Problem Speed-Mat Model 4060 Over-cuts Issue

[Adell]

I have a Speed-mat Model 4060 Wall-Mounted Mat Cutter that is over-cutting our mattes in the corners quite a bit regardless of adjustments.

I have followed the FAQ on the Speed-mat website and adjusted as best as I can in order to alleviate the over-cuts but to no avail. Still getting over-cuts even when setting the blade depth according to the guide on the site.

The mattes we are using are standard thickness, nothing fancy. Using the same mattes for backing.

Also this is my first post here and I'm relatively new to cutting mattes - especially on this thing, please direct me into the right place if I seem lost.

 

[Adell]

Bumping for visibility.

I've sent the blade foot mechanism to Speed-mat for servicing and have gotten it back and it looks better than it did for sure. As for functionality, I'm still having the same issue. I think, in this case, I'm just plain dumb. Can someone help or give suggestions?

 

[Mike Labbe]

Was it recently that you was able to reach them? I was under the impression from previous posts that they have been unresponsive for the past couple years. If so, fantastic!

I don't have a solution, but we used to have one of these when we opened in 2002. It did require factory refurbishment every 2-3 years, to make it cut well again. (We had to mail the head in) We since moved to a CMC, but it was very capable.

Are you using the same brand of blades as before, when it was cutting properly?

Hopefully someone who is using one can chime in with some timely and useful advice.

Mike

 

[Adell]

Was it recently that you was able to reach them? I was under the impression from previous posts that they have been unresponsive for the past couple years. If so, fantastic!

I don't have a solution, but we used to have one of these when we opened in 2002. It did require factory refurbishment every 2-3 years, to make it cut well again. (We had to mail the head in) We since moved to a CMC, but it was very capable.

Are you using the same brand of blades as before, when it was cutting properly?

Hopefully someone who is using one can chime in with some timely and useful advice.

Mike

Hey Mike!

Yes, speed-mat, from my experience, is mostly a mom/son duo where they basically do service on the parts - they just don't manufacture them. I was able to get in touch with them through email. They've been going through a lot of personal matters the last time I spoke with them. But I'm glad to know they're still doing things, but idk for how much longer. Here's hoping many more years!

And I believe they're the same brand of blades. I compared the ones I have to the ones I saw on their website and the literature for these kinds of cutters and they look correct.

I would love to move onto a CMC someday, though. May look into that and save up.

I really appreciate your response. I'm hoping someone has had a similar problem where they found a solution. I just wonder if I have my knife head set in a way it ought not to be.

EDIT: Forgot to respond to the question.

 

[Nikodeumus]

Did a Google search filtered by videos and found this.
I don't know if it is the same as your machine, but might have some useful info?

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

If nothing else, it's fun to watch an old VHS dubbed niche market instructional video.

 

[Adell]

Did a Google search filtered by videos and found this.
I don't know if it is the same as your machine, but might have some useful info?

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

If nothing else, it's fun to watch an old VHS dubbed niche market instructional video.

Nothing super useful (yet) But those fancy cuts are something I'd like to do eventually.

This is super entertaining though - I appreciate you sending this my way! There was another video where a guy was giving a tutorial on a machine like mine, but he glossed over the part that I needed to know about the blade setting hahahah

 

[MarkyW]

It did require factory refurbishment every 2-3 years, to make it cut well again.

I've been using my Speed-Mat for about 35 years. I have never had anything factory serviced on it and it cuts great. Zero overcut. That said, I am way overdue on taking everything apart and giving it a good cleaning and lube.

Regarding the question on adjustments for the overcut, I'm not sure what to do. The only thing that is coming to my mind, and I'm not sure this will affect the overcut or not, but there is a nylon foot that slides against the mat. That has an adjustment on it that says "Thickness" and has the numbers 0, 1, 2. I have mine set to a little less than 1. And then I set my blade to just barely cut through the mat.

Check that Thickness setting. If it's at 1, try setting it slightly less than 1 and use the depth screw adjustment to just barely go through the mat. The nice thing about a Speed-Mat is that if it doesn't go through all the way, just adjust the depth screw a little deeper and cut again. It will go in the exact same cut no problem.

 

[k2kv]

Hi Adell,
I recently re-started matting some of my prints after a very long hiatus and several residence moves, and was experiencing one badly hooked corner (on the first cut only) with my 3240, that made my first horizontal cut look like it was raised in the upper left corner, lower on the right. Was making me crazy and no matter what I did, I could not resolve. In the end, I pulled the carriage off and cleaned the tracks and rollers (made no difference) and then pulled the blade depth back until it actually seemed too shallow to cut through the mat, while also adjusting the blade support screw (several times) to just touch the blade when extended, and this solved the problem!

The knife head adjustments are a bit sensitive; it's ok to adjust more over or under than what the instruction manual tells you...

Hope this helps,
Jeff