This cant be right, Silhouette SD blade dulls after 2 pages?

[langoleer]

Hey Guys, just got a brand new Silhouette SD and have a question for anyone that uses them. I watched the videos and read up about using it and Pep, gave it a shot and right out the gate the first page I printed was perfect. It actually blew my mind, about a minute and I get a perfectly cut and fold lines preforated even with really intricate stuff.

Now here I am, after printing 3 pages and I'm ready to tear my hair out. It wont cut through the cardstock fully now. I've taken the blade out and put it back it to make sure its seated, I've taken the cap off (pink cap, I'm using 110lb cardstock) and made sure it was clear, and it still wont cut through anything, even running two passes. I called up Silhouette's support number, and as soon as I said 110lb cardstock they just said that can dull the blade with even just one page and to get a new one and stick to 60-80lb stock. I've watched the videos and read on here, I find it hard to believe that 3 pages of 110lb cs just ruined the brand new blade on this thing.

Anyone have any idea whats going on? I was all excited to get to work on dubean's Iron man HD helmet, and now I'm at a standstill with this thing.

 

[Zat German]

None of the CraftRobo caps can cut all the way through 110lbs cardstock. Always took two passes for me. Get an SGS Blade Holder with 60 degree blades and then you can adjust the blade depth to just the right amount to cut the cardstock without touching the holder.

It only worked the first time because the blade was brand new. Two passes should still cut just fine. I used a 45 degree CraftRobo blade for about 50 sheets of 110lbs card stock until I had to resharpen with two passes.

 

[langoleer]

Awesome that's good to know. I just put in an order the SGS holder and 3 of the 60 degree blades, so that should do the trick then. What surprises me is I've done 2 (I think maybe 3 even) passes and it still doesnt go all the way through. which is why I was a little confused about the whole thing.

Also when you say it can adjust to cut the cardstock and not touch the holder, do you mean the cutting mat? the one I was using definitely had the design cut into them a bit, which I would guess then the blade was going way to deep and obviously getting dulled by that then? I was just following that video for 110lb cardstock and using 30 for the depth.

 

[Zat German]

Awesome that's good to know. I just put in an order the SGS holder and 3 of the 60 degree blades, so that should do the trick then. What surprises me is I've done 2 (I think maybe 3 even) passes and it still doesnt go all the way through. which is why I was a little confused about the whole thing.

That is pretty strange. You could try resharpening the blade by putting some heavy duty aluminum foil(regular stuff works too, that is what I used because I did not have any heavy duty) on the mat and cutting circles and curved lines out with RoboMaster.

Also when you say it can adjust to cut the cardstock and not touch the holder, do you mean the cutting mat?

Yeah. My pink cap would chop up the mat but since I put on the SGS holder, I got it dialed in where it does not cut it like before but cuts all the way through the paper. It should make them last a lot longer now.

 

[Fudz073]

Not too familiar with the specific brand of knife but I have tried craft knives before. Honestly my best results were achieved using a utility knife. One side of the blade lasts me at least 10 pages. This is just my experience though.

 

[AKDOV 4670]

LOL!,
Yes sorry to inform you, the blades on this P.o.S machine like to dull very quickly!
And also, when you go to buy replacements, if you do not get the newer model of blade holder(the twist 0-10 thingo), there are 3 different original holders.

Soo to put it straight, the black thingo that holds your blade shaft, there are different versions of it, and they have different blades to fit in them... Lol why'd graphtec do that?, lol why did quick kutz do that? lol what is even the model of my machine???

Sorry, to talk like an incoherent fool but, I'm very dissastisfied with the sillhouette SD. The version of firmware i was given with my factory release wasn't even compatible with pepakura viewer for Craftrobo, I had to manually install the drivers...

It is honestly the worst product i've ever bought in my life, and i only continue using it because i have RSIs in both arms preventing me from cutting the paper myself.

 

[mrmikeman]

I honestly believe the craft cutters waste more time trying to get them to work then they save cutting the paper. I used the same x-acto knife blade for forty sheets of card BOARD. I just sharpened it once or twice with a whet stone and the blade cut like brand new.

 

[Zat German]

I honestly believe the craft cutters waste more time trying to get them to work then they save cutting the paper. I used the same x-acto knife blade for forty sheets of card BOARD. I just sharpened it once or twice with a whet stone and the blade cut like brand new.

No way. My CraftRobo CC100 is a godsend. I have it completely dialed in and it was not much trouble at all. I spend a lot less time cutting and a lot more time building now.

 

[Excallibacca]

If you actually spend a few hours with your Silhouette to get everything dialed in properly, the thing works miracles.

I've never had to use two passes on ANYTHING. There are settings you can change. I've cut over 450 sheets with the blade the machine came with, it still works like the day I got it. I've been through three carriers now, but only due to loss of stickiness.

Just take your time, familiarize yourself with the settings, and no problem. The two hours spent setting up my machine PROPERLY...yeah, I got those two hours back on the first pep piece I did with it.

 

[Black Ops]

I bought a brand new Silhouette SD several months ago and noticed the blades dont last at all..works great when then blade is new...I found a site on ebay where u can get replacement blades for $10 each...