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→Set up: Machine with vinyl
==Overview==
The [[GCC Jaguar VLX Vinyl Cutter]] is a 2.5D CNC (computer-numeric-controlled) subtractive manufacturing machine. It generally cuts vinyl sheets - which come in spools - but can also cut standard paper. A roll of sheet stock is placed within the bed of the machine and a small blade makes precise cuts into the material. Typically, this machine is used in conjunction with vinyl stock to make designs for use as stickers or t-shirt designs. The CAM software exclusively uses vector designs exclusively for cutting. To learn about what vector drawings are and how to create them, attend our Introduction to 2D CAD (with Inkscape) workshop. The remainder of this page is devoted to the proper and safe use of our vinyl cutting machine.
==Vinyl==
==CAM==
Once you have a vector design (which you learn how to do in [[Introduction to 2D CAD (with Inkscape)]], and you are ready to cut it, you must turn the design into a set of instructions that can be understood by the vinyl cutter. This is is the [[Computer-aided manufacturing|CAM]] step. The CAM software for the vinyl cutter is called '''GreatCut 4'''.
Your design must be in SVG format. The reason for this is because the CAD software only understands vectors. In order for the machine to properly cut your design, it needs precise mathematical equations to follow when cutting. For this reason, JPGs and PNGs will not work. The CAM software will also ignore any colors or stroke sizes in your SVG design. It only cares that there is a vector path in the design for the blade to follow.
#Turn on the machine - the power switch is on the left-hand side.
#Make sure the locking lever is up (i.e. released), and if it isn't pull it up. It is on the top right side of the machine.
#If there is already a spool of vinyl in the machine, spool it back up, tape the end down, and remove the two spool guidewheels by unscrewing the handgrips until they gently come pull out. Please Place the spool back with the rest of the stock.#Select the spool color of vinyl you would like to use.
#Attach the spool guidewheels to your selected spool and gently tighten them down until they no longer spin.
#Place the spool's guidewheels in the guidetracks behind the machine. You may need to readjust reposition them if the previous spool was of a different width; to do this so, gentlyloosen the white screws and move the guidetracks to the appropriate position and then retighten the screws.#Pull the end of the vinyl into the vinyl cutter, just past the long white stripe, to cover the sensor (located mid-right of platform). #Adjust the three pinch rollers as necessary to accommodate the vinyl size and then activate the locking lever by pressing down to lock the vinyl in place.##Make sure the pinch rollers align with the rollers on placethe bed & put the last roller in align with the end of the material#Size your material with the edge option (down arrow) for spools or single option (right arrow) for scrap pieces.
==Set up: CAM software==
#If you are cutting heat-transfer vinyl, you must '''mirror''' your design. (This can be done in the CAM or CAD software)
#Enter the `Cut Output` dialogue. (Icon that is shaped as a machine on the left sidebar or shortcut `S`)
#Select the appropriate material settings.
#Read in your material size.
#'''''Always preview the cuts before commanding the machine to cut them.''''' Check the design to be cut to verify its position, orientation, and check for accurate pathing. Note that the front of the machine is rendered as the left-hand side of the preview, i.e. the material will spool out from left to right in the preview, rather than from top to bottom.
==Cutting!==
#Cut your design!
Again, this can be accessed through the cut dialogue and pressing selecting the `Output` option from the window '''''(only after previewing your cut)''''' or selecting the Cut object icon (6th icon on left) or pressing enter on the keyboard from within the preview menu.
'''If you need to stop your job for any reason while it is in progress, pull the release lever at the back right of the machine to interrupt the current cut.'''
Once your design is finished cutting, check to make sure all the desired elements are there before releasing the lever. If everything is to your liking do the following:
#Pull the vinyl forward, so that your elements are all beyond the indented line to cut. (You can advance the vinyl by pressing the down arrow.)
#Use the white cutter located in the "vinyl tools" drawer or scissors to cut out your design.
#Roll the unused spool back up and put it back with the rest of the stock spools.
#Procede to [[Workshop: Introduction to 2D vector cutting with the GCC Jaguar VLX Vinyl Cutter#Weeding|Weeding]].
==Safety==
This machine is a well-designed CNC tool; some of its parts are relatively fragile.
*Always be careful when releasing and depressing the locking lever.
*Never put anything in the path of the gantry, especially while the machine is cutting.
*'''If anything breaks, immediately stop what you are doing and tell a Creative and Technical Specialist.'''
==Weeding==
[[File:Weeding image.png|alt=weeding adhesive vinyl|thumb|Weeding a design out of adhesive-backed vinyl on safety-mat!|253x253px]]
The vinyl cutter only cuts material so it will not create your envisioned design right away. For that, we need weeding. Weeding is the process in which you prepare your vinyl by removing material you do not want. In the end, you should arrive at something that closely resembles your SVG design. The tools necessary are located in the vinyl station drawer labeled `Vinyl Tools` as well as on the overhead station. The following are needed:
#Transfer paper (For adhesive backed vinyl).
[[File:Squeegee .png|alt=squeegee usage|thumb|Here is how to use the squeegee to smooth transfer paper onto a weeded design!|252x252px]]This process is the quite tedious and requires a bit of patience and precision. The weeder should be used to carefully puncture the vinyl and pull material away. The smaller and more intricate the design, the more careful you have to be to not peel up very tiny designs. After weeding, if using heat-transfer vinyl, follow the Heat Press instructions below. If using adhesive-back vinyl, use the transfer paper to transfer your design to the target surface. Cut out a piece of transfer paper about the size of your design. Peel apart the transfer paper and place the adhesive side on your design. Using the squeegee, smooth out any air bubbles. When ready to transfer the sticker to your target surface, peel the transfer paper and design off and place on surface; smooth with squeegee and remove transfer paper.
==Heat Press==
