Okay, here goes nothing...

[jadkinsmd]

So I've been on this forum for about a week and downloaded all the tutorials and gone through them but I just hooked up my wishblade for the first time tonight. It's a little frightening to hook it up and make that first attempt to cut. I hate to think of mucking up the blade and the cutter. Oh well, here goes...

Jen

[yacolusa]

Good luck Jen! I hope all goes well with your first cut. Please let us know how it went.
Colleen

[anniew]

Yes Jen, I wish you luck too, and am anxious to hear how your first cutting goes........I don't have my CR yet, but its on the way, and I too am nervous......especially about the settings.......I have visions of me cutting the carrier mat to shreds on the first go......I should be making up extra ones already!!
Its hard for me to get my head around how it can cut paper without cutting the carrier sheet.......the settings must be very precise......Is there a thread that talks about the CR setting for the different kinds of paper......I'm sure I've seen something somewhere......
Anyway, I'll be looking for your post about how its going for you!! I'm sure you'll be fine!
~Annie

[Paperthreads]

Hey Annie, not to worry! :) I took my machine out of the box, put a circle on the page, and cut :) That was wayyyy back when...and there weren't all the gazillion tutorials that we have out now! I didn't hurt anything, and most people don't! My first set of blades lasted about 8 months! And I was what you would call a "heavy" cutter...meaning I cut an average of 3 projects a day, because I was making so many files..and I test cut them all. :) I still cut a lot like that!!

Just make sure you print out the tutorials, and when your machine gets here, start with the first one, and make your way through. They really are step by step!

Most people hear about the "problems" people have, especially on the Yahoo Groups, where it seems to be a little more vocal about problems....and they get stressed before their machine even gets here! To be honest, this forum is much easier to navigate and find things, and so we don't get the stressful pleas for help as much as you see on the Yahoo Groups. That is because peole can usually find what they need by following the right threads, or searching for a keyword at the top of the screen! It creates a lot less stress :) I would say, of all my customers over 80% plug in their machine and are "off!" The other 20% come here for anwers, and every once in a while I get an email direct with a distress call....normally, the only thing I have to do is calm them down, get them over their jitters, and then they are off and cutting :)

[anniew]

Thanks Michelle, I REALLY needed to hear that, cuz I think I am not very techy, ....that's why it took me this long to order my Christmas present.........just nervous! but, I will take it step by step.......
I downloaded Robo Master Version 1.2 2004 (is that the new one??....I thought it would be 2006 for some reason) after I open it and extrated the files, I couldn't see most of the templates in it - am I doing something wrong? something about this file not supported..... I was ready for that with files from the forum, cuz of all the different machines, but thot the templates in robomaster would be easy to view, cuz they are GSD...........
So, I should be getting familiar with the manual right now........
~ Annie

[Paperthreads]

That is not the latest software...but for now, I wouldn't worry about getting the latest. Because you will just have to reinstall it later anyway :) WHen you get your machine, you will have to install the software that came with the machine. Then, you will be able to go and get the updated software, which is version 2.4

In the tips and tutorials section, you will see the CRII Mini Tutorial...and in there is the correct link for the software!

[anniew]

ok...... I have 1.2 installed now, I went to the graphtec site......but didn't find my way to 2.4........so will I have to do an uninstall of 1.2 when I get my machine, and start over, and install it again.... ........and then do I update to 2.4 or ???
For now, I'll just study what I have.......
~ Annie

[Paperthreads]

I would uninstall, just so you can start fresh and get the drivers installed properly.

Then, when you get the upgrade, you just install, no need to uninstall, it will install right over the older version, updating the files.

For the 2.4 software, you have to register there, at that Graphtec site, then come back here, and click on the link again...it will work then! It's very buried on their site, but once your registered and logged in, then you can use that link on this site, and it will take you right to where you need to go :)

[anniew]

Thanks so much Michelle, that's exactly what I wanted to know!
~ Annie