Look closely at
the photo below and you will see the arm on which the cutting
blade is attached.
(It's the silver bar located between #3 and #4).
To
the left of the #3, are several indentations.
These indentations are called "detents". These detents
make it possible to easily and accurately adjust your AC-1 to
any of the following button sizes: 1", 1-1/2", 2-1/4",
3", or 3-1/2".
If you don't see these detents, the arm likely has been rotated
to be used for a button size for which there is no detent, such
as 1-1/4", BAM 2-1/4" or BAM 3") and those detents
are facing down.
To adjust the diameter
of the cut the AC-1 makes, you first need to loosen the plastic
screw (#2). Turn the screw counter-clockwise
two or three revolutions until you can slide the cutting blade adjustment
arm back and forth with your fingers. Don't loosen the screw any further
than that or the spring underneath will likely pop off and you
don't want that to happen.
As
you move the cutting blade
arm side to side, you should be able to feel a snap as a spring
loaded ball that is housed inside the cutter snaps into one of
the detents. When the ball snaps into one of those detents, the
AC-1 cutter is set to cut one of the button sizes shown below.
To make the cuts
for a 1"
button made with the Model 100, move the cutting blade arm so the detent closest to the cutting blade is
engaged.
To make the cuts
for a 1-1/2"
button made with the Model 150 MS, move
the cutting
blade arm
so so the
second detent to the right of the cutting blade is engaged.
To make the cuts
for a 2-1/4"
button made with the Model 225, move
the cutting
blade arm
so so the
third detent to the right of the cutting blade is engaged.
To make the cuts
for a 3"
button made with the Model 300 SX, move
the cutting
blade arm
so so the
fourth detent to the right of the cutting blade is engaged.
To make the cuts
for a 3-1/2"
button made with the Model 350 LS, move
the cutting
blade arm
so so the
fifth detent to the right of the cutting blade is engaged.
After making any adjustments, be sure to re-tighten the adjustment
screw (#2).
To use the AC-1 to make the cuts for our Mini-Magic 1-1/4" button machine
or a BAM 1-1/4" button machine, simply follow the
instructions shown below to set the AC-1 cutter for use with
BAM 2-1/4" or BAM 3" machines.
Using the
AC-1 cutter to cut designs for a Badge-A-Minit 2-1/4"
or Badge-A-Minit 3" machines
Badge
A Minit's 2-1/4" buttons don't actually measure 2-1/4"
and Badge A Minit's 3" buttons don't actually measure 3",
so you CANNOT use the detents on the AC-1 circle cutter
to set the size cuts you need for making buttons with Badge-A-Minit
machines. (If you do, the 2-1/4" cuts will be too small
and the 3" cuts will be too big).
But
don't worry, you can still use the AC-1 cutter to do your cutting.
You just have to set the arm manually.
If
you have a Badge-A-Minit button machine, our Mini-Magic 1-1/4" button machine, or
any other non-standard size button machine, here's how to adjust
the AC-1 cutter for your machine.
All
you need to do is loosen the plastic screw (#2) a couple revolutions (counter-clockwise), and
then rotate the adjustment arm (#3) so the detents face down. Then adjust the arm
manually. Used this way, the AC-1 will cut whatever size button
design you need, from a 1" button all the way up to a 3-1/2"
button.
This
part is a little trickier and you will need to do the adjustment
by trial and error. The easiest way is to adjust the cutter to
what looks about right, make a cut and then compare the cut to
the mylar for the size button you wish to make. The cut should
not be any larger in diameter than the mylar of the button size
you wish to make. However, it can be just slightly smaller, if
you wish.
After making any adjustment, be sure to re-tighten the plastic
screw (#2).
TIP: Once you have the cutter adjusted for that size,
take a fine-tip marker and mark a line on the arm where it butts
up against the arm's housing. Then, if for any reason you need
to move the adjustment arm, returning to the adjustment you just
made will be fast and easy.
Setting the "Cutting
Guide Insert" to the Correct Size
The
AC-1 cutter you received should have come pre-set to cut the
size buttons you need to make. But if it didn't, don't worry.
You can set it yourself and you have everything you need to do
the job. Simply follow the instructions below.
If your AC-1 wasn't set to the correct size, the hole in the
"cutting guide insert" is likely the size that is used
for making one-inch buttons. To cut designs for buttons that
are larger than one-inch, you need to cut the insert and make
the hole larger and it's actually very easy to do.
If
you have already followed the instructions above for setting
the cutting blade, your AC-1 is adjusted to make the correct
size cut you need to make. But to be able to use the cutting
guide insert as an aid in centering your cutter when cutting
your artwork, the insert needs to be cut slightly larger than
the size your artwork needs to be. If you don't, the cutting
blade will drag against the edge of the insert as you are cutting
your designs.
So to do this you want to loosen the plastic screw (#2) and
move the cutting arm just slighty, so the cut it will make is
about an 1/8" larger than it had been. When you have made
this adjustment, retighten the screw (#2).
Now take the metal cutting plate that came with your AC-1 and
set it on a table (or other sturdy surface). Set the AC-1 on
the metal plate and at the same time, push down and turn the
plastic handle (#1) until you have completely cut through
the cutting guide insert. This should just take a few revolutions,
assuming you are putting some downward pressure on the knob.
When you have completely cut through the cutting guide insert,
loosen the screw (#2), move the blade back to where it
had been, and retighten the screw (#2).
Your AC-1 cutter is now ready to cut your button designs.
Removing / Replacing the
Cutting Guide Insert
Shown above is a
bottom view of the AC-1 cutter, that shows the cutting guide
insert locked in place.
The cutting guide
insert, which is interchangeable, is the part of the AC-1 cutter
that allows the cutter to make accurate cuts for any size button
between a 1" button and a 3-1/2" button.
Your AC-1 cutter
should have come with a cutting guide insert already in the cutter
and set for the size button you indicated you would be making.
There should also be a spare cutting guide insert inside the
box the cutter came in.
Seting up the cutting
guide insert is the trickiest part about the AC-1 cutter. But
pay close attention, and I'll walk you through the process.
If you look at the
left side of the photo (shown above... the area denoted by the
#8), you will see the tab on the cutting
guide insert. You use this tab to remove or replace the cutting
guide insert in the AC-1 cutter.
In that same photo,
the cutting guide insert is properly positioned, with the tab
(#8) situated in a groove between the
knurled edges of the AC-1 cutter.
But in the photo
above, the insert is improperly positioned. Notice that the tabs
of the cutting guide insert (denoted by the red arrows) is above
the knurled edges of the AC-1 cutter. Those tabs should be beneath
the knurled edges of the AC-1 cutter, as are those in the photo
below.
To REMOVE the
cutting guide insert
To remove the cutting
guide insert, simply grasp the tab (#8)
and rotate the cutting guide insert about two inches (clock-wise
or counter-clockwise... it doesn't matter). The edges of the
cutting guide insert should then line up so it will then slip
out of the AC-1 cutter.
To REPLACE the
cutting guide insert
To replace the cutting
guide insert, simply grasp the tab (#8)
and position the edges of the cutting guide insert so they line
up with the knurled edges of the AC-1 cutter. Grasp the tab (#8) and rotate the cutting guide insert about two
inches (clock-wise or counter-clockwise... it doesn't matter).
The edges of the cutting guide insert MUST all be positioned
so they go BELOW the knurled edges. If all the edges do not go
BELOW the knurled edges (#9) on
the AC-1, start over and try again until they do
