Shapeoko Drag Knife Vinyl Cutter

[@First_Class_Amateur]

You are the grand marshal of the AWESOME parade.

[@cukymonster33]

Very nice design. I like your way of spring loading it.

[@klave8511]

Very good video, thanks. I see you set the cut depth with the blade and use the spring to press the knife holder right down onto the material. I was thinking that you were going to set the depth on the CNC. Makes good sense. This is also how some custom designed pcb milling machines work (except they use compressed air as an air layer to hover the spindle a fraction of a mm above the pcb).

[@mikegustafson6679]

can you share a little more info on making this part? Like the size of extrusion, what material you used and what dragknife you purchased? Great idea!

[@ArnaudMEURET]

Lots of useful operational details for someone like me who just purchased one of these ultra-cheap drag knives. 👍 **One question**: The blade holder has a built-in spring dampener (on the blade side) so I was wondering why you chose to add the big spring. Was the pressure too weak to your taste ?

[@popanollie1]

so much useful information here. thank you. i have a 3d printer and am considering trying using it for cutting. your video has enough info that i am now confident i can do this.

[@PiefacePete46]

I first watched your video not long after you posted it. Recently I decided to build a simple plotter / vinyl cutter. I have assembled the components, including a knife and holder the same as you used. What I have been unable to work out was if the knife holder actually slides on the vinyl. If it slides on the vinyl, is the actual depth of cut controlled by the knurled thunbwheel? Many thanks for the video.

[@etischer]

yes, the aluminum holder slides on the vinyl, and the depth of cut is determined by how far the blade protrudes from the holder. It's set by turning the knurled nut. The end of the aluminum holder has a sharp chamfer on it, I sanded it down so its more rounded like a fillet so it glides easier. hope that helps!

[@georgel4730]

You think that knife would work on cutting leather?

[@etischer]

If might work for a split hide, you might need to experiment with different blade angles, and might need to make multiple passes.

[@ronniebedenbaugh2469]

Good job sir. I'm just using tape to hold down the vinyl. I've also been using a sharpie and paint pen adapter to create posters.

[@bakerzain4877]

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[@chrismiles1927]

@Baker Zain Instablaster :)

[@bakerzain4877]

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[@bakerzain4877]

@Chris Miles it worked and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thank you so much, you saved my ass :D

[@chrismiles1927]

@Baker Zain You are welcome :)

[@menjemsaperdiu]

looks really good! That is exactly what I eas looking for. Is that possible to buy it? I would need it for the shapeoko 4.

[@MHdeJong87]

Really clever and nice solution! Thanks for sharing! Way better than de mount I had in mind (3d printed parts with lm8uu and smooth rods, wit compression springs between it).

[@ald.3449]

Do you sell that attachment

[@woosopstkd]

can you cut marine Vinyl with this set up?

[@robrobsworkshop]

Dude. That's awesome!

[@bocus9001]

Hi Sir, can you please let me know which software you used to program gcode file and knife cut parameters you used. my machine is controlled by mach3 interface

[@etischer]

Carbide Create, it's free

[@saltysoulcreations8537]

Fantastic design, great job!

[@curtthackeray8967]

Great video! I I have a Laguna IQ C-N-C machine. And a Dog River Drag Knife. I am using VCarve Pro for the software. I can't get the G-Code to not press the blade FAR into the work surface. I can't use the touch plate, either. How do you get the machine to not try to go beyond the thin surface? Please help me with this! Thanks!

[@Novoworks]

Spring and allowing the knife holder to ride up and down seems to solve that issue mainly

[@michaelwenmanK7USN]

Ordered parts for this.. will be making soon. question is in Carbide Create. what are you setting stock thickness too for the vinyl? .004 perhaps? Also how are you setting Z zero? And. if not doing letters but other graphics, how are you accounting for tip offset?

[@etischer]

I set XYZ zero with the cutter compressed a few mm in Z. Next, jog Z up 10mm so the tip is hovering above the vinyl around 8mm, and reset z back to zero again. In carbide create, you can now set your cut depth to 10mm, and the cutter will cut with the blade spring compressed about 2mm.

[@BlueLineofthesky]

Your work is so nice. I have a Stepcraft style machine. It is smaller but sturdy. I try to cut really small vinyl letters and Oh, boy I have issues. When I engrave aluminum or brass with a diamond drag tip all is OK. If I mount a cutter plotter knife, similar to yours in this video...my letters are all messed up. The machine is cutting all corners. Even the circles are not round,.. It is so simplified, melted like letters. The size of the front is 16. I set the stroke thickness at 0,1 mm. Very low plunge rate and low feed rate. The Knife is mounted in the router place. I have plastic bushing that fits well in my aluminum elastic bushings that normally hold the spindle. It is very little movement between the plastic bushing and the body of the plotter knife. Instead of a spring, I am using a rubber band to allow the cutter to move up and down as needed. My vinyl is Oracal of 75 thickness and it is very well mounted on the CNC bed with the double-sided scotch band. I am using a 60-degree knife. I had similar results with the 45-degree knife. It is so annoying because with a diamond tip engraving device I can engrave all kinds of metals but vinyl cutting with the cutter plotter knife is such a challenge. Even simple shapes like small squares and ovals or rounds are wobbly and simplified. Cutting corners and such....

[@klave8511]

Stepcraft has a video on using their cutter, might be some useful tips there for you, mainly about Vectric settings.

[@BlueLineofthesky]

@@klave8511 thank you.

[@visagemoto]

1 mm thickness leather letter can cutt ? also price plz ?

[@nccyr1]

This was really informative, thank you!

[@charleshenson7780]

Very good way to use a vinyl cutter. Thanks

[@michaelwenmanK7USN]

what did you cut your parts out of? is that a 1 x 1 extrustion? what length? do you have links to the materials? Is this just using 1/4-20 hardware?

[@etischer]

The white plastic is HDPE, I buy it from the scrap bin at Tap Plastics. The extrusion is 1"x1" channel, and I'm using 1/4" 20 screws.

[@andygoldring]

What length

[@ArielBaravalle]

where you buy the cutting tool?

[@digitizer101]

Curious where did you get the Drag knife from looking to do this on my X-Carve maybe.

[@etischer]

Here's the kit I bought www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PF7W5VD

[@f1pitpass]

thanks for the radius tips!

[@iamamo2min595]

Nice, hey mate I was wondering if you have a plan to talk about solar systems just a future idea

[@etischer]

I have done a video on my solar install: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oX2xnqp5jNJqa6M

[@iamamo2min595]

@@etischer yeah what I meant was more videos about inverters, panels MPPTs, batteries etc .....

[@JBERGALIEN]

good Job friend...

[@myk3l9675]

This is amazing!!

[@vietnamcrafts5645]

Thank you for the video!

[@graveurgraveur2691]

Well done!!!

[@Mara941]

Youre a genius!

[@a2zgames953]

Very helpful information

[@bentebrunsvelt319]

Good idee 👍👍😎

[@Bart_Depestele]

4:22 right .. :D