Quick Guide to Cutter Setup

Most vinyl cutters will work with Direct COM (Serial and USB cables) or Direct USB when using Future Corporation Software - see instructions below.

Specific Makes
Makes such as Mimaki and Summa use a custom driver that is selected from the Windows Port and explained in their respective FAQ in the Setup section.

COM/LPT Cutters
Older Cutters will tend to work with Direct COM, especailly when using a Serial (COM) cable or a USB to Serial or Parallel Port Adapater. If you have a cutter that ueses a LPT Printer cable and your computer has a printer port then select Windows Port and the correct LPT Port number.

USB Cutters
Most current vinyl cutters made by manufacturers such as Graphtec, Mutoh and Roland will work using Direct USB.

Chinese Cutters
Most vinyl cutters that are made in China that use a USB cable will work with Direct COM.

The following outlines both setup methods:

Direct COM (includes vinyl cutters that use a USB cable)
First make sure the cutter is switched on, has vinyl loaded and ready to cut a test file.

Next install the cutter driver that came with the cutter or download it from the manufacturer’s website (if you haven't already done so) and open the Vinyl Spooler.

You can open the Vinyl Spooler from the File (menu) > Cut/Plot > Vinyl Spooler.

In the Vinyl Spooler, click on the:

1. Connection tab (top right corner).
2. Click Add and follow through the Setup Wizard or Gateway to add the make and model you have.
3. Once installed restart the Vinyl Spooler and click on the Connection tab.
4. Then in the Connection Method > Port Type, select Direct COM Port from the drop down.
5. Next in the section directly below this, click Detect and follow the instructions in the wizard.

Note: Occasionally the Flow Control and Emulation may need to be adjusted, to see how this is adjusted click here: Emulation and Flow Control

Direct USB
This is easy to set up in the Vinyl Spooler.

First: Make sure the cutter is switched on, has vinyl loaded and ready to cut a test file.

Second: Install the driver that came with the cutter (if you haven’t already done so) and open the Vinyl Spooler.

You can open the Vinyl Spooler from the File (menu) > Cut/Plot > Vinyl Spooler.

In the Vinyl Spooler, click on the: 

1. Connection tab (top right corner).
2. Click Add and follow through the Setup Wizard or Gateway to add the make and model you have.
3. Once installed restart the Vinyl Spooler and click on the Connection tab.
4. Then in the Connection Method > Port Type, select Direct USB Port from the drop down.
5. Then in the USB Port below you should see the Port automatically selected.

Note: if you have more than one virtual USB Port then click Detect (below) and select the cutters USB Port.

Problems? Check the USB driver isn’t reporting any errors in Device Manager and is the most up-to-date driver. You can access Device Manager from the System (menu) in the Vinyl Spooler.

Note: Updating the Port's driver via Device Manager may require that you restart your computer. 

Also and occasionally the Flow Control and Emulation may need to be adjusted, to see how this is adjusted click here: Emulation and Flow Control