If the contour cut is off from the printed image, you should first perform the Sensor Position Adjustment on the cutter. If the cut continues to be inaccurate you may need to use the Output Size Compensation. What is Output Size Compensation?

Output Size Compensation 

Output Size Compensation allows the Production Manager to compensate for size variables such as thicknesses of different materials, shrinkage, and expansion due to heat and other factors. Variables like these can cause the Print Jobs to print at a slightly different size then the original design size. This is also the same also for the contour cut from the vinyl cutter.

Here are the instructions for the Output Size Compensation found in the Production Manager.

  • Open the Production Manager.
  • Right click on the second line for your cutter in the list of devices (For Example: Q54)
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  • Select Output Size Compensation from the menu. This will bring up the Output Size Compensation window.

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Test Size is the size of the box that the cutter will make. Increasing the test size to 24 inch may allow for a more exact measurement, resulting in a more precise outcome than if using only the 12 inch test size.

  • With the laminated material loaded in the cutter, click the Test Print button to have it cut a box.
  • Once the cutter is done, measure the size of the box.
  • Enter the measured width and length into the Measured Size fields as a decimal using the chart below.

 

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After entering the measured sizes you'll see the Compensation Factor change.

  • Select the box next to Enable Output Size Compensation.
  • Click Apply and then click OK.

You should only make the compensation adjustment once. Do not make the mistake of thinking that if you do it once and it comes out good, doing it a second time will make it even better. It doesn't work that way. You'll end up frustrated with the results because it will actually throw the compensation off, making it worse than it was to begin with.

Before cutting a regular job without contour lines, you may need to go back and disable this compensation.