Vinyl Tracking Solution.

[NikGrey]

Recently I have had some long jobs to cut (over 1.5 meters) and had terrible trouble with Tracking - when running the vinyl back and forth a few times in order for the vinyl to find its natural path everything is fine but when I actually started cutting then things went on the 'Piss' and ruined my vinyl a few times... One was over 2 meters of Silver Etch - (expensive mistake).

SO, I took action and came up with a couple of guides.
These are made from the straps of those Orange Bags from AWD which were being given away at the last P&P show - the right hand one is held in place using the screws on the bottom of the cutter AND Masking tape to keep it in place.

The left One is on top of double sided tape.

Just an idea for those who may be having similar problems with these Chinese cutters:

http://nikgrey.com/DSF/plotter/plotter-tracking-3.png

http://nikgrey.com/DSF/plotter/plotter-tracking-2.png

http://nikgrey.com/DSF/plotter/plotter-tracking-1.png

[Quinsfan]

Looks good Nik, are you saying that once you start cutting the vinyl stays within the guides and cuts beautifully.

[NikGrey]

Yes, this system has been working for me so-far :)

[arko]

I had the same trouble with my cutter when it was new and someone recommended tightening the spring retainer screws at the back, which I did, and then had no more trouble.

[mrs maggot]

i have put a couple more of the guides on one of mine, from an old broken machine, that helps, and as arko says regular tightening of the retaining screws helps as well, but the biggest help when cutting large vinyl rolls, is to make sure you have the vinyl roll held in the holder right, as if thats slightly wonkey it will affect the pull through