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How to Install a Vinyl Cutting Tool

A vinyl cutting tool is a mechanical device that interlinks with a computer to cut vinyl lettering. A software program instructs the cutting mechanism on the tool how to cut out the letters from the attached vinyl roll. You must install the vinyl roll in the vinyl cutting tool in an exact manner in order to properly use it. You will need to repeat the procedure when you want to change the color of the vinyl or when the vinyl roll runs out.

Things You'll Need

Vinyl cutting tool blade
Vinyl scrap
Needle-nose pliers

Instructions

- 1
  Place the vinyl cutting tool on a table or stand close enough to the computer so that you can reach it with the attached USB cable. Plug in the USB cable to a USB port on the computer.
- 2
  Unscrew the blade tube. Insert the back end of the blade into the front of the tube. Screw in the blade tube until you feel some resistance.
- 3
  Place a scrap of vinyl on a work surface. Press the tip of the blade against the vinyl. Remove the blade.
- 4
  Inspect the vinyl to see if the blade has gone all the way through. If the blade has not gone all the way through, unscrew the blade tube and pull the tip out slightly. Screw the tube back in until you feel some resistance. Repeat the procedure to cut the vinyl scrap. Tighten the tube once the vinyl scrap is cut all the way through. Remove the vinyl scrap from the cutting tool.
- 5
  Use needle-nose pliers to loosen the two nuts at the edge of the protruding tab on the black box-shaped tool carriage at the front end of the cutting tool. Insert the blade tube, blade tip down, into the hole at the top of the blade holder. Raise or lower the tube until its top is even with the topmost nut. Tighten both nuts with the pliers.
- 6
  Locate the wheel next to a spring at the top middle of the tool carriage. Press down on the tube, beneath the wheel, to cause the carriage tool to pivot. Align the two bottom wheels attached to the carriage tool into the tracks running beneath them. Plug the cutter's power cord into a wall outlet.

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