the downloads section there were drivers listed, but no QuickCuts. I'll do another search now I have a name to go on! There wasn't a manual listed either, which doesn't help.

CorelDraw is available, so that may be the best option. I've never used it before, so will have to learn. I've had a look around in it and it seemed pretty daunting...

One last question - I've read somewhere that you can vary the cutting pressure (ie to cut just the top layer, or all the way through). Is that controlled from within CorelDraw, and if so, how?

I've been using CorelDraw for 17 years, it's a great program, very versatile. CorelTrace (which is now an internal component) is fantastic for vectorizing bit mapped graphics files, which must be done before they can be used with a cutter/plotter, or any CNC machines. Of course if you create your designs in CorelDraw no conversion will be necessary.

I thought that QuickCut may be hard to find these days, but you might check with Graphtec to see if any of their newer software, like Cutting Master 2, ROBO Master Pro, or D-Cut Master might run on your machine.

Yes, you can adjust the cutting pressure and depth, but I think on the earlier machines like the CE3000 these settings can only be done through menus on the machine's control panel.

Here's a link to a manual for the CE3000-120, which should be much the same as your machine except for the size: CE3000-120 Manual (click on "Parent Directory" then "legacy")

And here's a link to download driver software: Software Download

I hope this helps you get started. The ability to cut vinyl stencils from your own designs will give you a lot of new options in your work. I expect next to hear that  you've acquired a CNC carving machine. It can be another slippery slope like Festool. Good luck!

 

[worknfool]

I've been looking and looking at buying a large format printer, plotter and laminator, (and received some rather horrible advice from some very poor salesmen along the way), but my understanding of the machines were that generally you were basically forced to use their various Rip programs to allow the printer / plotter to communicate with your computer's design software. Essentially that the Rip programs were like very fancy driver packages for the printers and plotters. The OP's machine being a bit older, I'm not suggesting that this applies but I was curious if that were still the case or if the Draw software obviated that - particularly since I already have Corel Draw and have never bothered to really work much with it. As for additional support with an older machine I would suggest checking out some of the sign making user forums as well. Signs 101 is great, but restricted to pros who make their livelihood in the biz, although they do seem to tolerate other trades that are peripherally related, just not hobbyists.

 

[MarkF]

Light duty versions of these cutters are very popular with the Scrapbooking crowd these days.  My wife has a home model 12" X 12" eCraft cutter machine and uses Make The Cut software to design and cut patterns for quilt applique.  Her machine has manual pressure adjustments for different material and depths so the sofware is limited on that axis.  It was inexpensive and has a free full function trial with a watermark.

 

[joraft]

... my understanding of the machines were that generally you were basically forced to use their various Rip programs to allow the printer / plotter to communicate with your computer's design software. Essentially that the Rip programs were like very fancy driver packages for the printers and plotters.

... I was curious if that were still the case or if the Draw software obviated that - particularly since I already have Corel Draw and have never bothered to really work much with it. As for additional support with an older machine I would suggest checking out some of the sign making user forums as well. Signs 101 is great, but restricted to pros who make their livelihood in the biz, although they do seem to tolerate other trades that are peripherally related, just not hobbyists.

Your understanding is correct, CorelDraw is excellent for creating designs but it can only output to a device (printer, plotter, cutter, etc.) if that device has a driver installed on the computer. And yes, most ouput devices have proprietary RIPs (Raster Image Processors) that are written by the manufacturer of the device.

 

[paulroy]

@jonny round boy

On my Graphtec CE3000 MK2 I use the Cutting Master plugin software that you still can download from their website under the LEGACY model section called "CUTTING MASTER"

I utilize Adobe Illustrator as the program to create the vector files. When your reading to cut the files you sent it to Cutting Master just like hitting print (brings up the plugin in Illustrator. Illustrator as a whole is pretty easy to learn for basic stuff but is a bit expensive. If you can find a copy for cheap maybe used it would likely be the best solution. The software plugin works for either mac or windows boxes. It says it also works for CorelDraw.