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Morgana ColorCut SC6500 Series Operating Instruction

Digital sheet die-cutter
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Doc no: T10227_EN_B
Date: 3 January 2024
Digital Sheet Die-cutter
ColorCut SC6500 Series
Read this manual carefully before you use this product and keep it handy for future
reference.
For safety, please follow the instructions in this manual.
Operating Instruction

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  • Page 1 Digital Sheet Die-cutter ColorCut SC6500 Series Operating Instruction Read this manual carefully before you use this product and keep it handy for future reference. For safety, please follow the instructions in this manual. Doc no: T10227_EN_B Date: 3 January 2024...
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  • Page 3 Introduction This manual contains instructions on the operation and maintenance of this machine. To get maximum versatil- ity from this machine all operators should carefully read and follow the instructions in this manual. Keep this manual in a handy place near the machine. Please read the Safety Information before using this machine.
  • Page 4 Safety Information When using this machine, the following safety precautions should always be followed. Safety during operation Warning: • To avoid hazardous situations like for instance electric shock or danger while exposed to moving, rotating or cutting devices, do not remove any covers, guards or screws other than those specified in this manual.
  • Page 5 General safety, continued Caution: • Always follow all warnings marked on, or supplied with, the equipment. • When you disconnect the power plug from the wall outlet, always pull the plug (not the cable). • Disconnect the power cord before you move the machine. While moving the machine, always exercise care and make sure that the power cord will not be damaged under the machine.
  • Page 6 General safety, continued Warning: PINCH/CRUSHING HAZARD! There are “Pinch Hazard” stickers on the SC6500 to remind the user to pay extra caution when the machine is running: • Do not ever put your hand under vacuum belt area while machine main switch is ON. Vacuum feed belt goes up and down.
  • Page 7 Safety measures Please read the information and safety measures carefully prior to initial operation of the unit. • Do not place any magnetic objects in the vicinity of the cutting head; otherwise uniform contact pressure may not be ensured. • Do not remove the connection cable to the computer while cutting is in progress. •...
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  • Page 9: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents What You Can Do With This Machine ....................11 Guide To Components ...........................16 User Interface ColorCut SC6500.....................18 ColorCut Pro Main Interface ......................23 1. Basics ......................35 Turning On / Off the Main Power ......................35 Launching ColorCut Pro .........................35 Direct Mode ............................36 Job Server Mode ..........................39 Cutter Blades (An overview of Blade types) ..................41 The Blade Holder ..........................42...
  • Page 10 2. Setting Up a Job ..................... 65 Graphics File Design - Creating Your Artwork ..................65 Layers..............................66 Drawing Cut, Perforated or Crease Lines .....................67 Line Colors recognised by ColorCut Pro ..................67 Registration Pagemarks ........................68 Positioning of Registration PageMARKs ..................69 Automatically Adding Registration PageMARKs ................72 Using ‘ColorCut Pro Add PageMARKs’...

  • Page 11: What You Can Do With This Machine

    What You Can Do With This Machine The SC6500 is a compact dual tool digital cutter offering a highly advanced and reliable high capacity (1000 sheets) auto-sheet feeder to cut and crease light sheet card (up to 350 micron), or labels, to any shape without any set up costs.
  • Page 12 To operate your ColorCut machine and set up processing jobs, you will need a computer. This manual provides an introduction to the ColorCut Pro Software Suite, which is used for creating files and controlling your cutter. Additionally, it outlines the hardware requirements for your workstation. Workstation Hardware Requirements Compatible Vector Programs Adobe Illustrator®...
  • Page 13 Introduction Introduction to ColorCut Pro Software To cut your projects with the ColorCut SC6500 cutter, you need to be able to design your artwork and then apply lines that you designate for cutting, creasing, scoring or perforating. Projects and artwork can be created using either Adobe Illustrator on Mac or PC, or CorelDRAW on PC.
  • Page 14 Intoduction, continued Where access to the original artwork files is not practical, such as where a different user wishes to cut the job, it is recommend jobs are created with a job number and/or QR code. Adding a Job Number will automatically add the Cut file to the ColorCut Pro Job library, thereby enabling the job to be cut using ColorCut Pro - Produc tion Studio software (detailed below), either on the directly by using the same computer or a different computer and also enables the job to be cut in held mode and stored on a USB drive within the cutter itself.
  • Page 15 ColorCut Pro for Mac Users Mac users can design and generate jobs on Mac workstations using ColorCut Pro’s Job library feature. NOTE: The main ColorCut Pro (Production Studio) cutting application is PC only, so Mac users can design their artwork on the Mac and use a PC to connect to the cutter for the cutting of the jobs. Please be aware whilst held mode files can only be created by the PC based ColorCut Pro (Production Studio) application, MAC users do need to be able to have access a PC for Directly cutting their files, (or access to a PC Windows environment within their MAC to run the ColorCut Production Studio software and create the HELD mode files.

  • Page 16: Guide To Components

    Guide To Components Tool Carriage Tool 1 Tool 2 Front ‘Dual Grip’ Roller Emergency Stop Switch Main Feed Roller Secondary Grip Roller 7’’ LCD Touch Panel Hard Keys Exit Tray Tag Reduction Plate Continued on next page...
  • Page 17 Guide To Components, continued Front Media Guides AirBlade Vacuum Pick Up Belt Power Switch Power Cable Socket Side Media Guides Rear Media Back Stop SD card USB Interface Connector Wi-Fi antenna Stacker Control Button Long Media Extension Plate...

  • Page 18: User Interface Colorcut Sc6500

    User Interface ColorCut SC6500 Off/Line ENTER The SC6500 rear side panel includes a large silver button which is the Feed Stacker control button. On the control panel there is a 7" Color LCD "Touch" LCD panel, with 6 hard buttons to help you make selections and change values to control the SC6500 cutter.
  • Page 19 User Interface ColorCut SC6500, continued Off/Line ENTER When the Home screen is displayed, the Speed and Force for the each tool on the tool carriage is displayed and can be adjusted. At the base of the touch screen is a tab control strip with several buttons and sub-menus. The tab key’s control the SC6500 light feature and access the move function, hold mode, fan settings, tools, and test functions.
  • Page 20 User Interface ColorCut SC6500, continued Feed Media The [Feed Media] button activates the feed function and the media on the feed platform is being passed through the cutter. Eject Media The [Feed Media] button changes to [Eject Media] when media is detected in the cutter. This can hap- pen if you cancel a job (or if you have sued the Feed Media button to load a sheet).
  • Page 21 User Interface ColorCut SC6500, continued Hold Mode The Held screen, allows you to cut jobs directly on the cutter without the need for your computer to be connected. There are 2 ways to start cutting. 1. Click the “Scan QR CODE” to automatically retrieve a QR code job stored in the QR-Held folder;...
  • Page 22 User Interface ColorCut SC6500, continued Menu - Settings & Options The Settings & Options Menu screen allows to per- form calibrations, or check and modify settings. Press the Menu Tab to select the Menu Set- tings & Options screen. In the Menu mode, the cutter status changes to [Off Line] and will no longer receive new cutting files.

  • Page 23: Colorcut Pro Main Interface

    ColorCut Pro Main Interface Job Preview Window ColorCut Pro Direct Mode ColorCut Pro Job Server Mode When launching ColorCut Pro in Direct mode a pre- When launching ColorCut Pro in Job Server mode view of the cutting profile on the selected layer will an information graphic will be displayed in the Job be shown in the Job Preview Window.
  • Page 24 Brightness/Illumination Control The Vision3 CCD camera sensor, includes a LED strip that illuminates the area being captured. With some types of media it may be necessary to increase or decrease the brightness of the illuminated area, particularly with porous substrates like rice paper, or reflective/foiled materials. Adjusting the slider [A] up, will increase the brightness, while adjusting the slide down will reduce it, same applies for exposure slider [B].
  • Page 25 Settings The Settings Button will display the Settings Window as shown below, which allows you adjust general settings such as knife offset, target scanning, units, etc. Productivity The [Productivity] Button will display the Productivity Window, required for setting the Media size loaded in the Auto-Sheet feeder and the default margin of the 1st PageMark (These are required for correct scanning of the PageMARKs &...
  • Page 26 Cut Settings ColorCut Pro displays a preview of the file to be cut in the Job Preview Window [A]. If the cut file contains dif- ferent line colors then each color is matched to one of the 8 primary colors that ColorCut Pro recognises (See section “Line Colors recognised by ColorCut Pro”).
  • Page 27 Actions You can create Actions for each process/task you wish the cutter to perform in Actions panel [A]. An Action is a profile consisting of the following saved settings being used: • Cutting Tool (Cutter, Crease, or Ignore) • Speed of Tool •...
  • Page 28 The Editing Action Window The Editing Action Window displays the parameters used for the Action selected. You can check,review and edit the settings to suit the action and any changes will be applied to the Action immediately on the next cut. Each Action, includes the following adjustable settings: •...
  • Page 29 Creating TAGs to hold elements in Using “Line Style” The SC6500 is an X-Axis cutter. This means during cutting the sheet is moved back and forwards. This type of cutter is common for label cutting as the backing sheet for the labels naturally holds the labels in place. When using the SC6500 for Die-Cutting (full cut through), applications, it is important to place TAGs in the cutting lines to hold the elements in the sheet to prevent them from falling out during cutting and causing an obstruction.
  • Page 30 Creating TAGs to hold elements in Using “Line Style”, continued 3. Select the new Media Type (“Tags 50 mm”) Ensure the “Tags 50 mm” Use Tool is set to Cut tool [B]. 4. Set the Line Style to “Dashed Line (Adjustable)”[C].
  • Page 31 Creating TAGs to hold elements in Using “Line Style”, continued 7. Repeat Step 2 to add another new . In next example we will add a “Tag 200 mm” for longer lines. 8. Use the [+] symbol under Actions to add a New Material Type and enter the name “Tag 200 mm”.
  • Page 32 Force of the Cut/Crease The parameter Force [E] controls the force applied by the tool. The range available is 0 - 750 g. • A cutting force of 250-350 g should be sufficient for card or media up to 350 microns thick. Settings above 550 g may suggest that more blade is required.
  • Page 33 Overcut, continued 1 mm With OverCut enabled the blade will overcut the endpoint of the object prior to lifting [B]. NOTE: If cutting complete shapes and 1 mm is insufficient, it may be necessary to increase the value to 2 or 3 mm.
  • Page 34 Start/Scan QR Code The [Start] or [Scan QR Code] control is a dynamic button which changes based upon the mode you are work- ing in. If you have opened the Cutting file directly from your Graphics application, or you have manually entered a Job ID (See section “Enter a Job number to retrieve the Cut Job file directly”) to manually load a job to be cut, the Job preview area will show the job which will be...

  • Page 35: Basics

    1. Basics Turning On / Off the Main Power 1. Make sure that the SC6500 power cord is plugged into the wall outlet. 2. Set main power switch on to ON position [A]. Launching ColorCut Pro There are two different ways to Launch ColorCut Pro Production Studio. ColorCut Pro - Production Studio is the full version of ColorCut Pro, and is used to cut your files.

  • Page 36: Direct Mode

    Direct Mode Selecting the Cutline Layer It is important to note that when you launch ColorCut Pro - Production Studio, the software will examine the currently selected ‘Layer’ in your graphics application and isolate all vector lines and curves on the page. You may see an Error Message if there are artwork elements or images on the layer selected when you launch ColorCut Pro.
  • Page 37 Direct Mode, continued Launching ColorCut Pro (Direct Mode) After selecting the layer you wish to send to the ColorCut SC6500 Cutter, select ColorCut Pro from the File menu. Both Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW can be seen below with the Cutline selected and then ColorCut Pro selected from the [File] drop-down menu.
  • Page 38 Direct Mode, continued Overview of the ColorCut Pro Main Screen (Direct Mode) Preview of selected cut/crease job Change Cutting order Vision3 Sensor video echo Pre-Set Action Camera Illumination control Assigning an action to a color Default Camera Illumination Edit Material/Action setting Exposure control Auto Weld option Default Exposure...

  • Page 39: Job Server Mode

    Job Server Mode There are 2 ways to launch the ColorCut Pro (Job Server) version of ColorCut Pro. 1. Open the ColorCut Pro (Job Server) from Start menu Open the Windows [START] menu, and select ColorCut Pro from the Programs/PlockMatic Group folder*. The ColorCut Pro splash screen will briefly appear then the main ColorCut Pro application will be displayed In the preview window, an informational image will appear showing you...
  • Page 40 Job Server Mode, continued Overview of the ColorCut Pro Main Screen (Job Server Mode), continued Preview of selected cut/crease job Change Cutting order Vision3 Sensor video echo Pre-Set Action Camera Illumination control Assigning an action to a color Default Camera Illumination Edit Material/Action setting Exposure control Auto Weld option...

  • Page 41: Cutter Blades (An Overview Of Blade Types)

    Cutter Blades (An overview of Blade types) Your cutter comes with a selection of blades. The blades are packed in a foam packing material. In addition to this there is a colored rubber protective cap. The yellow caps indicate 30 , red caps indicate a 45 blade while the blue caps are 60...

  • Page 42: The Blade Holder

    The Blade Holder Blade Depth Adjustment Lock Flange Warning: When handling cutter blades, be careful to avoid cutting your fingers or other parts of Exposed Blade your body. Replacing the blade The blade is a consumable item and you’ll always get the best quality cut with a newer blade. Please replace with a new blade when the cut quality reduces.

  • Page 43: Blade Adjustment

    Blade Adjustment Blade Depth is a major factor in how well the machine cuts and along with the downforce / pressure, determines how cleanly the material cuts and how easy or difficult it will be to ‘weed’ the material. Too much blade depth is as bad as not enough.

  • Page 44: Test Cut

    Test Cut The Test Cut function allows you to check your blade depth/force settings on your ColorCut SC6500 cutter and perform calibration of Align Tool2 to Tool1. Warning: Do not press [TEST CUT] until you have loaded a sheet of media and moved the tool carriage into a clear area on the media, away from the far left side of the cutter (see following steps).
  • Page 45 Test Cut, continued 5. Press [CUT TEST] button. The SC6500 will draw a Dia- mond Shape using Tool2 (The creasing tool) and cut a Square around the Diamond shape using Tool1 (The blade). 6. The SC6500 will then eject the media forwards so you can check the cut quality/depth and pressure.

  • Page 46: Configuring The Colorcut Pro Plug-In

    Configuring the ColorCut Pro Plug-in In addition to setting the cutter model upon first use, it is important to set/check the configuration settings for the software. Among the settings there are several that are important to understand to get the best results from your ColorCut Flatbed cutter.

  • Page 47: Blade Adjustment

    Blade Adjustment The ColorCut series of cutters use a contour-cutting blade (sometimes referred to as a ‘drag knife’) to accurately cut shapes. The blade revolves/rotates around its centre as the carriage moves following the cutting path and as the Tool Carriage changes direction. Blade will turn on this axis When the blade reaches a corner its axial centre (the point around which it rotates) arrives before the cutting point and unless there is some means of causing it to do so, the cutting part of the blade would never reach the...
  • Page 48 Choosing the Correct Blade for the Job Each packet of Blades shows the Knife Offset on the front of the packet. Nominally the standard Yellow, Red and Blue blades that are 1 mm, use a 0.25 mm Knife offset, while the 1.5 mm larger Circlip blades use a 0.75 mm Knife Offset.

  • Page 49: Scan Targets

    Scan Targets Due to a potential variability when printing sheets, it is possible that a printing device may not consistently start/position the image in exactly the same position on every sheet. In addition some printers may scale or distort the image. Further accuracy issues can occur if you do not position your sheets perfectly squarely on the cutting table.

  • Page 50: Output Device

    Output Device This setting shows the current Output Device [E] connected. When the ColorCut SC6500 is connected this should read ‘USB Printing Support: x’, where ‘x’ is your cutter type, or ‘Ethernet Direct connect’ (If it is ON-LINE). If the ColorCut Pro software cannot sense the SC6500 cutter on the connection of your computer, then this will show: “File Output”.
  • Page 51 Auto Find - Setting the Sensor Offset to the Blade, continued The Vision 3 ARMS sensor is mounted next to the cutting blade holder and the distance between the centre of the blade, and the centre of the Vison3 camera sensor (known as the sensor offset) must be compensated for to ensure accurate cutting.
  • Page 52 Auto Find - Setting the Sensor Offset to the Blade, continued 6. Before using the auto-sheet feeder, (used in the auto- calibration process) it is important to ensure the cor- rect media size has been set. To set/check the media size loaded into the SC6500 Auto-Sheet Feeder, and ensure it matches the media you have loaded, click on the [Productivity] button at the top of the ColorCut Pro window.

  • Page 53: Units Of Measurement

    Auto Find - Setting the Sensor Offset to the Blade, continued 10. Click the [Auto Find] button, a message will appear asking you to place a sheet of media in the cutter, and click [OK], then the ColorCut SC6500, will load the sheet automati- cally from the feeder and use the Pen Calibration Tool, to repeatedly draw a spiral pattern to simulate a registration mark.

  • Page 54: Activation/Deactivating Colorcut Pro License

    Activation/Deactivating ColorCut Pro License ColorCut Pro is activated and licensed using an On-Line Li- cense server. You receive a license providing 2 activations. One is for your Artwork PC, one is a remote cutting computer in case you do not wish to use your design PC (or the same person) to perform your cutting tasks.

  • Page 55: Productivity Options

    Productivity Options In addition to the configuration settings there are additional settings that can influence your productivity and furthermore enable automated batch production. These settings are all grouped under the [Productivity] menu. The ‘Sort Method’, ‘Scan For QR Code on every sheet’, ‘After Scanning QR Code ask before Cutting’, Automatic Production control: ‘Mode’, ‘Copies’...

  • Page 56: Sort Method

    Sort Method The Sort Method setting [A] changes how the cutter moves from the end of one cut to the beginning of the next. The ColorCut Pro software can operate in 6 modes: 1. None: No sort to the cutting is employed and the software will cut in the order it read the lines into the application.

  • Page 57: After Scanning Qr Code Ask Before Cutting

    Scan for QR Code on every sheet, continued In Job Library mode this function is recommended and can very useful when different/mixed jobs are placed in the auto-sheet feeder, as each cut file will be retrieved automatically. In addition by scanning each QR Code, ColorCut Pro, will detect if a sheet has been accidentally loaded in the wrong orientation, or rotated around 180 degrees, and automatically rotate your cutting file to match the way you loaded the sheet.

  • Page 58: Media Positioning

    Media Positioning The default setting is to use the Auto-Sheet feeder. How- ever, you can also switch to Manual mode if required here, in the Productivity screen. (The change will be Mirrored on the main screen when you return to that). The Auto-Sheet Feeder, will load sheets following the Automatic Production Profile [G] and the Media size (See section “Media Options”...

  • Page 59: Automatic Production Options

    Automatic Production Options The Automatic Production [G] section in the Productivity dialogue box enables you to change between produc- tion modes. The options are: Copies Mode Displays a new dialogue box in the area, allowing you to enter the number of copies to cut. Single Mode The SC6500 will load a single sheet of media and cut/ crease the media accordingly.

  • Page 60: Media Options

    Media Options The Auto-Sheet feeder, uses self centering media guides, this means the edge of the media will be located in dif- ferent positions depending on the media size you have loaded. Therefore, Media options is one of the most important areas to set within the Productivity settings screen.

  • Page 61: Media Positioning

    Media Positioning The Media Positioning [J] control sets location that the SC6500 should move to, when scanning for the 1st PageMARK. The Top Margin and the Left Margin settings should reflect the margins set under the ColorCut Pro PageMark Preferences in your Graphics Application. Once set, it should not need to be changed again (as- suming you do not frequently change the PageMARK margins).

  • Page 62: Production Log

    Production Log The SC6500 has two different log’s that provide feedback on your cutting. To view the basic log, click the [Production Log] button at the bottom left of the Production screen. Here you will be able to view a summary of any errors during cutting.

  • Page 63: Advanced Productivity Options

    Advanced Productivity options The SC6500 uses a sophisticated image processing system to identify the PageMARK registration targets (and QR codes). Designed primarily to read Black PageMARKs on White media the advanced Vision3 sensor, will auto invert images, to additionally enable the reading of White PageMARKs on Black Sheets. The Vision3 image scanning system is designed to determine the DMIN vs DMAX of the Mark versus the background area (Using edge detection based on maxi-...
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  • Page 65: Setting Up A Job

    2. Setting Up a Job Graphics File Design - Creating Your Artwork The ColorCut Pro Plug-in works directly from Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW. It requires the lines for cutting, perforating and creasing to be organised on a single layer. Therefore when designing with graphics you should organize the graphic design in different layers: - One or more layers for the main graphics (the printed artwork).

  • Page 66: Layers

    Layers Layers for Printing In this example, the main graphics layer is visible and active. The ColorCut auto-generated 3rd layer with Align- ment PageMARKs is also visible. (Detailed later). The cut contour layer is disabled. Drawing is ready for printing. Layers for cutting In this example, the main graphics layer is disabled.

  • Page 67: Drawing Cut, Perforated Or Crease Lines

    Drawing Cut, Perforated or Crease Lines The ColorCut has 2 tools. A Blade Tool, which can be used to: A double ended Creasing Tool which can be used for: Contour-Cut shapes Wide Crease lines Score lines Narrow Crease lines Perforate lines When creating projects you may wish to perform 2 or more actions with cutter.

  • Page 68: Registration Pagemarks

    Registration Pagemarks Before you design your page you need to consider that for accurate cutting each job requires 4 Registration PageMARKs. The PageMARKs are automatically placed on your artwork by ColorCut Pro’s Add Pagemarks option. They are placed on all 4 corners of a rectangle that is typically surrounding the cut lines. The PageMARKs can be placed at a fixed position on the Page, or anywhere on the page as long as it sur- rounds your design.

  • Page 69: Positioning Of Registration Pagemarks

    Positioning of Registration PageMARKs To maximise your cutting area you may choose to place the cut marks close to the edge of your media. Be aware that there is a 8 mm scanning zone around the cut mark, (shown in red) so care should be taken not to place artwork too near the mark as this may be read by the sensor and cause an error or reduce the accuracy of PageMARK scanning.
  • Page 70 Configuring PageMARKs for maximum cut accuracy For designs or elements requiring the highest cut accuracy, it is recommended that the all PageMARKs are placed in a position that enables the main grip roller to retain grip of the sheet during the registration process. If the design includes PageMARKs placed close to the trailing edge of the sheet then only the Secondary grip rollers will hold the sheet when it is advanced to scan the trailing edge PageMARKS.
  • Page 71 Configuring PageMARKs for maximum efficiency Maximising the space on the page is important for many users and here the Dual Grip roller system provides users with the ability to achieve a full page and enable cutting right up to the edge of the media. You can cut beyond the PageMARK position, so it is possible to right to the edge of the sheet but in most cases you will need some media/matrix left on the label sheet to make removing he waste matrix on your labels easier.

  • Page 72: Automatically Adding Registration Pagemarks

    Automatically Adding Registration PageMARKs You do not need to manually draw your PageMARKs on to your designs. ColorCut Pro will automatically add the marks for you. After installing ColorCut Pro and launching Illustrator (or CorelDRAW), you will find a new set of options [A] under the Print command in the File drop-down menu.
  • Page 73 Configuring Automatic PageMARKs 1. In ColorCut Pro PageMARK preferences window under Printing Position section [A] select ‘Use Page Size’. NOTE: Page size is updated from your Artboard size in Illustrator, so you do not need to adjust the page size setting here it will automatically adjust when the PageMARKs are added.

  • Page 74: Using 'Colorcut Pro Add Pagemarks

    Additional Configuration for Mac users Adding PageMARKs is exactly the same for Mac users, however Mac users will typically use ColorCut Pro’s Job Library feature to assign a job number (and QR code where applicable) to their jobs - enabling them to be cut efficiently in a production environment.
  • Page 75 Selecting the Layer to Add PageMARKs Ensure only the vector lines you wish to cut and send to your ColorCut are on the layer selected before adding the PageMARKs using ‘ColorCut Pro Add PageMarks’. (You do not need to delete your artwork. It simply must be on a separate layer).
  • Page 76 Automatically Adding PageMARKs, continued From the File drop-down menu in Illustrator or CorelDRAW, select the menu item ‘ColorCut Pro Add PageMARKs’. PageMARKs will be automatically added to your job and you will see a New Layer ColorCutPro Auto Placement Only [A] added in your Layers palette. When printing your artwork you will want to hide the cut lines as you do not want these to print.

  • Page 77: Cutting Without Using Pagemarks

    Job Numbers, Barcodes and the Job Library The standard way of adding PageMARKs (detailed above) provides accurate cutting of your files directly from Illustrator or CorelDRAW. However in many cases the Graphic Designer who generates the designs may not be the operator who is responsible for also cutting the jobs. Files including PageMARKs must be cut from Illustrator or CorelDRAW, so this means that the operator re- sponsible for cutting the jobs must also use Illustrator or CorelDRAW.
  • Page 78 Design requirements when cutting without PageMARKs ColorCut Pro does not use your document page size, normally cutting starts relative to the first PageMARK. Therefore if you disable ‘scan targets’, cutting will start at the furthest left and upper point of the perimeter around your elements for cutting.
  • Page 79 Setting the Origin when cutting without Marks Due to manufacturing tolerances, the feeder guides may present the media fractionally offset from the zero point. However, under normal circumstances the origin for the position of the sheet is automatically obtained using the Vision 3 camera sensor, as it scans the first PageMARK.
  • Page 80 Feed Advance & Left Margin offset control, continued 6. Your SC6500 should place a tiny dot in the corner of the sheet, then draw the 25 mm (0.98″) square. (The Black square is the printed image, the Red square is an example of what the cutter may have drawn).

  • Page 81: How To Cut Files Using Colorcut Pro

    How To Cut Files Using ColorCut Pro There are two different ways to Launch ColorCut Pro Production Studio. ColorCut Pro - Production Studio is the full version of ColorCut Pro, and is used to cut your files. It can be used in two different ways, you can select the most suitable method for your working environment.

  • Page 82: Cutting Jobs Directly From Graphics Application (Direct Mode)

    Cutting Jobs Directly from Graphics Application (Direct Mode) 1. In Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW, open the file you wish to cut. 2. Ensure you have selected the layer with the Cutting lines [A] you wish to cut. 3. Ensure you have already added PageMARKs [B] using the ColorCut Pro add PageMARKs feature. 4.

  • Page 83: Retrieving Jobs From The Job Library (Job Server Mode)

    Retrieving Jobs from the Job Library (Job Server Mode) Retrieving Jobs from the Job Library Job Server mode enables you to open files previously saved during the design process, to the ColorCut Pro Job Library. This can streamline your production and make your design process easier. Creating Cut Job files using Job Numbers means you can assign a Cut Job number to a specific customer or assign a specific ‘Design Template’/ Style to a Cut Job number.
  • Page 84 Retrieving Jobs with QR codes printed on them, continued 4. Using ColorCut Pro, Click on the [Scan QR Code] button [D] on the main application to load the media from the Auto Sheet Feeder and to scan the QR Code In Live Preview Window you will be able to see an ‘echo’...

  • Page 85: Enter A Job Number To Retrieve The Cut Job File Directly

    Retrieving Jobs with QR codes printed on them, continued NOTE: When you first start using the SC6500 it is recommended that you enable ‘After scanning QR ask before cutting’ in the Productivity menu. This will pause the SC6500 cutter after loading the cut job and display the message [F] asking if you wish to Start the job (See section “After scanning QR Code ask before cutting”).
  • Page 86 Enter a Job number to retrieve the Cut Job file directly, continued Manually entering the Job Number can enable Jobs without QR codes to be retrieved without the original graphics file Adding your Jobs to the ColorCut Pro Job Library is useful as this enables the job to be retrieved at a later stage or another user to cut the file without needing the original file, or the graphics application that created the design.
  • Page 87 Enter a Job number to retrieve the Cut Job file directly, continued You will notice the [Scan QR Code] button has now changed to [Start] [C]. 3. Assign actions to each Color. 4. Set the number of copies you want to cut after assigning actions to colors and making any other necessary changes, and then click the [Start] button.
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  • Page 89: Settings And Options

    3. Settings and Options This section contains previously outlined ColorCut Pro settings that may be changed directly via the cutter’s user interface. If you wish to utilize the cutter in standalone mode by importing files through USB, you won’t need to make modifications in the ColorCut Pro and may instead do it directly through the cutter’s user interface. The Settings and Options screen Press the [Settings and Options] Tab to get to the Tools screen.

  • Page 90: Scale Calibration

    Scale Calibration To ensure accuracy and precision in the cutter’s cutting process the scale calibration is performed. Scale Calibration involves creating a box shape with predefined measurements and comparing it to the actual dimensions. If there’s a difference, the meas- urements are adjusted until they match, guaranteeing precise cutting.

  • Page 91: Qr Code Positioning

    QR Code Positioning Within the QR code position menu, users have the flexibility to select from five distinct positioning options. This feature proves particularly valuable in scenarios where the design elements intersect with the QR code’s intended location, necessitating an adjustment for optimal placement.

  • Page 92: Network Settings

    Network Settings The network settings screen allows to connect the cutter to either Wi-Fi or Ethernet. When static settings are enabled, it is possible to manually configure the connection settings, while with DHCP turned on, the settings are automatically assigned by default. The default settings after Factory reset is Ethernet - DHCP.

  • Page 93: Network Share

    Network Share Connecting to a network share makes it easier to access data stored on a workstation. To begin this connection, provide the Server IP address and the Share Name “ColorCut_Held” as the cutter system will recognize and connect to this folder address. Le- gitimate network credentials must be supplied, such as a username and password.

  • Page 94: Sensor Check

    Sensor check The sensor check screen allows to inspect the operat- ing status of a given sensor. When the sensor is obstructed, the indicator dot will transition to a green state, indicating successful de- tection.

  • Page 95: Hold Mode

    4. Hold Mode The Hold mode offers the capability to operate the machine directly using files stored on a USB drive or within the machine itself. This means that for repetitive high-volume production tasks, there is no necessity to maintain a connection to a computer or server station.

  • Page 96: Sharing Colorcut_Held Folder For Network Share On Sc6500

    How to create cut files (.cch files for held mode), continued 6. The default save location is: C:\Program Files (x86)\PlockMatic Group\ ColorCut_Held\QR-Held Click [Save] to create the .cch file for Hold Mode on the cutter. 7. To run the .cch file to the cutter, there are two options: a.
  • Page 97 Sharing ColorCut_Held Folder for Network Share on SC6500 3. Right click on the ColorCut_Held folder and select Properties [B]. 4. Click on the Sharing tab [C] and then click on Advanced Sharing [D]. 5. Select the check box ‘Share this folder’ [E]. 6.
  • Page 98 Sharing ColorCut_Held Folder for Network Share on SC6500 7. Select the ‘Allow’ check boxes for Full Control, Change, and Read [G] under the ‘Permissions for Everyone’ section. 8. Clicking Apply [H] and then OK [I]. 9. It then takes you back to the Advanced Sharing window.

  • Page 99: How To Run Job With Usb Stick

    How to run job with USB stick 1. Insert the USB stick into USB port on the rear side of the machine. 2. Enter Hold Mode and choose USB. 3. The cutter will display the available folders on the USB. Locate and select the ‘QR- Held’...

  • Page 100: How To Run Cut Files Via Lan

    How to run cut files via LAN 1. Open Network Share screen 2. Provide the Server IP address and the Share Name “ColorCut_Held” as the cutter system will recognize and connect to this folder address. 3. Enter network credentials: user name and password.

  • Page 101: Remarks

    5. Remarks Do’s and Don’ts • Always follow all warnings marked on, or supplied with, the equipment. • Always exercise care in moving or relocating the equipment. Caution: Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet and machine before you move or relocate the equipment. •...

  • Page 102: Maintaining Your Machine

    Maintaining Your Machine Never attempt any maintenance function that is not specifically described in this documentation. Cutting strip The cutting strip should be checked for signs of wear daily, if the strip is damaged and worn it should be replaced. The longevity of the cutting strip’s effectiveness depends by the material being cut and the operator’s skills in adjusting the blade depth.
  • Page 103 Paper Path The Feed table through to exit tray should be cleaned from paper dust daily using compressed air, engineer wipe and brushes. Turn off the machine and disconnect the power cord before performing any procedures. Feed table Paper path Paper exit Media optical sensors The sensors need to be cleaned every day, more frequent cleaning may be required depending on media...

  • Page 104: Dual Grip Roller

    Dual Grip Roller Typically a vinyl cutter grips and feeds the media using a ‘Pinch’ roller system situated behind the Tool Carriage position. This means the rear of the sheet would not be held by the grip roller during cutting therefore typical cutters can not cut within 30 mm (1”...
  • Page 105 Replace the Dual Grip Rollers, continued 3. With the pressure released from the Dual Grip Levers you can move the Front Grip Roller right (in to the SC6500 chassis) 5 - 10 mm then diagonally move the opposing (left) end of the Grip bar out from the Left side (of the SC6500 chassis) and then diagonally up and out of the cutter.

  • Page 106: Sc6500 Best Practices

    SC6500 Best Practices • It is recommended to crease from the backside of the sheet, as this will provide a more aesthetically pleasing crease on the visible outer edges of your products. • Sheets with Curl will cause more frequent misfeeds and lead to greater inaccuracy during cutting. Be sure to use your printers de-curl function if possible.

  • Page 107: Specifications

    6. Specifications Media Handling A4, A3, SRA3, A3+, max 340 x 520 mm (13.39″ x 20.47″) Standard media sizes Media width (min - max): 185 mm - 340 mm (7.28″ x 13.39″) Width Custom sized Media length (min - max): 279 mm - 710 mm (10.98″ x 27.95″) label media Length 0.17 mm (150 g/m²) - 0.35 mm (350 g/m²)

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