BlackCat Cutter stopped working

Sheila130

Help! My black cat cougar 2012 stopped cutting, its acts like its not receiving the cut file. Was working just the week before as I cut some Alice in Wonderland stencils, some with some great detail in them. I went to use it the other day and nothing. I know the BR is set at 38400 on software and machine.  I feel it has something windows 10, but I was using Window 10  during my last cut, so I am not sure. I have also tried using the laptop vs the desktop and get the same response ( both are using Windows 10, I called to see about getting it serviced but was told that most likely not repairable, its just hard for me to believe it was working great then just stopped.   

SandyMcC

It sounds like a Windows 10 update is the cause... mainly because it's happened to quite a few of the KNK owners, including me.  Unplug the cutter from your computer and go to this link and, on the right side column of the table, click on the words "setup executable".  Download and install that driver. Then reboot Windows... wait wait wait.  Once Windows is fully up, plug in your cutter and it should get installed again with this driver. The COM Port should still be the same but definitely check it under Device Manager's Ports folder if you cannot get it to start cutting again.

http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/D2XX.htm

HappyCrafter

I believe the BR should be set at 28400.  Anyway, that is where mine is set.

SandyMcC

No, it's definitely 38400.    Actually, as long as the software matches the cutter, it doesn't matter which one you pick. 

HappyCrafter

I stand corrected.  You are so right.     Thank you.  No excuse--but it was kinda early in the am for me to be answering any questions.

honeyku42

You should try to revert the recent window 10 update or try to use another pc to know exact location of problem I mean wheather in the machine or in the PC.

Sheila130

Thanks for the replies, I tried the download link that Sandy Mcc provided it did not work, any recommendations on a new cutter?

SandyMcC

What kinds of materials do you like to cut? What applications do you need (such as Print and Cut or ability to use a scoring device, etc)?  What did you like most about your BC? Are you wanting to continue using MTC? 

Meanwhile, I don't like seeing you give up on your BC.  Who is your original dealer? That's normally where one would go for assistance. 

Crazy_Mr_Zing

Sheila130 said:

Thanks for the replies, I tried the download link that Sandy Mcc provided it did not work, any recommendations on a new cutter?

Do you mean the link did work or installing the file didn't resolve the issue
Sometime windows can block driver installs
with the ftdi  exe file you may need to right click on the file and select run as
administrator

I thinking it this is a result of the latest huge windows update other blackcat users would also be having issues is there any mention on their forums ?

I don't much about the intricacies of the blackcat ? would it worth trying the SCAL just to see if it can communicate with the cutter  ?

Crazy_Mr_Zing

Maybe @MeFlick can assist I see she has been partaking in a discussion on http://forum.silverbulletcutters.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6186

Sheila130

Ok, now that the holidays are over, I rang in my new year trying once again to get this Blackcat Cougar working.  I have tired it on Several PC with windows 10  I also find my old PC's and Laptop one with Xp and one with Windows 7 on it. ALL the PC come back with an USB Device not Recognized  I have tried several Print cables on all PC's and even purchased a serial to USB cable to see it that the printer plug on the BC was bad. I downloaded on all the PC's the http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/D2XX.htm. Still no luck. I have tried not MTC and Sure Cuts alot.  So don't know what else to do, I will see if I can touch base with the retailer I purchased it from , but thinking it will be pointless since it is out of warranty  Thanks for all the help, I did try to drill down all the advise give to me.  I am not aware of a place to send them to get repaired. I did talk with silver bullet and they said it could be the printer port on the cutter, but they are not carrying the replacement parts anymore  and or the ones they have will most like not fit my machine, due to age and possibly where it was purchased from. Its a shame that you pay a lot for something and that is no part or service available any more. Even though this was a Christmas Gift in 2013 so its officially 5 yrs old. I was asked what I like to do the most with it, and I guess what I like is the  vinyl, and card stock cutting  part of it, I love making stencils for sand etching/painting. I think that I think I would be advancing into  the Print and Cut or ability, and fabric cutting, we did just get a Lazer cutter,  and learned that it does not cut vinyl  so I have to find a workaround for that or get a new cutter.  I have rambled on here enough, I guess that one glass of wine to ring in the new year has done it! Anyways Happy
 New Year.  

samale

Was this a Sherrie and Dawn Blackcat or a Collin Blackcat ?
Or from before all that drama
If the latter I read somewhere he maybe connected with this webpage in the UK
https://www.robocutters.co.uk/

SandyMcC

When you tested the serial-to-usb converter did you buy one that specifically said it was for RS232? Also, did you use it by itself to connect or did you connect it to the serial cable and have the serial cable connected to the cutter?  It's important to do the latter.  Just using the converter by itself will not work.  

Sheila130

Yes it is an RS232, I actually did it the other way since none of my computers has a That 9 pin port. So I have the usb end to the PC and the other serial end to my BC cutter.

Sheila130

You know I am not sure who my husband brought from, I think it was Nikki from  KY , as I understand it, we some how got wrapped up in the middle of the drama , as unbeknownst to us as the consumer and my husband just wanting to get me a nice cutter for a Christmas present.

Sheila130

Also just to correct a typo error, I have tried using both Sure cuts a lot Professional  and MTC software

SandyMcC

Sheila130 said:

Yes it is an RS232, I actually did it the other way since none of my computers has a That 9 pin port. So I have the usb end to the PC and the other serial end to my BC cutter.

Just to clarify, this is how you hook it up: 

(1) Serial cable that came with your cutter connects to the cutter. 

(2) The 9 pin end of the RS232 converter connects to the end of the serial cable.

(3) Then the USB end of the converter hooks to the computer.

Is that how you connected it?  Lots of owners will NOT use their original serial cable because they assume the converter can be used alone.  But it doesn't work that way.