Skycut C Series User manual

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Skycut Series C with SignCut Pro2
January 3, 2020
Do NOT read this entire manual… unless you want to.
•At the start of Chapters 1 - 4 are short sections with references to find what you need plus some important
reminders. PLEASE read these short sections at the very least and refer back to them, when needed.
•Chapters 1 and 2 are very important in terms of correctly setting up your Skycut to work with SignCut Pro
and learning the ins and outs of cutting.
•Chapter 3 covers contour cutting (aka print and cut) applications.
•Chapter 4 covers the Skycut accessory tools.
•Chapter 5 covers several SignCut Draw functions of interest: vectorizing, editing, and engraving fills
It’s not practical to print this entire manual because:
•It’s a waste of paper and ink if you only ever need certain sections.
•The live links to videos and web sites in the manual will not work.
•This manual will be updated from time to time.
•You cannot search on individual words.
Also:
•Note the green icons which link to videos related to the section in which they are located. These
videos will enhance your learning experience.
________________________________________________________________
© 2019-2020 Sandy McCauley All Rights Reserved

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Table of Contents
SKYCUT SERIES C WITH SIGNCUT PRO2 .........................................................1
1. INTRODUCTION AND SETTING UP ................................................................................................................. 5
1.00 QUICK REFERENCE FOR THIS CHAPTER ..........................................................................................................5
1.01 SUPPORT....................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.02 SAFETY AND WARNINGS.................................................................................................................................5
1.03 WARRANTY....................................................................................................................................................6
1.04 UNPACKING ...................................................................................................................................6
1.05 CONTENTS ....................................................................................................................................7
1.06 PARTS OF THE SKYCUT ..................................................................................................................8
Front.................................................................................................................................................................8
Right Side.........................................................................................................................................................8
Back .................................................................................................................................................................9
1.07 ACCESSORIES................................................................................................................................................9
1.07.1 Test Pen ..............................................................................................................................9
1.07.2 Skycut Blades .......................................................................................................................................9
1.07.3 Blade Installation.................................................................................................................................10
1.08 PREPARING AND CARING FOR THE CUTTING MAT...........................................................................................11
1.08.1 Tips on Using the Cutting Mat.............................................................................................................11
1.08.2 Cleaning and Replenishing the Cutting Mat .......................................................................................11
1.09 PINCH WHEELS ...........................................................................................................................12
1.10 CONTROL PANEL .........................................................................................................................13
1.10.1 Set Screen ..........................................................................................................................................13
1.11 INTRODUCTION TO SIGNCUT PRO 2...............................................................................................................14
1.11.1 Installing SignCut................................................................................................................................14
1.11.2 Sign Cut Screens................................................................................................................................14
1.12 CONNECTING THE SKYCUT TO YOUR COMPUTER ..........................................................................17
1.12.1 USB Connection..................................................................................................................................17
1.12.2 Wi-Fi Connection.................................................................................................................................18
1.12.3 Wireless Stand-Alone .........................................................................................................................21
1.12.4 USB Flash Drive..................................................................................................................................23
1.13 TEST DRAW SHAPES....................................................................................................................................26
1.13.1 Inserting the Paper and Setting the Origin..........................................................................................26
1.13.2 Default Settings in SignCut Pro ..........................................................................................................28
1.13.3 Adding a Test Shape to Draw.............................................................................................................29
1.13.4 Drawing the Shape from SignCut Pro.................................................................................................31
1.14 DEFAULT SETTINGS TO CONSIDER................................................................................................................35
1.14.1 Advanced Settings..............................................................................................................................35
1.14.2 General Settings .................................................................................................................................37
1.14.3 Sys Information...................................................................................................................................39
1.15 MAINTENANCE .............................................................................................................................................40
1.16 OTHER USEFUL TOOLS AND SUPPLIES ..........................................................................................................40
2. CUTTING...........................................................................................................................................................42
2.00 QUICK REFERENCE FOR THIS CHAPTER.........................................................................................................42
2.01 WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT CUTTING .....................................................................................42
2.01.1 You Have to Make Mistakes ...............................................................................................................42
2.01.2 Record Your Successes .....................................................................................................................43
2.01.3 Set the Blade Height Above the Material............................................................................................43
2.01.4 Adjust the Speed, Force, and Number of Passes Based on the Material and Shapes......................44

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2.01.5 Perform Test Cuts!..............................................................................................................................44
2.01.6 Keep the Cutting Mat Clean and Sticky..............................................................................................44
2.01.7 Don’t Get Frustrated, Get Help!..........................................................................................................45
2.02 CHOICES BEFORE CUTTING..........................................................................................................................45
2.02.1 Controlling Which Shapes Will Cut.....................................................................................................45
2.02.2 Controlling Where Shapes Will Cut.....................................................................................................48
2.02.3 Where to Enter Cut Settings ...............................................................................................................50
2.03 CUT SETTINGS.............................................................................................................................................53
2.03.1 Cutting Force.......................................................................................................................................53
2.03.2 Cutting Speed and Up Speed.............................................................................................................53
2.03.3 Blade Offset ........................................................................................................................................54
2.03.4 Overcut................................................................................................................................................55
2.03.5 Passes ................................................................................................................................................55
2.03.6 Pounce (Dashed-line Cutting).............................................................................................................56
2.04 PRESETS .....................................................................................................................................................57
2.04.1 Saving a Preset in SignCut Pro ..........................................................................................................57
2.04.2 Saving a Preset on the Control Panel.................................................................................................58
2.05 SETTING THE ORIGIN BEFORE CUTTING.........................................................................................................60
2.05.1 Setting an Origin Using the Camera ............................................................................61
2.06 OTHER CUT SETTING FUNCTIONS .................................................................................................................63
2.06.1 Position After Cutting / Advance Mode...............................................................................................63
2.06.2 Mirror...................................................................................................................................................63
2.06.3 Weeding Line Tools ............................................................................................................................64
2.06.4 Tiling Options......................................................................................................................................67
2.07 IMPORTANT CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU CUT!...................................................................................................74
2.08 SCALE CALIBRATION.....................................................................................................................................75
2.08.1 Skycut Resolution Using Millimeters for Measurement ......................................................................75
2.08.2 Skycut Resolution Using Inches for Measurement.............................................................................78
2.08.3 Scale Calibration Storage on the Control Panel .................................................................................79
2.09 TEST CUTTING FLOW CHART FOR THE SKYCUT..............................................................................................82
2.10 SETTINGS FORM FOR CUTTING MATERIALS ...................................................................................................83
2.11 SUGGESTED CUT SETTINGS FOR VARIOUS MATERIALS ON SKYCUT................................................................84
3. CONTOUR CUTTING .......................................................................................................................................88
3.00 QUICK REFERENCE FOR CHAPTER 3.............................................................................................................88
3.01 WHAT IS A CONTOUR CUT ............................................................................................................................88
3.02 WHAT IS A CAMERA CALIBRATION?...............................................................................................................89
3.03 CAMERA CALIBRATION PROCEDURE..............................................................................................................89
3.03.1 What You Need for Calibrating...........................................................................................................89
3.03.2 Calibration Process ......................................................................................................89
3.04 PERFORMING A PNC IN SIGNCUT PRO..........................................................................................................92
3.04.1 Summary of Steps...............................................................................................................................92
3.04.2 Preparing the Registration Marks .......................................................................................................93
3.04.3 Contour Cutting Project –Accuracy Test............................................................................................94
3.05 INACCURATE CUTS.......................................................................................................................................96
3.05.1 Adjusting the Calibration Values.........................................................................................................97
3.05.2 Inaccurate Tracings ............................................................................................................................98
3.05.3 Incorrect Cut Settings .........................................................................................................................98
3.06 CONTOUR CUTTING MULTIPLE IMAGES AND ADDING INTERMEDIATE REGISTRATION MARKS.............................99
3.06.1 Setting Up Multiple Raster Images in Another Program.....................................................................99
3.06.2 Using Intermediate Registration Marks.............................................................................................100
3.06.3 Automatically Adding Intermediate Registration Marks in SignCut Draw.........................................103
3.07 PNC FROM USB FLASH DRIVE ...................................................................................................................104
3.07.1 PNC from Flash Drive –Single Cut ..................................................................................................104
3.07.2 PNC from Flash Drive –Using Array Mark for Repeats ...................................................................106
3.07.3 Mark Set Options ..............................................................................................................................108
4. ACCESSORY TOOLS ....................................................................................................................................111
4.00 QUICK REFERENCE FOR CHAPTER 4...........................................................................................................111
4.01 DRAWING WITH THE TEST PEN....................................................................................................................111

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4.01.1 Draw and Cut ....................................................................................................................................111
4.02 EMBOSSING AND SCORING .........................................................................................................................113
4.02.1 General Info on Embossing ..............................................................................................................113
4.02.2 Score and Cut Project.......................................................................................................................114
4.02.3 Embossing Paper or Cardstock ........................................................................................................114
4.03 SCRATCH ENGRAVING................................................................................................................................115
4.03.1 Engraving a Metal Tag......................................................................................................................115
4.04 SETTINGS FORM FOR ACCESSORY TOOLS...................................................................................................120
4.05 SUGGESTED SETTINGS FOR VARIOUS ACCESSORIES1..................................................................................121
5. SIGNCUT DRAW FUNCTIONS OF INTEREST............................................................................................. 122
5.00 QUICK REFERENCE FOR CHAPTER 5...........................................................................................................122
5.01 ADDING A CONTOUR CUT LINE TO A RASTER IMAGE.....................................................................................122
5.01.1 Importing an Image to Trace.............................................................................................................122
5.01.2 Step-by-Step Tracing Process..........................................................................................................123
5.02 EDITING A TRACE.......................................................................................................................................126
5.02.1 Node Editing a Contour Cut..............................................................................................................126
5.02.2 Deleting Paths Within a Contour Cut Trace......................................................................................126
5.03 ENGRAVING FILLS ......................................................................................................................................127
5.03.1 Hatch Fill ...........................................................................................................................................128
5.03.2 Contour Fill........................................................................................................................................129
5.03.3 Inside Fills Versus Outside Fills........................................................................................................130
5.03.4 Line Raster from Bitmap ...................................................................................................................131
APPENDIX A TROUBLESHOOTING FAQ’S....................................................................................................135
A1 COMMUNICATION ISSUES...............................................................................................................................135
A2 OPERATING ISSUES.......................................................................................................................................136
A3 CUTTING/DRAWING ISSUES ...........................................................................................................................137

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1. Introduction and Setting Up
1.00 Quick Reference for This Chapter
•How to download and set up SignCut Pro: Section 1.11
•How to set up communication between a computer and Skycut: Section 1.12
•How to use the control panel: Sections 1.10 and 1.14
•How to adjust the blade holder: Section 1.07.3
•Where to position the pinch wheels: Section 1.09
•The cutting mat is too sticky (or not sticky enough): Section 1.08
•How to use the USB Flash Drive feature: Section 1.12.4
Important Notes:
•Please read Section 1.02 regarding safe operation of the Skycut.
•Report any damage or missing contents to your dealer promptly.
•Retain the original box and packing materials in case you ever need to ship your Skycut.
1.01 Support
•Thank you for choosing a Skycut digital die cutter. Before using a blade in your new cutter, we urge you to
read Chapters 1 and 2 and watch the videos linked in these chapters.
•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.
•If anything is missing from your order or you have mechanical issues with your Skycut, please contact your
dealer as soon as possible. You can also contact Skycut directly using this email address:
[email protected].
•For additional information and support with the Skycut, please check out the following:
Skycut web site: http://www.sky-cut.com/
Skycut Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/skycutcuttingplotter/
Skycut Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Skycut/
Skycut YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrPn5hFLbiRNDgccY8iXwoA
SignCut User Guide: available in SignCut Draw (Help>User Guide) and in SignCut Pro (Help>Help)
•For SignCut support, please go to https://signcut.freshdesk.com/support/home
1.02 Safety and Warnings
Please be aware of the following safety guidelines when working with the Skycut:
•Pinch Points: Keep hands, long hair, loose clothing, jewelry, etc. away from the moving parts.
•Risk to Children and Pets: Please supervise children around the cutter when it is in use.
•Movement and Touching: Do not move the Skycut or touch any circuitry while it is plugged in.

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•Power Adaptor: ONLY use the included power adaptor. Attempting to use a different model can result in
seriously damaging the Skycut. If either the power cable or adaptor are damaged, replace with the
appropriate parts.
•DO NOT touch or jam the plotter’s track while it is operating. If the cutter is damaged, it is the owner’s
responsibility.
•DO NOT shake the cutter while it is operating.
•DO NOT cut any materials that have staples or other embellishments attached.
•DO NOT touch the cutter with a magnet. It is safe, however, to cut magnetic materials, such as those used
on refrigerators and car exteriors.
•DO NOT allow any liquids to spill into the cutter.
•DO NOT allow small items to fall into the cutter.
•Place the Skycut on a sturdy and stable table, desk, or trolley. The optional Skycut stand can also be used.
•Always turn off the Skycut when not in use. Leaving the cutter turned on for extended periods of time can
possibly damage the machine.
•Always turn off the Skycut before unplugging the power adaptor 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.
•Transporting: When transporting the cutter, move the pinch wheel lever into the upward position. Remove
the blade from the blade holder and cover the tip with the plastic cap.
1.03 Warranty
•IMPORTANT! If your Skycut is damaged during shipment or appears to be defective, your dealer should be
notified as soon as possible.
•For additional information regarding your warranty, please refer to your Skycut dealer.
•It is recommended that you retain the original box with packing materials in case you ever need to ship your
Skycut.
1.04 Unpacking
•Verify that you have received all contents. There is a checklist in Section 1.05. Please notify your Skycut
supplier immediately if anything is missing.
•Remove all foam pieces and other packaging before turning on the Skycut. Currently, the cutter ships with
two end cap foam protectors and one small foam piece tucked under the head. There are also three plastic
zip ties that will need to be cut. Be very careful to only cut those ties and NOT the black cable behind them.
•Because the cutting mat must be folded over to fit into the box, it may have become slightly rounded during
shipping. Gently and only partially roll the mat in the opposite direction to remove the roundness and place
on a flat table to make sure the mat now lies horizontally to the surface. Refer to Section 1.08 for additional
instructions on preparing the mat for use.
•Use the enclosed test pen as you experiment and become familiar with operating the Skycut. Place scrap
paper on the mat and simply draw shapes rather than cut them. This will prevent possible damage to the
blade, mat, and cutting strip as you learn where shapes will cut and the basic operating procedures.

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1.05 Contents
•Besides the cutter, your box should also contain the following items:
# Description Image Quantity
1Power Supply 1
2Power Cable 1
3USB Cable 1
460° Blade(blue cap) 1
545° Blade(red cap) 2
6Blade Holder 1
7Test Pen and 1 Refill 1 set
8Cutting Mat 1

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1.06 Parts of the Skycut
Front
•Alignment Arrows: indicate to the user the available positions for the pinch wheels
•Blade Carriage: moves the Blade Holder Seat left and right
•Blade Holder Seat (Jaw): holds the blade holder, test pen, and other accessories
•Control Panel: used to change settings, set up Wi-Fi, calibrate camera, cut PLT files, and more
•Cutting Strip: protects a blade when cutting backed materials without using a cutting mat
•Grit Shafts (3 on 16” model; 4 on 24” model): allow the pinch wheels to grip the mat or material so they can
be moved in and out of the cutter during cutting
•Pinch Wheels (3 on 16” model; 4 on 24” model): grip the mat or material so that the grit shafts beneath will
feed the mat or material in and out during cutting
•Power Button: turns cutter on or off
Right Side
Power Port
USB Flash
Drive Port
USB Port
Pinch Wheel
Lever
Alignment Arrow
Pinch Wheel
Control Panel
Left
End Cap
Right
End Cap
Power Button
Blade
Carriage
Cutting Strip
(lt. gray)
Grit Shaft (dk.
gray and rough)
Blade Holder Seat
(aka Jaw)
•Pinch Wheel Lever: lifts the pinch wheels up for loading
the mat or material and then lowers the pinch wheels
for cutting
•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
•Power Port: connect Skycut power adaptor

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Back
1.07 Accessories
1.07.1 Test Pen
•The test pen should be used until you are comfortable with the operation of your Skycut and know, with
certainty, where images will cut. The test pen should arrive pre-assembled. However, if you need to change
out the insert, note how the test pen is assembled:
1.07.2 Skycut Blades
•There are three kinds of blades that fit inside the Skycut blade holder:
The 450red capped blade is suited for cutting thinner materials such as paper, all cardstock types, heat
transfer vinyl, and wall/auto/decal vinyl.
The 600blue 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.
Sold separately is the 300yellow capped blade which is a wide blade and well suited for cutting fabric,
felt, and tint. It has been reported that it also works well with cardstock that has been exposed to
humidity.
Red Blue Yellow
Pinch wheel lever
Pinch wheels
Spring goes over the top of the
pen insert and stops at a small
ridge on the insert

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•Note that the red capped blade and blue capped blade have a cutback on the opposing side of the blade
(right side, in the earlier photo). This reduces the blade offset value and allows for better detailed cutting of
small shapes.
•Additionally, there are other tools sold separately, including a stand, an engraving tool and an
embossing/scoring tool. Details on the engraving tool and embosser are covered in Chapter 4.
1.07.3 Blade Installation
•The blade must be carefully inserted into the blade holder. Do this over a soft surface (e.g. over a hand
towel). It’s important to protect the fragile blade! To install, follow the numbered steps as shown:
•The Blade Length (also called Blade Exposure) is how much blade is exposed at the bottom of the blade
holder. For optimal cutting, you want this length to match the thickness of the material or be just a tiny bit
longer.
•When setting the blade length (Step 4 in the prior photo), hold the blade holder up next to the material
before pressing the material to the mat, so that you can more accurately set the length to match the
thickness of the material. For really thin materials, like vinyl and thin paper, just the very tip of the blade will
be protruding from the bottom of the blade holder. In fact, you should just barely be able to feel it with your
fingertip and not be able to see it very well, if at all. Having the blade fully extended will never result in better
cutting. In fact, it can cause skewing, tearing of the material, damage to the blade, and damage to the mat.
•A good way to test your blade length is to fold a piece of the material onto itself and then cut a line into the
material by hand. Press firmly but not too hard, as more force will not determine if the blade is set to the
right length. If the blade cannot cut through the material, you will need to extend the blade. If the blade cuts
through the material and cuts into the next layer, you need to retract the blade. If the blade cuts through the
material but does not cut into the layer below, you have the perfect length.
•When conducting a test cut, be sure to check your mat (or the top of a backing sheet) for cut lines after the
test. You should be able to set the length to get clean cuts but with only fine lines or no lines in the mat or
backing sheet. If you do see deep cut lines, retract the blade length ~¼ of a turn counterclockwise. Repeat
your test cut.
3. Turn the brass ring
counterclockwise until
loosened.
4. Turn the large ring clockwise or counter
clockwise to set blade length to match the
thickness of the material being cut.
5. Turn the brass ring clockwise
until locked back in place.
1. Push in this button
and hold so that a blade
can be inserted OR
removed.
2. Gently insert non-sharp end
of the blade into the holder.
An internal magnet will pull
the blade inwards.
Then release button on top of
holder
Mat
Material
Perfect Length Too Long Too Short