MatDesigner: MatDesigner Cut Preview User Guide: Cutting the Mat

On the cut preview screen under layer, click on the desired layer.

Current layer indicator is highlighted in red.

Current layer on mat preview is displayed in red.

To cut a different layer, click on the desired layer.

Alternatively, click on the +/- next to layer to select the desired layer.

After cutting, the software automatically rolls over to the next layer to cut unless Continuous Layer has been checked.

Make sure you have two layers of disposable matboard of adequate size underneath the mat to be cut. A layer may need to be temporarily removed for thicker matboard.

Have two layers of adequate size of disposable matboard under mat to be cut. A layer can be temporarily removed for thicker matboard.
Cut preview indicates if current layer cuts from front/back of the mat, which determines how to place matboard into the CMC.

Back means to cut from back of the mat. Place back of mat toward user, facing away from CMC.

Make sure matboard nestles tightly into horizontal and vertical clamps of the CMC.

Front means to cut from front of mat. Place front of mat toward user, facing away from CMC.

Make sure matboard nestles tightly into horizontal and vertical clamps of the CMC.

NOTE: V-Grooves and ALL openings on that layer will automatically cut from the front, therefore, there is a separate configuration for these openings (i.e., Normal Bevel - Front of Mat). Keep this in mind if you need to adjust configurations.

When matboard has been placed in the CMC, click Cut to cut the current mat.

If the motors are disengaged, MatDesigner will prompt to Align the Head. When the motors are disengaged, the gantry can be moved easily back and forth and the head moves easily up and down on the gantry.

If the head is aligned but a different cartridge or blade depth is needed, user will be prompted to change the blade cartridge and/or the blade depth.

User may be prompted that there is no power available to the Driver pack/ECU.

Make sure USB Cable is plugged into both driver pack/ECU and USB Port.

Turn on driver pack by flipping toggle in back to “1” (1 is on, 0 is off).

If the current layer uses a different cartridge or is a different thickness than the last layer cut, the user is prompted to change the cartridge/blade depth.

Change the cartridge/blade depth as instructed and click Ok.

Note: Increasing the air pressure will increase the blade depth.

Select the desired layer on the Cut Preview.

Click the Blade Depth button to open the Blade Depth Screen.

Click the checkbox for Dense and change the Blade Depth to the appropriate setting for this matboard.

Click Ok. The Cut Preview displays the dense layer with an asterisk and indicates that this layer is dense.

The Head plunges at the home position and applies the current pressure and displays a prompt to adjust the head pressure to the high setting.

Pull out the air regulator pressure knob by pulling it to the left.

Turn the air regulator pressure knob clockwise until the marker on the gauge is at the high setting.

Make sure the gauge does not go above 60 psi.

Push the air regulator pressure knob back in by pushing it to the right.

Click OK to cut the mat with this setting.

Note: Decreasing the air pressure will decrease the blade depth.

The head air regulator is located on the left side of the head, and controls the air pressure of the head as it is cutting. The air pressure is applied when the head is cutting.

The minimum air pressure should be 35 psi, otherwise the blade may not cut through the matboard.

The maximum air pressure should be around 60 psi to avoid crushing the matboard.

The MatDesigner software will prompt for a head pressure change only if the current mat is a different setting than the previously cut mat. All designs come to the Cut Preview with Dense unchecked on the Blade Depth Screen. Returning to the editor and going to the Cut Preview resets the layers to typical matboard with Dense unchecked.

Click Cut and Align the Head if requested.

The Head plunges at the home position and applies the current pressure and displays a prompt to adjust the head pressure to the low setting.

Pull out the air regulator pressure knob by pulling it to the left.

Turn the air regulator pressure knob counter-clockwise until the marker on the gauge is at the low setting.

Make sure the gauge does not go below 35 psi.

Push the air regulator pressure knob back in by pushing it to the right.

Click OK to cut the mat with this setting.

This setting is only for the 90° Cartridge and will not take affect if another cartridge is selected. This setting will allow the 90° Cartridge to cut at a slower pace.

Select the desired layer on the Cut Preview.

Click the Blade Depth button to open the Blade Depth Screen.

Click the checkbox for Dense (and change the Blade Depth to the appropriate setting for this matboard.

Click the checkbox for Extra Dense Material.

Adjust the slidebar to the percentage of cutting speed. For instance, 50% is 50% of the standard cutting speed.

Click Ok. The Cut Preview displays the dense layer with an asterisk with pound sign and indicates that this layer is extra dense.

Click Cut the cut the mat and Align the Head if requested.

A prompt to adjust the head pressure to the high setting displays.

Pull out the air regulator pressure knob by pulling it to the left.

Turn the air regulator pressure knob clockwise until the marker on the gauge is at the high setting.

Make sure the gauge does not go above 60 psi.

Push the air regulator pressure knob back in by pushing it to the right.

Click OK to cut the mat with this setting.

NOTE: If you do not have a license for the 45°+ cartridge, this feature will not be available.

Select 8-ply matboard from the matboard library, or change the blade depth dial to 8-ply setting.

Click blade depth button on the cut preview and select the matching blade depth setting in the software.

Click Ok.

Click cut.

Insert the 45°+ cut cartridge when prompted.

See Measuring Blade Depth for specific instructions.

V-Grooves and openings on that layer will automatically cut from the front.

There is a separate configuration for these openings (i.e., Normal Bevel - Front of Mat) because they are cut from the front of the mat.

Place mat face up on CMC (facing you).

Make sure matboard nestles tightly into horizontal and vertical clamps of the CMC.

If the current layer uses a different cartridge or is a different thickness than the last layer cut, the user is prompted to change the cartridge and the blade depth to V-Groove depth.

Change the cartridge/blade depth as prompted and click Ok.

The V-Groove cuts.

A prompt displays to change blade depth knob to matboard setting.

Change the blade depth knob to the requested setting.

Click Ok.

The openings on the same layer as the V-Groove will now cut.

Have one layer of adequate size of disposable matboard under mat to be cut on the CMC 8500e; two layers for the CMC 8000. A layer can be temporarily removed for thicker matboard.

Never pull/push on the drive shaft to move the gantry. Use the gantry arm.

If motors to the CMC have been idle (i.e., head moves easily up and down with no power to motors), or a cut has been aborted, the head has to be aligned for the next cut.

Rotate the foot block into the 12 O’Clock position, with the blade cartridge on top of the head.

Holding it about an inch above the bottom rail, slide the gantry and the head assembly to the left edge of the CMC until it stops.

Then slide the head down until the foot block rests against the head alignment stop.

Click on the align screen.

The head will align to the home position.