Knife Pressure affects how deep into the media the knife will cut. Ideally you want to cut deep enough to cut through the label layer on the top but not so deep that you cut through the backing paper (liner).

When you cut through the backing paper your label will not peel cleaning off the backing paper. You will also score the wear strip under the cutting knife which can cause the knife tip to break. You will also need to replace the wear strip more often if you cut too deep.

By default, the cutter is calibrated to work with High Gloss Paper Media. However, other media types will need more or less cut pressure to cut properly.

Each roll of media and each knife is different. Therefore we recommend starting with Knife Pressure -10 and Stretch Factor 0. First use the ’Send Test Print’ button to check the actual cut using those initial settings. Finding the correct setting for your media/knife combination will probably require a few test prints so that you can gradually adjust the knife pressure if the cut is too deep or too low. Change the settings moderately in one to two intervals to a positive (if the cut is not deep enough) or negative (if the cut is too deep) value.

Knife Stretch Factor can be increased or decresed to compensate for different feed thicknesses and textures of media. Thickness and texture can affect the feed speed of the media causing a media to feed slower or faster. This will cause the height/length of your cut to be shorter. If you find that your cut height/length is longer or shorter than the height specificied in the PTCreate software, you may need to increase or decrease the strech factor. Increasing this value will create a longer cut, decreasing it will create a shorter cut. Change the settings moderately in one to two intervals to a positive (if the print is longer than the cut) or negative (if the print is shorter than the cut).

Adjusting Knife Pressure over time. Eventually, the knife blade will begin to wear and require more cut pressure to cut at the same depth as when it was brand new and sharper. Therefore, you may need to add cut pressure when cutting any media even the High Gloss Paper.

To determine if cut pressure should be increased or decreased, follow these steps.

1. Print and cut 1 copy and then attempt to peel the label from the liner.
2. Check for tear. If the label tears when you remove it, you will need to increase the cut pressure. Increase pressure in small increments to avoid over compensating and cutting through the liner.
3. Check the liner. Once you peel up the label, check the liner. If it has been cut through, decrease pressure.
4. Continue increasing or decreasing pressure until the label no longer tears when removed or the liner is not cut through.

Note about Magnetic Media. The recommended starting knife pressure for the magnetic media is 22. This media is not meant to be cut all the way through because there is no liner. Instead, this knife pressure setting is meant to score the magnetic media so that it can be removed by hand after printing. In some cases, it may be necessary to tear the outer excess material from the intended shape.

If you do cut all the way through this media, it can damage the wear strip, break the knife tip or cause media jams.