I am having issues cutting out the Mickey Mouse Ears. I can't get 2 clean cuts to save my life. I have tried resticking the mat, adjusting the knife blades. I have gone thru at least 30 sheets of paper. I have attached what the cut looks like.
New Zing Orbit user. Using MTC since 2008. Learning SCAL Previous Cricut and Silhouette owner.
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Cutting with 18" Silver Bullet and a KNK Force (the rest are collecting dust!)
Cutting with KNK Force, Maxx Air, Zing Orbit, Skycut C and D
Over 90 free MTC videos: http://www.iloveknk.com/support/mtc-support/
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I can't scratch them away.
If the blade is cutting deep into the mat, lessen the blade exposure by, say, a quarter of a turn counter-clockwise and cut again. You can do this without removing the blade holder from the ZO. Leave the pressure the same, just lessen the blade. If it still cuts so deep you cannot remove the cut lines by scratching, then decrease more. If the cut isn't complete then turn the blade holder back about 1/8 turn clockwise. This is a great way to hone in on the perfect amount to cut cleanly but not leave a deep cut which will result in tearing, dulling your blade sooner than needed, and cutting up your mat.
Cutting with KNK Force, Maxx Air, Zing Orbit, Skycut C and D
Over 90 free MTC videos: http://www.iloveknk.com/support/mtc-support/
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I have tried your suggestions, I have increased the pressure to 100 and this is all of my tries (see below).
I have made so many adjustments, I don't know what is what. Either it tears or it doesn't cut through.
I need to cut these 100 ears for invites and I can't cut one decent file. I even got out my Silhouette Cameo and the cut lines were perfect but the blade assembly is not moving well. One of the reasons I upgraded to the Zing.
I was the one in tears with trying to get ZO to work on wifi (which you helped) however because of our 5g needs I can't use the bluetooth.
I am thinking I just need a new blade, but I don't have time to order, I need to get these invites done this weekend.
Sorry for the vent.
It could be the blade...but as you mentioned not enough time to get one ordered in. You could try slowing the speed, ensure the blade tip is not more exposed than it should it as per Sandy's post, and try doing 2-3 passes instead of all in one pass.
I have two types of paper a textured similar to Bazzell. However, I am also using a plain cardstock from Michaels.
I am still trying and I am getting some cleaner cuts with the plain cardstock however they are not going through.
a brayer helps ensure you material is cut well
a rolling pin will suffice
I found some material just don't cut well I learnt the hard way not to buy a huge supply before find out if it plays nice
One of the setting that users of less powerful machines like the cameo or cricut find a challenge to understand and master when they move to machine like the zing is blade exposure
Paper Modellers I Revere Marc Hagan-Guirey ----- Yoshinobu Miyamoto ----- Peter Dahmen
Gallery ID #26944 ----- Link to My Cloud Have a Look your Welcome to Make Use of the Files
Thanks for your response. I have done all of the suggestions. I do understand when you talk about the blade exposure. I have done the folding paper, watched the video. I have to say at this point I really don't think that it is user error. I know there is a learning curve, but the inconsistency even with different paper makes me question. When I get a decent cut, I don't change any settings and cut again and get different cuts. You can see that with one of the pictures.
@Liz_A
I did do that test and I am up to pressure 125! When I thought I could live with the test I tried cutting the ears again. You can see the top ear didn't even cut through and the bottom ear did with tearing.
I have been at this since 8 a.m this morning and it is now close to 4. It shouldn't be this difficult.
UK, Cameo, Serif Draw, Win10.
Link to My Craft Bazaar | Link to Skool | Force Bazaar - Archimedes
Feel free to use anything in these links.
I thought it was the black paper in general (although I have tried 2 different kinds) but I tried a different paper and it didn't cut. I have tried the slower speeds but it really doesn't seem to help.
@Liz_A
I will try the blue blade. I agree with you that I was adjusting too many things not able to hone in. I have since started from scratch. I cleaned the mat and let it dry, watched the blade height videos again and read the manual. Right now I can get the donut to cut clean around, but it doesn't cut through. When I change the blade height it tears. When I go back and change the pressure it tears. So the best I can do is get a clean cut not going all the way through.
I have been racking my brain then I realized since I bought this machine for Christmas I have only been cutting vinyl which only needs the kiss cut. This is my first project with paper.
I know there is a learning curve, but this is becoming a vertical line! I am so stubborn that I refuse to give up.
I will report back.
Thanks, you all are the best!
The blue blade worked! It only took 2 tries. See pixs
I used the 75 pressure 15 speed offset .30 for both cuts. However the first cut didn't cut out the donut hole. The second cut I used multi-cut 2 times, same settings.
The ears need to be cut 3 times, and I have to try to unsticky the mat as the ears don't want to come up and unfortunately I need both sides.
Any quick ideas for the unsticky? I am going to try the cotton flour towel again.
1. The red blade would not work, the blue blade did the job.
2. The paper is too fibrous. I rarely got the perfect cut, meaning that I just couldn't lift off the paper and my designs stay on the mat consistency. I have never used pressure as I as below!
3. The paper would not clean cut in the same spot sort of in the center of the paper.
I think the combination of those things were the reasons I couldn't seem to get the cuts.
The final settings:
Mulit-cut 8 times!
.40 blade offset
Pressure 121 and speed 15
Not sure what I am going to do with the Silhouette that I ordered! I was so worried about my timeline that I ordered a used machine from Amazon. I think I will try it to see how the paper cuts on that machine as it was cutting on my old Silhouette before it jammed. Thank goodness Amazon has a great return policy.
Thanks again for all your help. I hope this thread helps another ZO newbie.
Where do you live? Do have high humidity? I live in Alberta which is similar to AZ, very dry, so I rarely have issues with paper absorbing moisture...but I have seen what humidity can do to the paper! Yikes!
What brand is the paper? To be truthful, I have always disliked Bazzill paper with a passion for cutting, I think it's terrible. For the same texture, I prefer an 80# cover stock Neenah linen paper...that cuts like butter. Here is a colour and product list info.
https://www.neenahpaper.com/pdf_eps_files/stocklistguides/Classic_Linen.pdf
was the height your mounting the blade holder
Paper Modellers I Revere Marc Hagan-Guirey ----- Yoshinobu Miyamoto ----- Peter Dahmen
Gallery ID #26944 ----- Link to My Cloud Have a Look your Welcome to Make Use of the Files
UK, Cameo, Serif Draw, Win10.
Link to My Craft Bazaar | Link to Skool | Force Bazaar - Archimedes
Feel free to use anything in these links.
I was using the height of 15 post its as suggested in the manual.
@Di-lite
I was using Joann's textured cardstock at first. Then I switched to the Recollections from Michael's.
So my Cameo 3 arrived this morning and I was able to get a clean cut with the recommended cardstock settings on the first try no 8 passes.
Really? I was able to get the job done with hardly any hassles.
Maybe I should sell my ZO? Thoughts?
Its rather puzzling as from your photos the part that does cut appear to be cut quite smoothly ? and as there seem to be no pattern to where the cut fails I can only think the the material is not adhered well to the mat in those areas
but I think your may have already quashed that theory
Paper Modellers I Revere Marc Hagan-Guirey ----- Yoshinobu Miyamoto ----- Peter Dahmen
Gallery ID #26944 ----- Link to My Cloud Have a Look your Welcome to Make Use of the Files
Paper Modellers I Revere Marc Hagan-Guirey ----- Yoshinobu Miyamoto ----- Peter Dahmen
Gallery ID #26944 ----- Link to My Cloud Have a Look your Welcome to Make Use of the Files
Cutting with KNK Force, Maxx Air, Zing Orbit, Skycut C and D
Over 90 free MTC videos: http://www.iloveknk.com/support/mtc-support/
Latest MTC User Manuals: http://www.iloveknk.com/Support/user-manuals/
Cutting with KNK Force, Maxx Air, Zing Orbit, Skycut C and D
Over 90 free MTC videos: http://www.iloveknk.com/support/mtc-support/
Latest MTC User Manuals: http://www.iloveknk.com/Support/user-manuals/
@SandyMcC
That's a great idea comparing the 2 blade heights. The cardstock is 65#. It was the weirdest thing with all of the passes. It would cut without the 8 passes but it wasn't like butter. Meaning that the cut will sort of sit on the mat unattached from the rest of the paper. That wouldn't happen until all of those passes.
@Crazy_Mr_Zing
I think that the blade was damaged for sure. As I really have not had the cleanest cuts. Since I have been mainly cutting vinyl, a kiss cut is all that is needed so I didn't need it to cut through.
Cutting with KNK Force, Maxx Air, Zing Orbit, Skycut C and D
Over 90 free MTC videos: http://www.iloveknk.com/support/mtc-support/
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Places where the material is not stuck down well or les than other areas may not cut well or lift during the cut
Rinsing the mat under just water often will loosen this debris gentle rub those more stubborn areas with you finger
After the mat is dry if its no longer even sticky you may need to add more adhesive
Gauging stickiness it quite subjective and material / pattern dependant
General I try and aim for a stickiness that if I gently press my spread finger/thumb on the mat and then lift slowly the mat will follow but fall back down soon after
Paper Modellers I Revere Marc Hagan-Guirey ----- Yoshinobu Miyamoto ----- Peter Dahmen
Gallery ID #26944 ----- Link to My Cloud Have a Look your Welcome to Make Use of the Files
Yes I thought about that when I posted this picture. So I literally started from scratch. I cleaned the mat, took out the blade, reinserted the blade and did the blade height test. I tried to remove anything that could possibly be the problem.
I still had problems, but I did not have the tearing as shown above. My problem became the cut not going through.
It wasn't until I changed to the blue blade that I was able to get an ok cut.
I don't think it was the paper either because it cut like butter on the Silhouette.
I am going to retry with the same blade height as Sandy suggested when I get a chance.
I can probably rule out the paper as I had just purchased it so there wasn't any humidity issues.
I think it was a combo of things and thus making it hard to pin point. I do know the blade was problem number one, and an over sticky mat. Since the mat was so sticky I wasn't braying the paper because the cut was sticking messing up one side and I needed both sides for my project.
Anyway on to the next phase. I want to address the envelopes for the invites using Sharpie pens.
With the Sharpie pen, use at least 15 or 20 Post It notes so that there's no chance the tip of the pen will drag across the paper. Do some tests on scrap first. If you didn't buy the attachable tables, I recommend using a short box or stack or magazines/books or whatever to support the mat in the back so that it can't bow enough to cause the tip of the Sharpie to drag on the material. Again, does this make sense?
Cutting with KNK Force, Maxx Air, Zing Orbit, Skycut C and D
Over 90 free MTC videos: http://www.iloveknk.com/support/mtc-support/
Latest MTC User Manuals: http://www.iloveknk.com/Support/user-manuals/
Paper Modellers I Revere Marc Hagan-Guirey ----- Yoshinobu Miyamoto ----- Peter Dahmen
Gallery ID #26944 ----- Link to My Cloud Have a Look your Welcome to Make Use of the Files