New Owners of KNK/ACS
New Owners of the Zing
Videos
Written Materials
Software Downloads
Special Applications
Digital Die Cutting: More fun than anyone should have with a piece of paper!
Let me teach you to LOVE your cutter! I teach ALL KNKs (original models, Maxx, Groove, Groove-E, Zing), ACS Eagle and Falcon, KNK Studio, ACS Studio, and Make-The-Cut classes by phone/VNC where I connect to your computer to teach you whatever you need to learn. For more details: Phone Classes.
I also sell detailed software videos to help customers master specific topics in KNK, ACS, and DM. To learn more:
Videos
Save on the videos by purchasing complete series at one time. Details
Need some inspiration? Check out the Team KNK blog where 10 talented KNK owners present never-before-published creations made with their cutters. Team KNK New projects are posted every Tuesday and every Friday.
Papers and Pixels
hello, i lost my USB key, how i do to buy a new one key or a new software, my diecutter it a KNK-13 and my sotfware it klic-n-kut studio. thanks!!
You’ll need to contact KNK USA at 800-268-3672.
Hi Sandy! Thank you for all the information on this site. I have only used my knk maxx once, during a pen test so I’m a little nervous to try much else, yet. I was wondering if you know whether the knk can use chalk to draw with? Or a chalk pen? Sorry if its a silly question, I couldnt find any information elsewhere.
Thanks!
You can draw with ANY pen you can get mounted into the grip on the machine! Try it and see if it works!
And don’t be afraid of cutting. Once you know exactly where your images will draw, you’re ready to start cutting! : ) You need to start cutting so that you can make a LOT of mistakes! Yes… mistakes! Because it is in making these mistakes that we learn the world doesn’t come to an end and you start to learn what to do to avoid those mistakes. Then you start to master your KNK and gain confidence! Then you’re on the road to be a success!
And feel free to keep posting questions or even email me directly at smccauley45@cox.net.
Thank you Sandy! I’ll let you know how it turns out. And thanks for the encouragement! Your website is a big part of why I ordered the knk last summer. Having a baby around the same time has kept me from playing with it much but I am looking forward to those days to come! Now I’m blabbering..sorry for writing so much, have a great day!
Sandy,
I am at wits end with my Klic-N-Kut Elements. My wife bought this years ago and quickly became discouraged due to the not so user friendly software. Everything worked fine on an older Windows XP machine. She migrated to a Cricut, but again after purchasing dozens of cartridges, has run into the limitations of this device. She has a project that calls for some custom foam cutting. It came time to drag out the Element again. I have sppent 5 days now working through one problem after another and am down to my last hurdle and don’t know where to turn. I have run into your name everywhere as the person that has helped so many others. I have installed the Element cutter on a Windows Vista 64 bit machine. I have watched all of the video’s as well. I have worked through a very difficult Hasp install. None of the drivers worked until I found a Safenet driver that loaded. In the middle of all of this, my O/S crashed and another 3 nights of re-loading and updates of Vista. I have the Studio Elements software working and recognizing the hasp. I just cannot get the cutter to be recognized to allow cutting. In Device Manager, it shows as USB-Serial CH341. I have adjusted the port settings and baud rates to match the software. No success. I have downloaded the 64 bit driver software from your downloads page, but the fonts are not recognized and the interface is not readable to be able to try and use this to try and resolve my problem. I’ll be the first to admit I am a bit over my head with this software. On the other hand, I am a EE and Director of Engineering at an Aerospace Engineering company who knows just enough code to be dangerous. So here I sit banging my head against the wall because I can design the most complex control systems for aircraft, but can’t get a Klic-N-Kut Element machine to cut foam. Please help me!!!
I’m happy to help you and we’ll get it figured out. I’ll email you privately and we’ll start going through the list of possibilities.
Hello Sandy.
I am having some troubles with my ACS Eagle. I import an EPS file like I usually do and when I go to cut it with the cutter, the cutter cuts a version of the image that is squished together and overlapping.
For an example, my EPS file contains a vector of a basketball (very simple shape, just a few lines with all the paths merged so there are no overlapping paths) and underneath in a sporty typeface is the team name.
Two days ago I was cutting this design with no problem. I haven’t changed anything but the team name keeps getting cut on top of the basketball when it is clearly underneath the basketball in the image.
I would greatly appreciate any advice you have to offer.
I will need to see the file. Email it to me at smccauley45@cox.net.
Actually, I missed the part where you said it was cutting fine a few days ago. I don’t need to see the file. But I do have a few questions: Is the cutting perfect other than location? In other words, is the sizing perfect or is the image distorted some? Also, are you positive the pinch wheels are centered under white rectangles and the mat is moving smoothly in and out of the cutter with nothing interfering with its movement?
My husband purchased the Zing and MTC for me at Christmas and I have finally gotten the time to play with it some. It cut several vinyl applications with ease but has started “skip cutting”. It is not cutting the full images that show on the computer and if I am cutting duplicates they all are different as to what parts it chooses to skip and not cut. I have a big project to work on and need some help ASAP
PLEASE!
Thanks,
Ivy
Happy to help you resolve this! Please send an email to smccauley45@cox.net.
Sandy,
I have the KNK Maxx 24. I have been noticing that the blue origin reset button and the blue – button on the right are taking a lot more force from me to press them to get them to work. Should this be the case? All of the other buttons only have to be pressed lightly to perform their functions.
Thanks,
Kim
Hi, sorry bother you.I bout knkmaxx and hooked up to a computer that is not connected to internet so it does not let me register do you know what can I do to register it? Thank you.
You will need to contact KNK USA at 800-268-3672. They will help you with this.
Read a tutorial here called Buttons Sticking. It’s an easy fix!
http://www.iloveknk.com/Support/Tutorials/Klic-N-Kut/
Hi Sandy,
I hope you can help me.
I have recently bought a a KNK ZING which is working fine wiyh the “Make the Cut” software.
I do however have other programs from witch I can cut directly but the zing is not reconised as a cutter or printer by windows 7. If I open the DEVICES & PRINTERS file it shows in the “Unspecified” section as “FT232R USB UART” and its catagory is “Unknown” cun you help me? What can I do to get it reconised?
Thanks
ROB
Hi Rob,
The KNK’s and a number of other cutter brands do not connect as “printers”. They are USB-serial devices and you cannot cut from software that has not specifically been modified to have drivers for that particular cutter. Thus, you’ll need to check the export options for these other programs. MTC can import .AI, .PDF, .SVG, and .EPS files, so try that.
Hello Sandy,
I talked to you before about a ACS Eagle that I have been having some trouble with. I use Flexi 8.5 V2 because I am on a MAC. I had to reinstall the software and now It is asking for drivers when I go to cut. I think last time you were able to help me locate the drivers that I needed. Any suggestions?
Try this link: http://forum.uscutter.com/index.php?topic=26628.0
It’s been so long since anyone has asked for help with Flexi, that I”m not sure where to find the latest drivers. But this is the link that I kept. If this doesn’t help, contact KNK USA at 800-268-3672.
Fiirstly i’d like to thank you for all the help here, it has been so handy when ever i’ve been unsure how to fix my problems
I’m using a knk Maxx for cutting out cards I’m having 2 issues at the moment, firstly I would like to try print and cut but I cannot get my laser to turn on, is it possible it is blown? If so can it be fixed? And secondly due to the laser not working and not being able to do print and cut, is there any fail proof way to cut out a large number of cards out, with always cutting the card in the same spot? This is needed as the cards are already printed on. Thanks for you help and guidance. Ash
Hi Ash,
Contact KNK USA. The laser replacements are fairly easy to install. Their number is 800-268-3672.
A PNC is probably needed in your case… it accounts for any offsets in printing, which are fairly common to have.
Hello Sandy,
Can you use the Rhinestone re-sizing and re-spacing caculations in MTC software? If so how would I do this?
Thanks,
Angela
Hi Sandy
I have an old KNK elements. I’ve recently upgraded my PC. Its a new machine with Windows 7. I’m trying to get the KNK software loaded with no joy at all. I assumed I needed a new driver but although the driver appears on my PC it will not install successfully. The amchine is plugged in (power and USB). I’ve been following your very helpful video but now I’m stuck. Do I need to upgrade the KNK software? HELP please
Hi! I am in Panama City, FL, and would like to purchase a Zing. Can you please point me in the right direction?
Thanks a Bunch!
Miranda
Not with great accuracy but you can approximate it. In MTC, you would use the Shadow function combined with the Scaling factor. These two functions are covered in the MTC part of the Zing User Manual.
The fact you cannot get the software to install is probably due to the CD become corrupt versus Windows 7. I recommend downloading and installing Version 8 of the software from here:
http://www.iloveknk.com/Support/Software/KNK%20Studio%20V8%20for%20Older%20KNKs/
Please read the instruction file carefully. You’ll need to locate two Products files from your original CD and copy/paste those into your version 8 installation so that the dongle will work. Email me at smccauley45@cox.net if you need more help!
There are KNK dealers all over the country and you can order from any of them since we do not have specific sales territories. If you prefer a dealer closest to you, then contact KNK USA at 800-268-3672.
Hi!
I hope I’m in the right place to ask this. I was going over the zing w/MTC manual and it talks about presets in the cut project window (page 30). I don’t have a preset option, just updates, about, and help. I checked for updates and it says there are none. Presets would be a great thing to have, can I access that elsewhere? Thanks!
You need to update to 4.1! You can download it from here. Be sure to also download the Zing plugin update, as well:
http://www.iloveknk.com/Support/Software/Make%20The%20Cut/
Thanks! That worked!!
My question is about the embosser tool. I have tried using it to score lines on cardstock. On the heavier cardstocks, no problem. However, I’m trying to score lines on a lighter weight cardstock and it leaves score lines between objects when in the up position – even with “up” speed reduced to 5. Pressure is only 140 – and I need that amount of pressure to see my indended score lines. I am trying to get 3 identical projects on a 12 x 12 paper. Is there anything else I can do?
Raise the embosser in the grip on the Zing. You have it too low. It shouldn’t be touching your material.
I hope someone can assist me, I just received my Klik n Kut Eagle 24″ but can’t seem to get it to cut. I am running Windows 7 64bit Ultimate, I installed according to instructions, have both the serial and usb cable plugged in (instructions did not show anything about cabling) I set up the com port like on the instructions, my com port however has no number behind, only saying Com 7 (USB-Serial) – when I send a file to the machine, it shows counting the bytes its sending, but the machine is not doing anything. When I offline/test the machine does cut, but not receiving the data from the computer to cut it seems, PLEASE assist.
Hi Daleen,
Did you set the Baud Rate on your new Eagle to 57600? I think that’s probably it. They are usually set to 38400 at the factory but the software is set to 57600 and they need to match. You can see how to change it in my video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQqR1_B9F7Q
Yes I did put it to 57600 I also set the flow control to xon/xoff, data rate is set to min.
I will send you my phone number so that you can call me and we’ll figure this out by phone. Did you already receive my other email?
Sandy, I just want to say THANK YOU for your super support, I have finished my first few cuts on my brand new Eagle and am a very happy customer, its a GREAT machine !! Now I can’t wait to receive my embossing tip
Thanks again, your speedy assistance made my day !
Daleen.
Hi Sandy
I have changed the PC I used on my 24″ Eagle, but the PC reads the Eagle as FT323 USB UART, the problem with this is that I can’t obtain the COM port number and therefor I can’t cut. What can I do to fix this?
323 or 232? If it says FT232 USB UART, it should still work. Did you look under Ports in Device Manager to see if it’s listed there?
Hi Sandy – you’ve been such a help, I’m here again. I am cutting large cardstock, and have a question. My image is 13″ wide and I am using wysiwyg. I position the image as far right as I can (no margins – paper is the size of the mat) and it is cutting 2 1/2 inches in from the right. Is that the closest to the right side of cutting I can get? I’m using an 18″ wide mat and the paper is about 17″ after trimming, I’ve created a mat to match. I know the cutting width is 14″ and thought there’d be no problems. Silly me….
Thanks!
Jane
Sorry – I have the zing
Hi Jane, In WYSIWYG mode, you must use the laser light to set the origin versus using the blade tip. Are you doing that?
Sandy I think thats the problem, but don’t know how to fix, its not lying under ports (COM & LPT) but under other devices in Device Manager and has a yellow exclamation triangle next to it, it reads FT232R USB UART.
Hi Sandy,
I have been happily cutting on my new Eagle today after learning the ropes yesterday. It did fine until now. Suddenly it zips across to start at the furthest possible corner (of a 24″x24″ cutting area, extra large mat), makes a simple cut, beeps and then cuts the next shape somewhat on top of the last. It counts this shape as the next in line, and so moves on to what would be the third shape, THEN shoots back, spitting the mat forward and out from under the rollers, and proceeds to cut and beep wildly (until I jump on the pause button).
I hope that makes sense and you can offer some words of advice! I’ve tried several times, checked the blade, repositioned the mat and checked the levers….I tried selecting different quadrants to cut as well, no luck.
Thanks,
Heather
I have a video on that. Look up the one about Resolving 64 Bit Driver problems here:
http://www.iloveknk.com/FreeVideos/Support/
I would have to see your file. But first… I want you to go through two videos of mine: Default Settings and Controlling Where Videos Will Cut:
http://www.iloveknk.com/FreeVideos/Support/
It does not matter which file I try to cut, I have made several layout files with very simple shapes of different sizes. It had cut all of them just fine many times until the end of the day, when it started doing this.
Heather
Try this. Start a new file and have a single circle. Make sure you are in Page Mode under Cut>Plotting Defaults. Now, send that circle to cut. Does it do it correctly or same problem? If it’s the same thing, then shut down your computer and your Eagle for half an hour. Now, start up everything and try again. If it still does it then please email me directly at smccauley45@cox.net. I’ll get your dealer and KNK USA involved.
Sandy, I see you have a plugin for Corel X4 – what does this plugin do and do you have a plugin for Corel X5 ?