Help needed

I got an expression for christmas from DH (love him loads!!!), the first one didn't work properly so was sent back and has now been replaced. I am now having problems that the cuts don't seem to line up properly at the beginning and end of the shape, so there is approx 1cm overlapping notchy thind, and shapes aren't quite right (eg squares aren't quite square etc) It doesn't appear to happen everytime, so not sure if it might be the settings etc.

Really excited to have found this forum!!

Emma

Emma,

Lovely to have you on board. Now as for your problem I personally have not come across this but some basics you may or may not have done have you checked the pressure and cutting depth. Did you pepare your mat prior to use? What medium are you trying to cut? Does it only happen with one cart or more than one cart? Did you buy it from the UK?

Thanks for the welcome, its a bit random when it happens but has happened on more than one shape. I currently only have the 2 cartridges which it cam with!!

I have played with the depths etc and have now got a guide from the internet for settings etc. It cuts through really well, just has they little notches at the beginning sometimes. I think I'm just being a bit picky.

I didn't do anything to the mat, was I supposed to?

Emma

When you are using a new mat it is recommended that you play pat a cake with your hands over the surface so that some of the extra stickiness is removed and you are left with a more even stick, otherwise some papers will tear when you are trying to remove the cuts. Cricut Dan has a video about it on you tube I think but certainly he covers it on his blog. Which carts came with the Expression? I have never noticed any notches, are you sure the card is stuck down all over and not moving when you are cutting? Sometimes you can have odd carts that dont cut quite right but it does normally come down to size, and settings on a particular paper. Paper/cardstock does make a big difference to the end cut and of course certain cuts are better cut at certain sizes - hope that makes sense and is not too obvious. If you do not find your answer perhaps PM My Pink Stamper she has introduced herself on a thread here and has loads of instructional vidoes on her blog and produces DVD's. You can always do a member search for her and get her details.

hun, just check to see if your balde housing screw is screwed up tightly enough, i know mine comes loose occasionally and that makes it cut wibbly, especially if i have cut something thicker and not got my blade depth quite right.
Hugs
Lou xx

Thanks for the tips. I have tried tightening the screw on the blade housing, and it is as tight as I can get it, but still having the same problem. Have tried (not sure it will work) to put a photo on so that you can see the sort of thing its doing.

Thanks again
Emma

To me it looks like either the card or mat is moving or the blade isn't perpendicular. Now if you have tightened the blade up as much as you can and it happens to both cartridges then I would say something is faulty with the machine and it needs exchanging. Not sure what other folks think, if they agree with me or not, but I would be going back to the retailer you had it through before too much time passes. Mine dont cut like that unless the card/paper stock has moved whilst cutting.
An after thought, if you hold the needle housing between your fingers does it feel rigid or will it 'waggle' in your fingers?

Thanks again for your suggestions. I have tried waggling it, and it feels solid. Just the whole back bit moves up and down which I assume it's supposed to? This is the second one I've had, as I sent the first one back to the retailer, and they replaced it, and this one started off fine, but after about 10 cuts, has started doing the same thing, so am convinced it's me!! AAaaaarrrrggghhhhh.......

Did you buy it from a local supplier or online? You could always send them a photo of how it is cutting by email and see what they say?

Wow, speedy response, thanks. It as online, have already emailed to say that the new machine is having the same problem and this is the reply I had.

"I'm sure from what you say that it is a settings issue ..........& you haven't mentioned the speed setting you are using. More complex cuts work better with slower cutting speed, not what I think the instructions say.
Is the cut in your photo from Plantin Schoolbook? This cartridge can have issues with some shapes which don't match up & need a bit of manual fine tuning.
I would suggest starting with the blade & pressure on 4 & speed 3 & see how that goes.
If it is not right try just adjusting one dial & try again, it may take a while to get it right but it's well worth it.
I hope this helps."

Thanks again for all you helpful tips and comments. Really helps to discuss with people who know a bit more about the cricut than me.

Emma

Emma

I have sent an email to one of our US experienced crafters, Shelia aka Sassy Lady and asked her if she can pop on and look at your request for help and see if she can suggest anything we have not suggested. Fingers crossed she can off you some help and advice.

Which company are offering this advice as it is not a complicated cut you are showing in the picture?

I hate to be the barer of bad news, but I would contact provocraft for advise on this matter. About a year ago they had a bunch of expressions that were doing this and they tried a few calibrations that tech support suggested and then ended up replacing many of them. The good news is it is still under warranty and PC will help you.
I have to ask that before you do, make sure you are using a clean mat that there are no scraps on as that will cause the blade to jump and they will ask about your mat. Also check your blade by pulling the housing out and just pushing down on the end it will casue the blade to come out without falling out. If the blade is full of dust or debris it can cause these problems to. You see some paper just causes debris and it is worth checking as it could just be that.
My best wishes to you. Let us know how it works out for you..... personally I am hoping you used one of those papers that creates havoc and it will be a quick solution.
Sheila aka SassyLady

Thanks Sheila. Would Emma's route be Provocraft as she is in the UK or should it be the supplier as the machine is only a few weeks if that old?

First I would try the supplier to see if they will replace it as it is the easiest route. If they won't help then Provocraft.
If Emma just got it a couple of weeks ago and has the receipts they just may exchange it.

Thanks Sheila for the help and advice.

Thanks everybody for you help. My husband bought it from Hazels Crafts online shop. They have been very helpful in replacing it the first time, but are understandably a bit unsure about replacing it a second time. They have asked me to send down some sample cuts and samples of the card/paper used, and tell them which cart and shape I've used, which I am doing. Would anybody help me out, but just trying some of the shapes I have had the biggest problems with, and see if I've just been unlucky and picked shapes that have a bit of a "glitch".

Could anybody try Accent Essentials #29 shadow on lightweight card stock, or Plantin schoolbook rectangl, or Mickey mouse font square shadow.

Could you post on here if you get anything looking like the photo above, and also let me know if it comes out fine.

Also, I was thinking, I am in Bury, Lancs, and wondered if there is anybody with an expression fairly local, who wouldn't mind me bringing mine round for you to look at, to see if there is something glaringly obvious that I have done wrong??? I know it's a big ask, and a bit cheeky!!

Thanks againg for all you help so far.

Emma

Emma, nothing is cheeky on this forum, the whole purpose of it is to help each other wherever we can. So please dont feel awkward asking. I can understand the shops reluctance but as it is a known issue in the USA it is something I would hope as a distributor that they are aware of and if in doubt they should be contacting Provocraft, although I doubt they are buying direct from US and are probably using a distributor abroad to roder from, their name escapes me at the moment. There was a UK official distributor that gave up their distributorship because of various reasons and then after this Create and Craft announced they were the official UK distributors. There is a lady in the UK that works officially demonstrating on behalf of UK, she also runs her own craft shop I will try and find her name for you.

Perhaps you should tell us what sizes you have been cutting the shapes in and we can do an exact replica, have you been using a sprecific cardstock so we can re-create the cuts as near as possible?

Thanks again, I have been cutting between 1.5 inches and 2.5 inches, and have been using stampin up cardstock. Hope this helps.

EMma

Now we do have a Stamping Up distributor so perhaps if I search the grey cells it would be good to ask her to have a go, I think it is Kat but will check it out for you.

I have some Stampin Up Kraft cardstock, so I could try some cuts this afternoon.

That would be good Kerry, I dont have any so can't help on this one.

Hope this is clear enough. I cut the shapes at 2" and 21/2" on Speed 4 and Pressure 5. You can just see a couple of marks where the cut joins up, but they are not as bad as your cuts. I definitely think your Expression needs checking out.

Hi! i'm back from work now, does anyone need me to do anything?

Hi Kat I was thinking you would have more experience with the Stampin Up cardstock and could answer of check the cuts for Emma on some Stampin Up cardstock so she can argue her point over the Expression with her supplier. I thought you might have tips and tricks with the cardstock for her to check out. Kerry has done her a couple of cuts and photographed them so any input you can give Emma would be more than welcome on this issue.

Well these are my settings and I only use SU cardstock for solid colours (people will disagree because i probably go through mats quicker than some, but my cuts are pretty much always perfect:

Pressure Max (5 of 5)
Have your blade depth on 4
Speed high (4 of 5)

What settings are you using?