Skycut EV24 with SignMaster Pro Manual
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Skycut EV24 with SignMaster Pro Manual

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Skycut EV24 with SignMaster Pro

August 25, 2022
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  • Page 1: Skycut Ev24 With Signmaster Pro

    Skycut EV24 with SignMaster Pro August 25, 2022 • Do NOT read this entire manual… unless you want to. But taking the time to familiarize yourself with the organization of the manual and the topics covered can assist you in finding the answers you might need.

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents SKYCUT EV24 WITH SIGNMASTER PRO ..............1 INTRODUCTION AND SETTING UP ......................4 1.0 Q ......................4 UICK EFERENCE FOR HAPTER 1.1 S ..............................4 UPPORT 1.2 S ..........................4 AFETY AND ARNINGS 1.3 W ..............................5 ARRANTY 1.4 U...
  • Page 3 3.2.1 Controlling Which Shapes Will Cut ....................35 3.2.2 Controlling Where Shapes Will Cut ....................41 3.2.3 Selecting the Tool to be Used for Cutting ..................43 3.2.4 Determining the Cut Settings......................44 3.3 C ............................45 ETTINGS 3.3.1 Force ............................... 46 3.3.2 Cut Speed and Up Speed ........................

  • Page 4: Introduction And Setting Up

    • If you run into difficulties with the operation of your Skycut, turn off the power and look for a solution in this manual. Note that Appendix A is a Troubleshooting section. If you continue to have technical questions or issues, please contact your dealer as soon as possible.

  • Page 5: Warranty

    Always turn off the Skycut before unplugging or removing the power cable from the wall outlet or power strip. • Unplug the Skycut from a wall outlet or power strip during an electrical storm or when the cutter will not be used for an extended period of time. •...

  • Page 6: Parts Of The Skycut

    1.6 Parts of the Skycut Front Control Panel Alignment Marker Pinch Wheel Right Left Blade Holder Seat Ruler Cutting Strip Grit Shafts Carriage (light gray and smooth) (dark gray and rough) • Alignment Markers: indicate to the user the available positions for the pinch wheels •...

  • Page 7: Front With Cover Open

    • USB Flash Drive Port: used to load PLT files via control panel for cutting • USB Port: option to connect computer to Skycut with included USB cable • Reset Button: used to reset Skycut’s cutting buffer (does not reset calibrations)

  • Page 8: Back

    EV24: Spring goes over the top of the pen insert and stops at a small ridge on the insert 1.7.3 Skycut Blades • There are three kinds of blades that fit inside a Skycut blade holder:...

  • Page 9: Blade Installation

    Blue Yellow  ° The 45 capped blade is suited for cutting thinner materials such as paper, all cardstock types, heat transfer vinyl, and wall/auto/decal vinyl.  ° The 60 blue capped blade is a much longer blade and is well-suited for cutting thicker materials, such as gum paste, craft plastic, craft foam, and rhinestone template material.

  • Page 10: Cutting Mat

    • Do not leave the pinch wheels in a down position when the Skycut isn’t in use. This warps the plastic sooner, shortening the useful life of the cutting mat. Cleaning and Replenishing the Cutting Mat •...

  • Page 11: Pinch Wheels

     With most repositionable adhesives, you can control the tackiness based on the amount applied. Thus, always add a little bit at a time. As mentioned above, if you add too much, just apply a layer or two of cotton fibers by pressing with a bath towel. •...

  • Page 12: Control Panel

    Pinch wheels are approx. the Middle two pinch wheels same distance from the are placed under 2 outside edges of the cutting and 4 white rectangles • Note that if your material is very wide, then it is fine to have the pinch wheels over the material. However, you may need to be extra careful when removing any cut shapes or waste material in those locations.

  • Page 13: Menu

    Skycut technical representative. 1.10 Maintenance Skycut machines do not require any kind of lubrication or routine checks. However, here are a few things to keep in mind for successful operation of your cutter: •...

  • Page 14: Other Useful Tools And Supplies

    1.11 Other Useful Tools and Supplies • The following list has items you may or may not need while enjoying your Skycut. These are suggestions based on twelve years of collecting information from other cutter owners: ...

  • Page 15: Signmaster

    Once you have purchased a registration for SignMaster, the software can be downloaded from the following link. It’s important to use this link so that the Skycut will be installed as the cutter of choice. You will need your Product Serial Number that was sent to you. Since you’ll also need this number every time you update the software, keep this number in a safe place.
  • Page 16 Read the agreement, click on the accept option and click on Next (6) Enter the Product Serial Number which should have been sent to you by email when you purchased SignMaster. Note that since you will need this same number any time you update the software, keep it in a safe place: Enter the 20-digit PSN provided when you...
  • Page 17 (8) Select your preferred Units but note that it can easily be switched once the software is open: Select preferred Units and click on Next (9) Select Skycut EV24 (or the model you have purchased) from the drop-down menu: Select Skycut EV24 and click on Next (10) In the next window, you’ll have the option to create a desktop icon and install a thumbnail previewer.

  • Page 18: Connecting The Skycut To Your Computer

    • Powering On:  Plug the power cord into a wall outlet or power strip. Connect the power cord to the Skycut on the left side end cap.  Turn on the power using the power button that is also on the left side end cap. After several seconds, the light inside the Skycut will turn on and the blade carriage will do a slight jog.

  • Page 19: Usb Connection

    Vinyl Spooler. In the window which opens, click on the Connection tab. • Verify that Skycut EV24 (or the model you have purchased) is selected under Current Cutter. If not, select it from the drop-down menu. Under Port Type, select Direct USB Port. In the drop-down menu next to USB Port, select an option that contains the word “skycut”:...

  • Page 20: Connecting The Ev24 To A Wi-Fi Network

    • If a USB Port option cannot be located, verify the connection at both the cutter and on the computer. Once connected, click on Done at the bottom of the window. 2.2.2 Connecting the EV24 to a Wi-Fi Network • For initial setup using the Wi-Fi option, you may need to place the cutter in the same room or in close proximity to the Wi-Fi router.
  • Page 21 Vinyl Spooler. In the window which opens, verify that Skycut EV24 is selected under Current Cutter. If not, select it from the drop-down menu. Under Port Type, select Windows...
  • Page 22 Default IP Address (11) Change the IP Address to the one you set up on the Skycut control panel. Click on Test. A Port OK message should pop up. If the test fails, confirm the IP Address you entered and try again. Additional troubleshooting for Wi-Fi connections can be found in Appendix A1.

  • Page 23: Usb Flash Drive

    With a USB Flash Drive connection, you will normally follow the steps presented in this section. If you are new to SignMaster and/or to your Skycut, it is recommended that you go to Section 2.3 now to learn how to insert the mat and test pen, adjust settings on the control panel, and set up a test design.
  • Page 24 Click on Done • IMPORTANT: For initial testing of your Skycut, it is highly recommended that the test pen be used until you know, with certainty, where shapes will draw. • Click on the Connection tab and verify that Skycut D24 is selected under Current Cutter. If not, select it from the drop-down menu.

  • Page 25: Loading And Cutting A .Plt File From The Usb Drive

    2.2.4 Loading and Cutting a .PLT File from the USB Drive • Insert the flash drive into the right endcap of the Skycut. • On the control panel, press the FS button and change the FORCE and SPEED settings if you did not elect...

  • Page 26: Test Draw Shapes

    • New owners tend to be VERY eager to try out their Skycut. It’s important to test your cutter to ensure that data is being sent properly from your computer to the cutter. The following sections will allow you to do some testing with the pen tool.
  • Page 27 • Use any of the horizontal markings at the front of the Skycut (such as the ruler) to align the mat so that it’s straight. Lower the pinch wheels in the back. Most of the mat and the paper should now be behind the cutter, not in the front.

  • Page 28: Test Drawing

    Drawing Area, change the Width or Height, if desired: Width and Height • At this point, if you plan to export this file to a USB flash drive, rather than cut directly to the Skycut from SignMaster, please go to Section 2.2.3 for instructions. •...
  • Page 29 Note where design will cut relative to where the blade holder is positioned Test pen is positioned in the lower right corner of the material before drawing • Before executing the cut/draw process, the Pen tool will be selected. Click on the Cutter Control tab and the following settings will be displayed: Click on the Cutter Control tab Open Blade Settings Library...
  • Page 30 (more about this setting is covered in Section 3.3.3): Blade Offset should now read 0.00 Pen Tool should now appear here • Click on Cut Now and the Skycut will draw the arrow on your paper: Feed the mat this direction into the Skycut The arrow is drawn at the origin and points to the right.
  • Page 31 • Cutting with this setting results in the arrow pointing downwards as shown in the prior preview window: Feed the mat this direction into the Skycut The arrow is drawn at the origin and points down • If you want the arrow to draw where you have it located on the Drawing Area in SignMaster’s main screen,...
  • Page 32 Arrow will now draw Check Absolute (position) in this location Test pen is still positioned in lower right corner of material before drawing • Set the origin in the lower right corner of the mat’s grid and then place the paper in the correct location on the mat to correspond to where the shape is positioned in SignMaster.

  • Page 33: Cutting

    IMPORTANT: Please read all of 3.1!!! 3.1.1 You Have To Make Mistakes • To be a successful owner of a Skycut, you need to keep in mind a few factors:  The key to becoming successful at cutting is to do a lot of it.

  • Page 34: Installing The Blade Holder, Test Pen, Or Accessory Tools

    The recommended method for loading the test pen or another accessory: Place the spacer on top of the material, with the material loaded into the Skycut. Loosen the screw on the blade holder seat and insert the tool so that the tip of the tool is touching...

  • Page 35: Perform Test Cuts

    You have two options: (1) Perform the built-in test cut on the Skycut itself using the TEST button on the control panel. (2) Select any basic shape and size it to be around 0.3” – 0.5” (~ 8 mm – 13 mm): I personally like using a design with an internal shape, such as a ring.
  • Page 36 Option 1: If no shapes are pre-selected, then all shapes will be sent to cut. However, if you pre-select, for example, only the “Skycut” and the arrow, then only those shapes will appear in the Send to be Cut Preview:...
  • Page 37 Only the circles and stars appear in Preview Mark boxes for circles and stars Click on OK Note that the icon at the top of the screen: will open a menu where you can then access the same Select by Color or Select by Type options: Click on the Select by icon ...
  • Page 38 Click this icon to Arrow will not cut turn off cutting Arrow is selected Arrow is no longer in Preview  Option 3: Cutting can be controlled by color from within the Send to be Cut window. Click on the Separate by Color option and a drop-down menu will appear: Mark the Separate by...
  • Page 39 Black is outlined here Black is selected in the drop-down menu The one black object is the only shape shown in the Preview Switching to blue changes the window accordingly: Blue is now outlined Blue is selected in the drop-down menu The two blue objects now appear in the...
  • Page 40 Enable Separate by Color Click on Spool All In the Vinyl Spooler window, the job will appear at the top and queueing of each color will begin. In this example, Red is at the top of the menu and the red shapes appear in the Preview. Click on Cut Now to cut those shapes.

  • Page 41: Controlling Where Shapes Will Cut

    Blue is queued for cutting. Or select Black, if desired. After the last color is completed, the job is moved to the Done folder and can be repeated at any time: 3.2.2 Controlling Where Shapes Will Cut • This was briefly covered in Section 2.3.2 where the Rotate and the Absolute (position) options were introduced.
  • Page 42  However, when you then send this project to the Preview window, you will observe that it is too wide to cut from left to right on your Skycut: Project is too wide to cut left-to-right The red lines and dimensions...

  • Page 43: Selecting The Tool To Be Used For Cutting

    Rotated project will now fit within the width of the machine The black lines and dimensions indicate the project can now be cut 3.2.3 Selecting the Tool to be Used for Cutting • To select the tool you’ll be using, open the Send to be Cut window, select the Cutter Control tab, and click on the Open Blade Settings Library icon: Click on this icon •...

  • Page 44: Determining The Cut Settings

    Select one of the options, such as 45 degree blade, and an image of the blade, its Blade Offset and Overcut settings will be displayed. These settings are assigned as a Preset: Color of cap on a Skycut 45° blade Presets for Blade Offset and Overcut •...

  • Page 45: Cut Settings

    Before presenting the various settings, note that the Force and Speed settings can be set on the control panel itself. In order to cut from SignMaster and use the settings on the Skycut, uncheck these boxes in either of the two places where the settings can be made: ...

  • Page 46: Force

    • As noted earlier, Force can be set on the Skycut control panel instead. Press the FS button and then set the FORCE to the desired level using the Y+ and Y- buttons. Conclude by pressing OK or the FS button again:...

  • Page 47: Blade Offset

    • On the Skycut control panel, there is only a single speed setting, thus the Up Speed and Cut Speed are the same and referred to as SPEED. This can be adjusted by pressing the FS button and then using the X- and X+ buttons alter the SPEED to the desired level.

  • Page 48: Overcut

    1. Select Calibration tab 4. After loading material and verifying cut settings on the Skycut, click here. 2. Click on Blade 3. Select either Normal Test Offset icon or Quick Test (note material requirements below)  In both tests, the instructions on the screen will guide you on how to enter the best result and then will display the recommended Blade Offset to use.
  • Page 49  Cutting rhinestone template material where a second pass results in much cleaner weeding of the cut circles • There are two different methods for setting Passes, depending on if you’re doing a regular cut or if you are utilizing Assign Tools by Color. ...

  • Page 50: Presets

    Set Quantity (number of Passes) 1. Enable Multi- 3. Click Apply 3.4 Presets • Presets allow you to save your settings for a particular blade type or material. 3.4.1 Saving a Preset for a Blade Type • Let’s say you conducted the calibration for Blade Offset in Section 3.3.3 and determined it to be 0.40 for your red capped blade.

  • Page 51: Saving A Preset For A Material

    Click on + Enter a new name  Click on OK and then select which blade type you are using for this new preset Enter the new Blade Offset and Overcut values. Then click Update: 1. Select type of blade 3.
  • Page 52 2.Click the + icon 1. Enter all 3.Enter a name 4.Click on OK desired settings • The new Preset will appear under Preset Mode with the saved settings displayed. Click on Done to close the Vinyl Spooler window or Edit Presets if you wish to add more at this time. Newly added Preset Preset settings...

  • Page 53: Setting The Origin Before Cutting

    • IMPORTANT! The Skycut EV24 has a maximum cutting width of 24 inches. If you move the head too far to the left to begin the cut and your project is wide, you may exceed the left side limit and cutting will stop at that point with no option but to abort.

  • Page 54: Weeding Options

    Before applying Mirror After applying Mirror 3.6.2 Weeding Options • For those cutting vinyl and HTV, the weeding options in SignMaster are worth noting.  Auto Weed-Box: Marking this option places a single weed box around the entire project: After applying Auto Weed-Box – blue Before applying Auto Weed-Box border around design indicates weed cut Note: to change the size/offset of the weed box around the design, click on the Settings tab and...

  • Page 55: Weld Text

    After applying Auto Speed-Weed – blue weed Before applying Auto Speed-Weed box plus horizonal weed cut in the middle  Easy-Lift Weed Marks: Marking this option adds hooked lines to shapes with internal paths to make it easier to lift with a weeding tool: After applying Easy-Lift Weed Marks –...

  • Page 56: Important Checklist Before You Cut

    3.7 Important Checklist Before You Cut! • Do you have your material on the mat and the mat inserted into the Skycut? (Note: materials with a backing sheet, such as vinyl and iron-on transfer do not require a mat for cutting) •...

  • Page 57: Scale Calibration

    • Before beginning this calibration, make sure the Scale setting on the Skycut itself is still set to 1.0 and 1.0. On the control panel, go to MENU>Scale. The following window opens where you can verify that the current X and Y Scale values are both set to 1.0000:...
  • Page 58  On the Skycut, load a sheet of paper and insert the test pen. Move the test pen to the lower right corner of the paper. Make sure you have proper settings for drawing and click on Cut Test to have the shape drawn.
  • Page 59  Write these measurements onto your sheet:  These values can now be entered into the same Width and Length fields, again adding “mm” after each number as shown: Enter actual Length Enter actual Width and and add “mm” add “mm” ...

  • Page 60: Scale Calibration Using Inches For Measurement

    Leave this checked for each repeated test  Once your test rectangle is drawing at the correct size, the calibration process is complete. 3.8.2 Scale Calibration Using Inches for Measurement • SignMaster has a built-in resolution routine which can be used to easily perform this calibration: ...
  • Page 61 Feed the mat this direction into the Skycut Width, X Height Y  Write these measurements onto your sheet:  Convert the measurements to decimals and enter these values into the same Width and Length fields. After entering each number, the scaling percentage is automatically calculated:...
  • Page 62  Click on Update and a prompt window will ask if you want to Apply Scale Adjustment. Click on Yes and you’ll be back in the Vinyl Spooler window. To verify the scaling, again click on Cutter Scale and repeat the same steps. Make sure you leave your new scale factors in place by having the following option marked: Leave this checked ...

  • Page 63: Test Cutting Flow Chart For The Skycut

    3.9 Test Cutting Flow Chart for the Skycut...

  • Page 64: Settings Form For Cutting Materials

    3.10 Settings Form for Cutting Materials Material Brand or Blade Material Blade Force Speed Other Comments Source Offset Passes © 2009- 2022 Sandy McCauley, All Rights Reserved...

  • Page 65: Suggested Settings For Various Materials

    3.11 Suggested Settings for Various Materials IMPORTANT: These settings should be used for the initial test cut only. Adjustments may be necessary based on the condition of the blade, variations in the material, humidity, condition of the cutting mat, blade tip height, etc.
  • Page 66 Material Type Material Brand/Source Blade Passes Force Speed Other Comments Tracing Paper Helix Vellum Paper Vinyl - Heat Transfer Siser EasySubli - with the mat Cut on the mat Siser Glitter - Gold - No cutting 2 passes makes it easier to weed, also slight Vinyl - Heat Transfer 35-40 scratch cut in the backing layer...

  • Page 67: Appendix A Troubleshooting Faq's

    A1 Communication Issues I cannot get the Skycut to power on. • Make sure the power cable is securely plugged into the Skycut’s port on the left side and securely plugged into a wall socket or a power strip. •...

  • Page 68: A2 Operating Issues

    Try a different USB cable. ____________________ A2 Operating Issues My mat is rotating when the Skycut starts to cut! • Two pinch wheels need to be gripping the mat. Move the mat either left or right so that it is under two outer pinch wheels and the pinch wheels are aligned under white arrows.

  • Page 69: A3 Cutting/Drawing Issues

    The Skycut stopped during a cut. • If the Skycut stops with the head over on the left side of the cutter, you have most likely exceeded the cutting range. Several things to consider:  Check the width (W) of your project (or the height H if in Landscape mode). It cannot exceed 24”.
  • Page 70 I’m drawing with a pen and there are bubbles at the corners. • For perfect corners when using a pen, go to the Send to be Cut window and select Pen Mode so that Blade Offset is set to 0. You do not need an offset for pens (or other tools like embossers and engravers).
  • Page 71 I am getting a lot of tearing in my cuts. • A number of things can cause tearing so work through this check list:  Too much blade is exposed. If you see cut lines in your mat or the backing sheet, shorten the blade exposure.

  • Page 72: Appendix B: Wireless Stand-Alone Connection

    A. The Skycut has never been set up wirelessly to a network • Power on the Skycut and wait for the light to come on. In the orange strip on the control panel, it should read either “Hi-Link” or “Cutter”, followed by some alphanumeric characters and then the IP Address: 192.168.16.254.
  • Page 73 • To reset the Skycut so that it will be found as an available network, press and hold the Default button for 3 seconds. Release and you should see then see the Apply button displaying Wait. In a minute the Apply should return and you can then proceed back to A and use the same procedure as if the Skycut was never set up on a network.

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