Need Help with Print & Cut (MTC + Zing) Registration Mark Alignment (wrong corner)

Hi all,

I'm working through the Print and Cut Calibration for my Zing. I'm following the manual and have printed out the arrow (facing to the right), aligned the laser to the bottom right corner of my paper and clicked 'Cut Project'. It is my understanding that the Zing should then align itself somewhere near the upper right registration mark. Mine is not. The blade/laser is aligning near the lower left registration mark. Can someone tell me what I've done wrong? And does this really matter?

Thanks so much!
-Jan

Paperthreads

Check the orientation of the paper on your virtual mat, it needs to match what you are feeding into the machine.

J.T.

Thanks for the reply! I did check and the orientation does match. I ended up manually moving the laser to align with the proper registration mark using the arrows and was able to work with the print and cut calibration that way but I'd still like to try and figure out what I may have done wrong.

J.T.

Another question: I did a print and cut of the Lettering Delights 'Weather Girl'. The overall cut is pretty good - I have no white edges around the top and upper sides of the girl but have white edges in the 'corners' where her hair and mittens meet and where her mittens and dress and dress and legs meet.

Anyone have any ideas?

ImaCutter

I am just trying to offer an idea. If you retrace the image and do a higher sampling on the image, it should trace in tighter. Rob from scrappy dew posted a tutorial on here that addresses that issue. It might be worth a try if you are trying to get super tight.

J.T.

Thanks, ImaCutter! As it turns out, after doing a couple more cuts I figured out why I was getting the white 'corners'. I had forgotten to set the blade offset first before starting to cut. Just tried a cut after setting the offset and it was perfect :D.

Now if I can just figure out why the laser heads to the wrong reg. mark I will be a very happy camper :).

SandyMcC

I'll help you with that. First of all, is your Virtual Mat in Landscape or Portrait mode?

J.T.

Thanks, Sandy!

I'm working in Portrait mode.

SandyMcC

Okay... So, then your printout also goes on your mat in Portrait mode, so that when you are facing the ZIng, you see the printout the same way as you see it on the Virtual Mat in MTC, right?

And did you change your Virtual Mat dimensions to match the printout? Or are you doing it the other way where you place the printout in a location on the mat to match the screen and then set the origin in the corner of the mat, versus the corner of the printout?

J.T.

Right. I selected Portrait mode for my MTC mat as well as my printer. I placed the paper in the same area of the mat as my design (didn't know if PNC cut in WYSIWYG or Knife mode so I figured I be safe either way). I had an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper (with the print out and reg marks in the upper left quadrant) so I selected a 'custom mat' set to that size and set the initial origin in the bottom right corner of the piece of paper when I placed it on the mat.

ImaCutter

Since this is a print and cut thread, I thought I would mention that a couple time I wasn't able to move my laser. When I got to the third mark and pressed the arrow key once (it was and up or down button) the laser hear would move like 20 or 30 spaces and then not respond. I know this is more of a software issue. I kept trying several times. I was within range of the cutting area too. I ended up moving the image further right on the mat and I could finally access the last point. I always use portrait mode.

SandyMcC

J.T. said:

Right. I selected Portrait mode for my MTC mat as well as my printer. I placed the paper in the same area of the mat as my design (didn't know if PNC cut in WYSIWYG or Knife mode so I figured I be safe either way). I had an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper (with the print out and reg marks in the upper left quadrant) so I selected a 'custom mat' set to that size and set the initial origin in the bottom right corner of the piece of paper when I placed it on the mat.

Everything sounds exactly like how I do it. I can't imagine what would be going wrong with this.

The PNC is more of a WYSIWYG kind of operation since the image cuts where it is located on the screen versus being moved to the origin for cutting. Also, you use the laser light to set the origin in the bottom right corner.

Maybe we can go over this by phone where we can both do it at the same time and verify every step? I'll PM you.

mellywood

I have read and reread the manual and multiple print and cut threads and I have no idae why my print and cut is off by a few mm. I have the laser lined up with the bottom of my paper, I have gone over the registration marks and I can not get it perfect. I'm using the arrow as suggested and the pen. The shape is perfect but it is not cutting along the line. Printing in portrait mode, it's driving me crazy!

SandyMcC

Are you tweaking the Laser Offset numbers to adjust your PNC? Each Zing's laser is positioned in a slightly different position from the next Zing. So, you need to adjust the X and Y values as shown in Chapter 9.

mellywood

Hi Sandy, Thanks and I am now in the process of trying this (between 2 sick kids which may be adding to my frustrations) I am starting the "draw a square" process. I can say nothing has made me feel so stupid but I am persisting because I am so excited for what I can potentially do. :)

SandyMcC

Feel free to email me at smccauley45@cox.net and I can help you personally. We can talk by phone, also. The PNC works GREAT on the Zing... but you do need your laser calibrated. Since you have 2 sick children, you could definitely benefit from some quick help! I remember what that's like!

DarleneI

I think I read somewhere to pick a time to calibrate and PNC with no outside distractions and after a good night's sleep. I want to know when that is? I am just kidding Mellywood. There is never a time like that. I have my PNC down to the teeeeeniest sliver of white showing and just sometimes. I figure that's why I have all these inks and chalks. I am having so much fun with my Zing. You will get it going. Darlene

mellywood

Thanks again Sandy, @Darnel, I am a fulltime working mother of 5 with ages between 14 years down to 8 months - I wouldn't know what distraction free looks like :) I bought the Zing from Fred in November and I have really only used it now I am home looking after the sick babies, between their naps. I think hubby may need to take them all out for a movie so I can play freely.

SkatKatz

@mellywood,
as Sandy says, sounds like you are on the right track, just sound like the calibration offset (x,y) is slightly off. You can call or email me direct for more help.
Happy cutting
Fred
www.skatkatz.com.au

Desert_Designs

ImaCutter said:

Since this is a print and cut thread, I thought I would mention that a couple time I wasn't able to move my laser. When I got to the third mark and pressed the arrow key once (it was and up or down button) the laser hear would move like 20 or 30 spaces and then not respond. I know this is more of a software issue. I kept trying several times. I was within range of the cutting area too. I ended up moving the image further right on the mat and I could finally access the last point. I always use portrait mode.

I'm having this problem too.

SandyMcC

Were you able to successfully do some PNC's? Or has it done this all along?