## Introduction
Vinyl cutter is a computer-controlled machine which cuts thin vinyl into shapes like logo and stickers. This machine was the first to learn about in the prefab academy.
Inkscape was the first thing I did, this software helps improving the quality of an image by first converting it to vector then back to raster. I have downloaded the software using the following commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:inkscape.dev/stable
sudo apt update
sudo apt install inkscape
The program GUI
The idea behind using vector graphics is to produce a 1000dpi image. Images from the internet cannot guarantee this quality so inkscape is used.
After opening the software, I have opened the logo from File --> Open then I have converted the image to vector using Trace Bitmap in Path option.
As shown in the following image, I have chose the option Brightness steps. My image is already with transparent background so I did not choose Remove Background.
After I have pressed OK, I got the new image beside the old one as shown in the following image.
Next step was the scale the logo down to the needed dimensions, to do so I have locked the dimensions and chose the mm option then I have changed the dimensions to 40x29.205 mm.
The last step before exporting the logo was to place the logo inside the borders with the required margins form File --> Document Properties. I have placed it with a margin of 5px each side as shown in the following image.
Now that the logo is ready, I have exported as PNG from File --> Export as PNG
After I have exported the logo (I will cut Jaguar logo), I have started to set up the vinyl cutter.
Photo 7 shows the Pen force, by default it is 0. Pen force is the force exerted by the cutter on the vinyl.
Photo 8 shows the place of the cutter, it should be hard to notice the cutting edge, otherwise the cutting edge will touch the machine bottom.
Photo 9 shows the vinyl roll.
After setting up the machine, I have downloaded fab software which is used to convert the image into .rml file and send it to the machine from this link, then installed the dependencies by the following command sudo apt-get install python python-wxgtk2.8 python-dev python-pip gcc g++ libpng12-dev libgif-dev make bash okular libboost-thread-dev libboost-system-dev cmake
, python was not installed so I had a problem, but I solved it by downloading python wxgtk2.8 and the the command worked. Finally I have finished installing the fab program by the following commands make fab
and make install
.
The next step was to set up the communication between my pc and the machine. To do this I have opened a firefox tab and wrote localhost:631
, At first nothing appeared on the page so I searched the problem and found that a software called cups should be installed. From administration I have added the machine as a printer successfully from the first try.
Last thing to do was to stick the logo, usually a transformation paper is used, but instead I have used a tape. Don't stick the logo directly like the following photo.