Skycut EV24 with SignMaster Pro User manual

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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.
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. Use Ctrl+F (or command+F on a Mac) to locate all instances of a
particular term.
Also:
•Videos of interest can be found at the following link: Skycut Support Videos
________________________________________________________________
© 2018-2022 Sunrise Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved

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Table of Contents
SKYCUT EV24 WITH SIGNMASTER PRO................................................................1
1. INTRODUCTION AND SETTING UP..........................................................................................................4
1.0QUICK REFERENCE FOR THIS CHAPTER ........................................................................................................4
1.1SUPPORT...................................................................................................................................................4
1.2SAFETY AND WARNINGS..............................................................................................................................4
1.3WARRANTY................................................................................................................................................5
1.4UNPACKING ...............................................................................................................................................5
1.5CONTENTS.................................................................................................................................................5
1.6PARTS OF THE SKYCUT ...............................................................................................................................6
Front...........................................................................................................................................................6
Front with Cover Open................................................................................................................................7
Right Side...................................................................................................................................................7
Left Side.....................................................................................................................................................7
Back...........................................................................................................................................................8
1.7ACCESSORIES............................................................................................................................................8
1.7.1 Assembling the Skycut Stand.............................................................................................................8
1.7.2 Test Pen............................................................................................................................................8
1.7.3 Skycut Blades....................................................................................................................................8
1.7.4 Blade Installation ...............................................................................................................................9
1.7.5 Cutting Mat......................................................................................................................................10
1.8PINCH WHEELS ........................................................................................................................................11
1.9CONTROL PANEL ......................................................................................................................................12
1.9.1 Menu...............................................................................................................................................13
1.10MAINTENANCE........................................................................................................................................13
1.11OTHER USEFUL TOOLS AND SUPPLIES......................................................................................................14
2. SIGNMASTER.............................................................................................................................................15
2.0QUICK REFERENCE FOR THIS CHAPTER ......................................................................................................15
2.1INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE.......................................................................................................................15
2.1.1 Installing SignMaster from a Download.............................................................................................15
2.1.2 Installing SignMaster from a CD.......................................................................................................15
2.2CONNECTING THE SKYCUT TO YOUR COMPUTER .........................................................................................18
2.2.1 USB Connection ............................................................................................................19
2.2.2 Connecting the EV24 to a Wi-Fi Network ..........................................................................20
2.2.3 USB Flash Drive .............................................................................................................23
2.2.4 Loading and Cutting a .PLT File from the USB Drive........................................................................25
2.3TEST DRAW SHAPES.................................................................................................................................26
2.3.1 Setting up the EV24 for Test Drawing...............................................................................................26
2.3.2 Test Drawing ...................................................................................................................................28
3. CUTTING ....................................................................................................................................................33
3.0QUICK REFERENCE FOR THIS CHAPTER ......................................................................................................33
3.1WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT CUTTING....................................................................................33
3.1.1 You Have To Make Mistakes............................................................................................................33
3.1.2 Record Your Successes...................................................................................................................33
3.1.3 Installing the Blade Holder, Test Pen, or Accessory Tools................................................................34
3.1.4 Adjust the Speed, Force, and Number of Passes Based on the Material and Shapes.......................34
3.1.5 Perform Test Cuts!...........................................................................................................................35
3.1.6 Keep the Cutting Mat Clean and Sticky............................................................................................35
3.1.7 Don’t Get Frustrated, Get Help!........................................................................................................35
3.2CHOICES BEFORE CUTTING .......................................................................................................................35

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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
3.3CUT SETTINGS .........................................................................................................................................45
3.3.1 Force...............................................................................................................................................46
3.3.2 Cut Speed and Up Speed ................................................................................................................46
3.3.3 Blade Offset.....................................................................................................................................47
3.3.4 Overcut............................................................................................................................................48
3.3.5 Passes.............................................................................................................................................48
3.4PRESETS .................................................................................................................................................50
3.4.1 Saving a Preset for a Blade Type.....................................................................................................50
3.4.2 Saving a Preset for a Material..........................................................................................................51
3.5SETTING THE ORIGIN BEFORE CUTTING.......................................................................................................53
3.6OTHER CUT SETTING FUNCTIONS...............................................................................................................53
3.6.1 Mirror...............................................................................................................................................53
3.6.2 Weeding Options.............................................................................................................................54
3.6.3 Weld Text........................................................................................................................................55
3.7IMPORTANT CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU CUT!.................................................................................................56
3.8SCALE CALIBRATION .................................................................................................................................57
3.8.1 Scale Calibration Using Millimeters for Measurement.......................................................................57
3.8.2 Scale Calibration Using Inches for Measurement .............................................................................60
3.9TEST CUTTING FLOW CHART FOR THE SKYCUT............................................................................................63
3.10SETTINGS FORM FOR CUTTING MATERIALS ...............................................................................................64
3.11SUGGESTED SETTINGS FOR VARIOUS MATERIALS ......................................................................................65
APPENDIX A TROUBLESHOOTING FAQ’S..................................................................................................67
A1COMMUNICATION ISSUES ...........................................................................................................................67
A2OPERATING ISSUES...................................................................................................................................68
A3CUTTING/DRAWING ISSUES ........................................................................................................................69
APPENDIX B: WIRELESS STAND-ALONE CONNECTION...........................................................................72

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1. Introduction and Setting Up
1.0 Quick Reference for This Chapter
•How to use the control panel: Sections 1.9
•How to adjust the blade holder: Section 1.7.4
•Where to position the pinch wheels: Section 1.8
•The cutting mat is too sticky (or not sticky enough): Section 1.7.5
Important Notes:
•Please read Section 1.2 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.
1.1 Support
•Thank you for choosing a Skycut EV24 digital die cutter. Before using a blade in your new cutter, we urge
you to practice with the test pen, making sure you understand where shapes will cut.
•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:
[e-mail].
•For additional information and support with the Skycut, please check out the following:
Skycut web site: https://www.skycutcutter.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/videos
•For SignMaster support, please go to http://signmaster.software/support/
1.2 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 itself or touch any circuitry while it is plugged in.
•DO NOT attempt to move the blade carriage while the cutter is powered on.
•DO NOT touch or jam the plotter’s track while it is operating.
•DO NOT shake the cutter while it is operating.
•DO NOT cut any materials that have staples or other embellishments attached.

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•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 or small items to fall into the cutter.
•Mount the EV24 on its included stand or place it on a sturdy and stable table, desk, or trolley.
•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 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 levers into the upward position. Remove
the blade from the blade holder and cover the tip of the blade with the plastic cap.
1.3 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.
1.4 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 packaging before turning on the Skycut. Currently, the cutter ships with two end cap foam
protectors, zip ties on either side of the blade carriage, and tape on either end of the cutting strip. Be very
careful when removing the zip ties –it’s best to cut those ties from behind the machine versus in front.
Gently remove the tape at the ends of the cutting strip by rolling the tape away. Do not pull straight up.
•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 1.7.5 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.
1.5 Contents
•Besides the EV24 cutter and cutter stand, your box should also contain the following items:

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1.6 Parts of the Skycut
Front
•Alignment Markers: indicate to the user the available positions for the pinch wheels
•Blade Carriage: moves the Blade Holder Seat left and right
•Blade Holder Seat or Jaw: holds the blade holder, test pen, and other accessories
•Control Panel: used to change settings, set up Wi-Fi, cut PLT files, and more
•Cutting Strip: protects a blade when cutting backed materials without using a cutting mat
•Grit Shafts (5 in total on EV24): 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 (4 in total on EV24): grip the mat or material so that the grit shafts beneath will feed the mat
or material in and out during cutting
•Ruler: for measuring and aligning rolled materials
Left
End
Cap
Control Panel
Alignment Marker
Pinch Wheel
Right
End
Cap
Carriage
Ruler
Cutting Strip
(light gray and smooth)
Grit Shafts
(dark gray and
rough)
Blade Holder Seat

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Front with Cover Open
Right Side
Left Side
Reset
Button
USB Flash
Drive Port
USB Port
•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)
•Power Port: plug power cable into this port
•On/Off Switch: power cutter on or off
On/Off
Switch
Power Port
LED Light
Alignment Marker
Carriage Belt
Grit Rollers
(dark gray and rough)
Control Panel Cable
Head Cable
Platen

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Back
1.7 Accessories
1.7.1 Assembling the Skycut Stand
•If you purchased the optional stand, please refer to this for detailed instructions on assembling the
stand and mounting the cutter onto it.
1.7.2 Test Pen
•The test pen is used in calibrating the Scale (Section 3.8) and is also recommended for test drawing while
you are learning where shapes will cut based on various software settings. Note that a small piece of wax
needs to be removed from the pen’s nib before use. You may also wish to cut off the very top of the pen
refill so that it more easily fits into your EV24:
1.7.3 Skycut Blades
•There are three kinds of blades that fit inside a Skycut blade holder:
Spring goes over the top of the pen insert
and stops at a small ridge on the insert
•Pinch Wheels (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
•Pinch Wheel Lever: raises and lowers the pinch wheels
Pinch Roller Lever
Pinch Rollers
Platen
Right
Cover
Left
Cover

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The 45°red 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.
Sold separately is the 30°yellow capped blade. It is a wide blade and is well suited for cutting thin
fabric and window tint film. It has been reported that it also works well with cardstock that has been
exposed to humidity.
•Note that the blades all have a cutback on the opposing side of the blade (right side, in the prior photo). This
reduces the blade offset value and allows for better detailed cutting of small shapes.
1.7.4 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 or Blade Depth) 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 very 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
or cutting strip.
•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.
Red Blue Yellow
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 the button on
top of the holder

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•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.
1.7.5 Cutting Mat
Tips on Using the Cutting Mat
•Always use a mat to hold the material to be cut unless the material has its own protective backing. For
example, vinyl and iron-on transfer both come with a layer that you do not cut. Thus, this backing layer
serves as the carrier for cutting. Paper and cardstock do not have a backing, thus they must be cut on the
mat.
•IMPORTANT! A new mat may be too sticky if you are cutting certain products. This can cause difficulty in
removing cut items without tearing. Place an old but clean bath towel over the surface of the mat and press
with a brayer or rolling pin. Then pull up. Test the stickiness by pressing the palm of your hand in the middle
of the mat and lifting. If the mat remains stuck to your hand, repeat until the mat can still be lifted but will
release. It should only take a few pressings to greatly reduce the stickiness, as tiny (too small to be visible)
fibers from the towel are added to the surface.
•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
•When mats begin to lose their stickiness, they can be washed:
Use a mild dishwashing detergent, warm water, and a soft brush to thoroughly clean the surface. You’re
not trying to scrub the adhesive but just wet the invisible fibers that have been deposited from your
cutting materials and get them released from the glue.
oRinse well, shake off excess water, and place sticky side down onto a bath towel.
oThoroughly dry the non-sticky side of the mat with another towel.
oPull the mat up and the sticky side should now be dry enough for immediate use. Test by making
sure the mat will stick to your hand.
•While washing with soap and water should revive the original adhesive, you can add more adhesive if
necessary:
Virtually any repositionable adhesive may be used on the cutting mat. Some of the popular choices
include: Krylon Easy Tack, Aleene's Tack It Over and Over (view the video at the start of this section),
Crafter's Companion Stick and Spray, Zig 2 Way Glue with wide tip, Craft Smart Off 'N On, and Scotch
Repositionable Craft Stick. There’s another spray adhesive, Scotch Super 77, which does not leave a
sticky surface but is excellent for stabilizing paper and cardstock.
If you are cutting thicker materials, such as oil board or styrene, then you may want to experiment with a
stronger adhesive and use painter’s tape to secure the material to the mat. If you are cutting thin paper,
then you may want to experiment with a lighter adhesive.
Mat
Material
Perfect Length Too Long Too Short