1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. US Cutter Manuals
  4. Cutter
  5. LaserPoint
  6. User manual

US Cutter LaserPoint User Manual

Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the LaserPoint and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Related Manuals for US Cutter LaserPoint

Summary of Contents for US Cutter LaserPoint

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Installing the Pen Carriage ............................15 Installing a New Blade ..............................17 Replacing a Worn Blade ............................. 18 Connecting the LaserPoint to a Computer ......................19 Install SignBlazer Software ............................20 Preparing the LaserPoint for Cutting ........................20 Step By Step Instructions ............................
  • Page 3 Contour Cutting ................................34 Specifications ................................46 Troubleshooting ................................. 47 - 2 -...

  • Page 4: Welcome

    This manual is here to help provide a starting point in the learning process of the LaserPoint cutter or to vinyl cutting in general. Please read it thoroughly and follow the steps carefully to help insure a trouble free experience with your new machine.

  • Page 5: Laserpoint Parts

    LaserPoint Parts Before you start cutting, you should familiarize yourself with the cutter and its basic parts and functions: Front View Control Panel Used to provide input directly to the cutter. Covered in detail in the “Control Panel” (page 6)section of this manual.

  • Page 6: Left Side View

    Left Side View Power Cable Used to connect the Connection cutter to a wall outlet or surge protector. Power Switch Turns the power of the cutter on(1) or off(0). Back View Pinch Roller Release Pinch Rollers can be released (either to be moved from side to side or to allow vinyl to be Lever(s) easily fed below them) by pressing down on the Release Levers.

  • Page 7: Control Panel

    Control Panel Control Panel Overview Display Screen Shows the current Mode/Status of the Cutter. Test Button Cuts a test square. On Line Button Toggles between On Line/Off Line modes Mode Button Cycles through the different adjustment modes of the cutter; Jog, Pressure setting, Test mode, Repeat mode, Cut Speed setting, X Axis scale compensation, Y Axis Scale compensation.
  • Page 8 First, to be able to use/adjust any of the functions from the cutter, it must be “Off Line”. When you first turn on the cutter you will see a short startup process followed by this display… Press the Button to enter Off Line Mode to access the Off Line functions. You will now see…...

  • Page 9: Jog Mode

    Jog Mode Jog Mode is used to position the vinyl and cutting blade. You can use the target button to reset the origin of the next cut to be made. You can also make a test cut to witness the current speed and pressure settings or check the blade depth while in the down cutting position.

  • Page 10: Pressure Setting Mode

    Pressure Setting Mode The Pressure Setting Mode is used to adjust the pressure of the cutting blade. Thicker materials can require more pressure. The pressure should be strong enough to fully cut the top vinyl but not strong enough to cut through the backing attached to your vinyl.

  • Page 11: Test Mode

    Test Mode Test Mode is used to create a test pattern that shows various cuts in a number of directions. Most simple tests (those to check the pressure and speed settings) can be done more efficiently by pressing and holding the Test Button from any of the other modes.

  • Page 12: Repeat Mode

    Repeat Mode Repeat Mode allows you to cut an exact duplicate of the last cut that was sent to your cutter. The number of repeats made can be selected with the Plus/Minus Buttons. When you are ready for the repeat cuts to be made, press the On Line Button.

  • Page 13: Cutting Speed Mode

    Cutting Speed Mode Cutting Speed Mode is used to adjust the speed of the cutter. Most cuts can be made at high speeds but if a problem is occurring where accuracy or detail is being lost in the cut, a slower cutting speed may solve the problem. Test Button Returns the cutter to Jog Mode (If held down, a test cut will be made).

  • Page 14: X/Y Axis Scale Compensation Modes

    X/Y Axis Scale Compensation Modes The X and Y Axis Scale Compensation Modes are used to correct problems when the cuts being made are not the same scale as they are intended. The X axis effects the size of cuts across the width of the vinyl while the Y axis effects the size of cuts along the length of the vinyl.

  • Page 15: Setting Up

    Setting up Selecting a Location for Your Cutter The first step to setting up a LaserPoint is finding a good location for the machine. Consider these factors when you are selecting a suitable place: The stand has a footprint of approximately 25” x 35”. If you intend on using the LaserPoint without the stand, you will need a desktop space of approximately 35”...

  • Page 16: Installing The Pen Carriage

    If you will be using your LaserPoint as a table top unit without a stand and would like to use the included table top rollers, please refer to the table top roller instructions.
  • Page 17 It may be easier to install the pen (or blade) carriage after the lid on the LaserPoint has been raised allowing more working room. To Replace the pen or spring inside of the Pen Carriage: Unscrew the top cap from the Pen carriage.

  • Page 18: Installing A New Blade

    Replace the carriage cap and screw into place. Once you are ready to make cuts with the LaserPoint you can attach the blade carriage. Installing a New Blade...

  • Page 19: Replacing A Worn Blade

    Loosen the locking knob on the Place Blade carriage (blade side Tighten the locking knob on the carriage arm. down) into the carriage arm. carriage arm. Replacing a Worn Blade First remove the blade carriage from the carriage arm, Unscrew the cap of Press up on the the blade carriage release button...

  • Page 20: Connecting The Laserpoint To A Computer

    Connect Serial Cable (first to the LaserPoint, then to the computer). Your LaserPoint setup is now complete and you are ready to move to the software installation section. If Using the USB Cable to connect the LaserPoint to a Computer: Connect the USB cable (first to the LaserPoint, then to the computer) If Windows automatically installs the needed drivers, your installation is complete proceed to “Finding your COM port”.

  • Page 21: Install Signblazer Software

    If you are going to be cutting from a roll of vinyl (or other material), and did not purchase a stand with your LaserPoint cutter, then you may want to use the included table top rollers to hold the roll. The table top rollers will work best if they are allowed to hang slightly over the edge of a table so that the hooks on the cutter side are allowed to fully connect with the cutter, increasing stability.
  • Page 22 Place the roll on top of the rollers (either the table top rollers: left image, or the stand rollers: right image) If using the stand, you can move the roller caps up against either side of the vinyl roll to keep the roll from shifting right or left during cutting.
  • Page 23 Adjust the pinch rollers from side to side so there is one roller on each side of the vinyl. Leave a gap of between ½-1 inch from the edge of the roller and the edge of the vinyl on both sides. Engage the Pinch Rollers by pulling up on the Pinch Roller Release Levers.
  • Page 24 If the LaserPoint is not already on, turn it on now Take the cutter Off Line and make sure it is in Jog Mode (If you are unsure of how to do this, please refer back to the Control Panel section of this manual).

  • Page 25: Step By Step Instructions

    Step By Step Instructions Starting SignBlazer Making sure that the USCutter LaserPoint is turned on and in On Line mode before starting the SignBlazer software will help avoid communication problems between the cutter and software. Open the SignBlazer Software (The Default location will be in the Programs Folders under “SignBlazer Elements for USCutter”).
  • Page 26 SignBlazer will attempt to download update files. If it fails, cancel the update process (By Pressing the Cancel button on the error window and then the OK on the confirmation window) and the program will start regularly. - 25 -...

  • Page 27: Making A Simple Cut In Signblazer

    We will be working in Trial Mode. Select “Trial Mode” from the following screen, then select “Yes” from the confirmation window. Now SignBlazer is open and you are looking at the main SignBlazer screen. Making a Simple Cut in SignBlazer You can create images from scratch using the various tools in SignBlazer.
  • Page 28 Select the Square tool at the top of the window. Now draw a square by clicking first in the main And then moving the mouse to determine the size window… of the square desired, and clicking a second time. Now to cut this simple shape from the cutter: Select Cutter from the top selection menu.
  • Page 29 Please make sure that your cutter is turned on and in On Line mode before proceeding. Also make sure that you have vinyl (or another cuttable material) in the cutter and ready to go by following the steps in the “Preparing the LaserPoint for Cutting”...

  • Page 30: Importing

    And then pressing “Cut Tile” in the Cut Tile window: When you are finished, you can go back to the main SignBlazer screen by pressing the Finish button in the top selection menu. Importing Drawing images from scratch in SignBlazer may prove to be somewhat different than imaging software that you are more familiar with.
  • Page 31 Images imported via Clipboard Paste may not retain the same dimensions that they held in another software program. Using the Import Function You can import an image that has been saved from another program by first selecting Import from the File drop down menu: Then navigate to the saved file by using the Folder and Drives menus: - 30 -...

  • Page 32: Cutting From An Imported File

    Then Select the image to import, And select the OK button. If you are having trouble locating your file, make sure that the file type is selected from the “List Files of Type”, or “All Graphic Files” is selected. Cutting From an Imported File If the file imported is already a vector image then it is now ready to cut or be further edited within SignBlazer.
  • Page 33 With the image selected, select “Monochrome – 1 bit” from the Mode section of the Image drop down menu. Sometimes an imported image will already be in monochrome but will still need to be vectorized before being cut. If the image imported is monochrome than you can skip ahead to the "vectorise"...
  • Page 34 Since we chose an image with good contrast and separation for our example this process will be easy. We simply check that our image to be cut shows up in light grey or black and that there is no areas of the background or other parts of the image that are unnecessarily included.

  • Page 35: Contour Cutting

    You are now left with 1 monochrome image and 1 vectorized image. This may be difficult to see as they are probably layered directly on top of one another. If you grab one image and drag it you will see the other image left behind.
  • Page 36 After making your changes, you can confirm them by pressing the OK button. Import an Image First import an image using the same steps as the “Importing” section of this manual. Preparing the Image Once we have an image imported we will need to use it to create a cutting mask that will be the same size and dimensions of our printed image.
  • Page 37 We can now convert one of the images to a vector graphic while leaving the original image, with fine detail, unedited. Making sure that you have one of the duplicate images selected, choose “Monochrome – 1bit” from the Mode section of the Image drop down menu. Since there are many light areas in this image that we want to be included in the vector image…...
  • Page 38 Now we will vectorize the monochrome image by selecting Vectorise from the Image drop down menu. Since converting from a monochrome image to a vector ends with two images (the original monochrome does not go away), you will be left with three images total (though it may be hard to tell as they are all sitting directly on top of one another).
  • Page 39 The next goal is to get the vector image and the raster image exactly on top of one another. The cut is going to be made around the vector image no matter where it lies so we want it to be placed directly on top of the image to be printed.
  • Page 40 This will allow you to see the cut mask that borders the printed image and also help you align them more precisely. Now all of the images are ready. We will print the image with registration marks that will allow us to get the printed image lined up in the cutter so that the cut line falls around the printed image, just as it does on the screen display in SignBlazer.
  • Page 41 We need to add registration marks to the printed image. To do so, select “Regist.” from the top menu boxes. You will need to add registration marks on both the left and right sides of the bottom edge of the printed image.
  • Page 42 This will bring you to the Print Setup window. The default options should be sufficient for this demonstration, but you can make changes here if you need to on future projects. You can access your common print setup window by pressing the Printer Configure button (to select a printer from your network, or to adjust print quality).
  • Page 43 SignBlazer screen. Follow the steps from the “Preparing the LaserPoint for Cutting” (page 20) section of this manual to get your media loaded into your cutter and ready to cut. Make sure that the registration marks are aligned at the left and right sides of the bottom edge of the print just as they were on the print screen of the SignBlazer software.
  • Page 44 The Cut A Print screen will look very similar to the main screen of the SignBlazer software, but will have a few different menus and options. No changes need to be made here, so we will go directly to the Cut window by pressing the Cut button from the top menu boxes.
  • Page 45 You are telling the cutter where exactly the image falls by letting it “see” where the registration marks lay. You will move the laser until it falls in the center of the registration marks, first on the right registration mark, then the left. You can either click the on screen arrows or use the numeric key pad on your keyboard to move the cutting blade, laser, and rollers to adjust where your print will start.
  • Page 46 Press Cut to make the cut. To exit the Cut window, click cancel. Then to return to the main SignBlazer screen, press the Finish button from the top menu boxes. - 45 -...

  • Page 47: Specifications

    Specifications LaserPoint Release Date October, 2007 Controller 16 bit CPU Control Panel 2x8 LCD 13 button thin-film keyboard Driver: High stepping motor, micro-step driver Maximum Paper Feed Width 28.74 inches (730mm) - 24 inch model 39.37 inches (1000mm) - 36 inch model 51.18 inches (1300mm) - 48 inch model...

  • Page 48: Troubleshooting

    The Laser is not emitting light. If the laser is not lit while the power of the LaserPoint is on, then there may be a defect with the laser. Contact USCutter for laser replacement options.
  • Page 49 Power issues can be a result of a faulty or damaged power cord. on when the Power Button is Try another cord on the LaserPoint or test the power cord with placed in the on another device to verify that the power cord is working properly.

Table of Contents