Vinyl Cutter

Creator: omegix Status: Purchased, Setting Up Born On: 17:35, 15 October 2012 (CDT) Last Updated: 22:10, 10 January 2022 (CDT)

Overview

This page will eventually be the home of instructions, information, settings, and tips and tricks for using the vinyl cutter. Right now this is just a fundraising page for buying a vinyl cutter for the shop. List your contribution and if you know of a good vinyl cutter, add it for consideration!

Contributors

1. Omegix, $45 - PAID (SELF)
2. Ramgarden, $50
3. TylerCrumpton, $50 - PAID
4. Enabrintain, $50, - PAID
5. DanNeilson, $20 - PAID
6. Barbara, $30 - PAID
7. CrashCart, $25
8. Daniel Valdez, $20 - PAID
9. Random Donation - $10

Totals $175 + $50(iff 871) + $75(at$300cutter) = $300 for the MH-871 + TBD?

About Vinyl Cutter

• USCutter MH-871, 34"

Status

• Unpacked, needs to be setup Done!
• Mini-class on using the vinyl cutter and related software Done! (But ask tylercrumpton if you missed out on the first one)
• Control computer is up and running.
  • Dual boots linux/windows.
  • Has localplot, inkscape installed.
• Computer and cutter are located in the upstairs loft, between hackables and craft table.
• First vinyl order will most likely be made on Friday, November 30, 2012.
  • Put your name down on the Vinyl Cutter/Vinyl Consumables page if you want in on the order!

Consumables and Materials

Please see the Vinyl Cutter/Vinyl Consumables page for more information on group orders, and usage of the materials.

localplot

The shop now has a small HPGL plotting program called localplot. Documentation is hosted on github.

Cutting manually from Linux

Need: A USB to Serial adapter.

For our purposes, I'm referring to this USB->Serial device as /dev/ttyUSB0

Install Inkscape and InkCut v1.0

Tell InkCut to output to file, not printer or serial. When you click "Plot" it'll bring up a window where you can copy all of the raw plotting commands. Copy them, and then paste them into a screen session:

screen /dev/ttyUSB0 9600

The system will cut the vinyl, and you can close the screen session.

Links:

• http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1512795
• http://forum.uscutter.com/index.php?/topic/50123-mh-871-mk2-acting-up/
• http://sourceforge.net/p/inkcut/discussion/1160772/thread/d44a1211/
• http://inkcut.sourceforge.net/
• http://libregraphicsworld.org/blog/entry/vinyl-cutting-on-linux-the-real-deal

Interesting links

• using a vinyl cutter to make pcbs
• more sexy pbc links
• Tutorial on how to use a US Cutter from maker Nexus