Re: Vinyl cutting knife in place of router

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, zeff1015@a... wrote:

> I have heard of people doing it successfully, but usually they have

a drag

> knife setup, which would not work for matte cutting. You need to

set up an

> extra axis for rotation. Others here could tell you how to go

about doing

> that if you decide to follow through with it (in other words if

it's still

> worth it to you).
>
> Hope this sheds some light on your project.
> Jeff
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

You should be able to do it using one of the swiveling (sp?) heads
they use on the larger vinyl cutters. Most equipment resellers sell
the blades and spare swivel mechanisms. They are essentially a free
rotating ball bearing holder that drags the knife and makes the
cuts. They make 30deg, 45deg and 60deg blades for different
material. The blade holder snaps into the head on the cutter.

One of the essential things is to have adjustable downforce on the
head (floating head) . Probably a spring that can be tightened to
provide different forces for different material.

There is one other issue you will have to deal with and that is the
fact that since you are making the cut at an angle you will have to
factor in overcuts at the end of cuts and they vary based on the
thickness of the material and the angle blade you use. The drivers
for a vinyl cutter has options to set the overcut and downforce.

Since I have an engraving machine I built, a large torch/router table
and a commercial vinyl cutter, I have some insight as to how each of
those work (or don't).

Let me know if I can be of assistance.