B grade cameo @ £200

[GoldRapt]

Well, I have been playing with the cameo and it is a great little machine, tons better than my craft robo.
However there is one thing that's wrong with it..............ME !!
As a test cut I decided on a simple Dakar image to test the trace with a print and cut with no reg marks.
I was previously told by Harry at E.Mathias never to use the cameo without the cutting blade to prolong the life of the blade.
I used normal printer paper, the cheapo stuff from ASDA and printed out the piece.
I put it on the brand new cutting mat and the first thing the machine told me was that the rollers where in the wrong place.
The instruction book told me how to move them by twisting but I can't manage to unlock it, probably cos I am scared to break it.
Then I realised that i hadn't put the mat in properly, so I got it to cut, i used the settings suggested: Blade 1 and thickness and speed preset by the software.
Taking the cut out, the first thing I realise is that the paper is STUCK....Bad. The cut needs to be tighter and that's my fault by not getting the offset quite right or not using the reg marks and eyeballing the line up.
The cutting mat, well that's screwed with the reside of paper left behind and I notice the blade scored the mat so the software thickness setting might not be quite so reliable.
I use a razor blade to clean up the mat and then washed it so it can be used again but I am wary of putting paper straight onto it.
Here is a picture of the test cut.
Does anyone use the cameo without the cutting mat when using something like paper lease? I imagine vinyl, being on waxed paper doesn't stick.
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[NikGrey]

I had to get rid of the glue and now I use tape to hold the paper in place when cutting. my mat is also scored all over the place but it doesnt really matter.

The thing you need to watch if you dont use a mat (which I did in testing) is that you dont cut the little strip under where the blade travels as if you do you will notice where it has been damaged when cutting as there will be a dip - and you might notice that the material has not been cut in that particular spot.

[GoldRapt]

Yes, that was the point Harry was making so I will have to find a work around for plain paper/water slide etc.