Mat Thickness - CMC Blade Depth

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rhop

rhop

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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I have just purchased a Wizard 8000. Got it Friday. Thanks to everyone at Wizard Internation.

How can I determine the thickness of different matboards in order
to determine the blade setting?

I read the thread that was started Feb 22, 2008 but it only confused me. I must admit that it doesn't take much to do that.

Would like to hear your comments. :help:
 
It's going to vary from machine to machine. I have an 8500, and I usually set my mat blade depth for 8-ply at 21, but sometimes 20 is enough, or it needs just a slight turn of the dial beyond 21.

For 4-ply, I generally use 11. For Crescent rag mats, however, I usually need a blade depth of 12. For things like Crescent Moorman suedes and other fabric mats, I go with 14.

I would suggest getting an assortment of different mats and doing some test cuts. See what works best for your particular machine, in your particular environment.

And you know how to go into the software and set a blade depth as a default, right?
 
As Paul says, it varies from machine to machine. Here is what I use on my 8000:

  1. Lineco paper ... 4 or 5
  2. V-grooves ... 7 or 8
  3. 2-ply .... 10
  4. Artique and most Bainbridge 4-ply ... 12
  5. Rag ... 13
  6. Suede ... 14
  7. Linen ... 15 or 16
  8. Leather 15 or 16
  9. Basket weaves ... 16
  10. 8-ply ... 24+ (yes you can crank it up more than 24!)
P.S. Single slip sheet for 8-ply
P.P.S. Set the software blade depth to match the physical blade depth.
 
Thanks guys for the quick replys

Now I need to figure out how to print your comments.

At this point I know more about setting the defaults than cutting mats. I have been so busy framing I have only been able to spend a couple of hours on the CMC. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.

I will probably be asking more questions about the CMC. :p
 
Use these suggestions as starting points. Then just stay late some night and have fun cutting a bunch of small mats from your collection of fallouts. Experiment with the depth settings and make notes. Pretty soon you'll have your own depth guide which you can print up and keep next to your machine.
:cool: Rick
On some types of board I use a two number system like 11/11.5, which means set the cut depth at 11 in the software (which only accepts whole numbers) but set the dial at 11.5.
 
The blade depth setting in the software contibutes to the algorithm determining blade start and stop points. The dial sets the mechanical depth. The numbers are relative numbers based on the "origin" setting of the head of each machine and not absolute measurements.

Thus, Rick's suggestion of not "matching the settings" could work on some machines. Essentially allowing the blade to cut through a mat without creating overcuts. You MUST test your machine.
 
If you don't have the Wizard 5.7 version....

They added a matt library to the CMC software.
It not only tell you the matt board number to put in for 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. mat but also tells you the depth automatically what to set it at when you hit the cut button... oh ya that is so handy!~

No need to have a list anymore.

One thing that is not on there is 1/8" foam core I set it at 24 on my 8500.
I just recently got my 8500 I up graded from a 5000
Zip zip zip zip is all I can say...
 
Rick Granick said:
Use these suggestions as starting points. Then just stay late some night and have fun cutting a bunch of small mats from your collection of fallouts. Experiment with the depth settings and make notes.
Click to expand...



Practice like Rick says but don't forget you can get multiple trys from one blank by nesting your cuts.

IE: set to cut a 3x5 first and then you can try again as a 4x6, 5x7 and so forth.
 
Uncle Eli said:
you can cut foam on the 8500? that's interesting, have you been able to cut thicker than 1/8 or is that about the max?
Click to expand...

Tried cutting the 3/16" the wizard will cut it but you have to cut the bottom paper by hand. Just won't get that last 64th of an inch.
 
Nothing beats measuring!

Do what I do: get an inexpensive but reasonably good set of digital calipers and use it to measure the thickness of your mat. On my Wizard 8000, each number on the dial corresponds to .005" . The recommended 4-ply setting of "10" thus corresponds to .050" I find that Peterboro (my most commonly-used brand) is around .055" or so, so I run the depth at 11 by default. Today I cut a Crescent Museum Solid, and it felt a bit heavier than what I usually cut so I measured it -- .062, so I set it to 13.

You have to pay particular attention to the blade depth when cutting suede or fabric mats -- the usual top paper on these is replaced by a significantly thicker layer.
 
rhop said:
Thanks guys for the quick replys

Now I need to figure out how to print your comments.
Click to expand...


  • Fire up Word, Notepad, whatever
  • Highlight what you want to copy
  • Move over to Word, Notepad, whatever
  • Right click with the mouse anywhere (or go to Edit / Paste from the menu)
  • Go to File / Print
  • (File / Save is a good idea also)
  • Done

Or if you don't mind lots of printed debris:

In your browser click on File / Print (or File / Print Preview) and see what you get...not as pretty as above, but will print it.
 
Even easier:
  • Highlight required text
  • Right click
  • Click print
  • Click 'Selection' button
  • Click print button
It prints only what you highlighted :)
 
Jim...excellent tip about using a caliper!

Thanks. Just had to cut a 6 ply Crescent mat and was going to guess on the depth. Used your caliper trick and it was right on!

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

You so smart...
 
Dave,

There are a lot of smart people on the G. Have they ever lead you wrong?

:D
 
Jim,

I have a friend that has a Wiz 8000 and he uses the same method as you do to determine the blade depth. He uses a micrometer though. Sounds good to me.

:icon19:
 
If you will set a goal of learning just one new thing a day, you will be surprised at how easy it is to try new tasks. I also found it a great help to register on the Wizard website www.wizardint.com and do some research in the education section.

The more you know, the more you want to know!
 
Sister

You are right. I have been visiting the Wiz web site pretty often.
I have only had my CMC for 4 days now. I have been real busy cutting and joining frames that I have only worked with the CMC for about 5 hours total during the 4 days. I'm not complaining about being busy.

Know how to cut mats and use the debosing tool. Haven't gotten into any complex designs yet.

Maybe I need to stay at the shop late and just play with the CMC.
:icon21:
 
It would definitely help to have some quality, quiet time with your CMC. When there are interruptions throughout the day, it is difficult to concentrate and avoid frustration.

My Wizard is down right now--waiting on a new cutting head--and I am going into DTs. Do not hesitate to call tech. support at any time; they are great with the simplest to the most complex without making you feel intimidated.
 
Sister has nailed it. Best way to learn to use the Wizard or any other new toy is to set aside a couple of hours and a lot of scrap material and just play with it.
 
rhop said:
Jim,

I have a friend that has a Wiz 8000 and he uses the same method as you do to determine the blade depth. He uses a micrometer though. Sounds good to me.

:icon19:
Click to expand...

A micrometer will do an equally good job, it's just that a digital caliper is quicker to use and easier to read. If I'm doing machine shop work where I need accuracy down to .001, I'll definitely use a micrometer...
 
We have Mat Designer 5.7 for the Wizard but I can't see where you enter the mat board numbers. What am I missing?

Thanks, PJM
 
PJM said:
We have Mat Designer 5.7 for the Wizard but I can't see where you enter the mat board numbers. What am I missing?

Thanks, PJM
Click to expand...

Pat! I remember you! You did a CMC job for me back before I got my own :)

On the "Cut" screen there's a vertical line of icons on the right. Towards the bottom should be a picture of a blade pointing down. That's the "Blade Depth" button. Click on that and it will let you enter the depths for both bevel cutting and V-grooving.
 
PJM said:
We have Mat Designer 5.7 for the Wizard but I can't see where you enter the mat board numbers. What am I missing?

Thanks, PJM
Click to expand...

Make a mat.
Go to properties tab
Click the boarder on your mat so it shows the outside width & height of mat
Then right under that you will see "Layers"
It will have a drop down box arrow to select a mat
Or you can type the mat board # in if you know it, Ie. C63297.

If you have more than one layer there will be more than one drop down box.

then when you go to cut screen it will tell what board for what layer then when you click cut it will then tell you the blade depth to set your blade...

Sooo cool.
 
The version of Mat designer says 5.7.etc but it looks the same as 5.6. There is no pull down menu or levels in the properties area. I can't figure it out. I guess that I will call Wizard on Monday.

Yes Jim P that was me and I can set the blade depth that way but with 5.7 you should be able to enter the mat number by vendor and the blade depth will be selected.

Thanks, Pat
 
PJM said:
The version of Mat designer says 5.7.etc but it looks the same as 5.6. There is no pull down menu or levels in the properties area. I can't figure it out. I guess that I will call Wizard on Monday.
Click to expand...

There should be an option on the 5.7 CD to install Content Management (CM). It's a "lite" version of the software we now ship with our POS to manage products, and it basically installs the database that allows you to select mat skus.

Incidentally, if you use MatDesigner 5.7 with Retail Management, you can bring up designs in MatDesigner straight from RM with the skus already selected, and therefore it will tell you to change the dial setting if you need to.
 
Thank you Steve, that did it. I would have never thought of installing that. I can now enter the mats by vendor number.

Thanks to all who responded to my 5.7 question.

Pat
 
There ya go Pat!~
I knew it was something easy as that.....

I have the Wizard Retail management.
Retail management does transfer the mat info to the MatDesign software.
If you start in the MatDesigner software it will auto fill it when you send it to the Retail Management software..

With the 5.7 it will automatically then tell you what thickness to set the blade at when you cut each layer. So if you have differnet thicknesses of board on each layer it will make sure you readjust the depth of the blade.
 
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