View source for Fletcher 3000 Glass/Plastic/Mat Cutting Machine

[[File:full_image.jpg|400px|thumb|left|Cutting machine]]
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== Description ==

The Fletcher 3000 Glass/Plastic/Mat cutting machine can cut glass, plastic, matboard, cardboard, and foamboard up to 1/4" in thickness. It is wall mounted, allowing easy cutting of larger materials.

=== Classes ===
* Class requirements TBD

=== Specifications ===
MATERIAL SIZE
* Handles materials up to 60” in height, and 1/4" in thickness.

SUPPORTED MATERIALS
* Glass
* Plastic 
** Plastics must be fracture sensitive to be cut on this machine. Examples of fracture sensitive plastics are Plexiglas and acrylics.
* Matboard
* Cardboard
* Foamboard

{{MNAssetDetails|
[[File:serialnumberplate.jpg|300px|thumb|right|toolname Serial Number Plate]]
* ''Location: '' '''Mounted on the wall next to Studio C'''
* ''Model Number: '' '''3000'''
* ''Serial Number: '' '''?'''
* ''MN Asset Number: '' '''?'''
}}

==Safety Specifics==

{{AllSafetyRulesApply}}
Glass cutting has specific safety requirements:
* '''Always''' wear eye protection, gloves, and protective clothing when handling glass.
* '''Always''' load glass from the left side of the machine.
* '''Never''' allow glass to hang off of the machine supports.
* '''Never''' use the clamp on glass.
* '''Never''' score glass more than once.


=== Important Parts ===
* '''Clamp''' - This machine has a clamping bar that can hold materials securely. It can be operated by a vertical lever on the machine's main carriage bar. The ''up'' position engages the clamp, and the ''down'' position disengages it.
* '''Cutting Head''' - This is the large, black, movable assembly on the main carriage bar. It has several sub-parts and controls.
* '''Turret''' - The turret is a rotating assembly holding the cutting blades. It is a part of the Cutting Head. There is an adjustable screw that can be used to lock and unlock the Turret to allow selection of a particular cutting blade. This screw is on the right-side of the Turret, and can be adjusted without any tools.
* '''Cutting Blades''' - This machine has 3 different cutting blades - The '''glass cutting wheel''', the '''plastic cutting blade''', and the '''mat cutting blade'''. Only one blade is in use at a time, and it is selected by rotating the '''turret'''.
* '''Short Trigger''' - This is the shorter of the two triggers on the '''Cutting Head''', and it controls the height of the selected '''cutting blade''' from the surface of your material. Pressing the short trigger will ''raise'' the cutting blade away from the surface of your material, and releasing it will ''lower'' the blade towards your material.
* '''Long Trigger''' - This is the longer of the two triggers on the '''Cutting Head''', and it controls the height of the '''break out wheels''' from the surface of your material. Pressing the long trigger will ''lower'' the break out wheels towards the surface of your material, and releasing it will ''raise'' the break out wheels away from your material.
* '''Pin Detent''' - This is a pin that can be pushed in to lock the cutting blades in the up position. It is located on the bottom-left side of the cutting head. To lock the cutting head up, press the short trigger fully, press in the pin, and then release the trigger. This will lock the cutting blade in the up position, and the pin will say depressed. To release the cutting blade, press the short trigger fully -- and the pin will pop out, allowing the cutting blade to move again.

==Cutting Procedures==

===Cutting Plastics===
====Cutting====
# Rotate the '''turret''' to the '''plastic cutting blade''' and lock into position.
# Open the '''clamp''' and load your sheet onto the machine from the left.
# Close the '''clamp''' to lock your material into the machine.
# Press and hold the '''short trigger''' on the '''cutting head''' to raise the cutting blade away from your material.
# Raise the '''cutting head''' with your hand until the cutting blade is near the top edge of your material.
# Release the '''short trigger''' slowly until the cutting blade touches your material, as close to the top edge of your material as possible.
# Without pressing or holding either of the triggers, pull the '''cutting head''' downwards, scoring your material. A ''gouging'' sound is normal during this process. Pull the cutting head all the way to the bottom edge of your material.
# For thicker plastics (over 1/8" in thickness), you can repeat steps 4-7 to score your plastic multiple times. 1/4" thickness plastics may require 2-3 scoring passes.

====Breaking Out====
# Press and hold the '''short trigger''' on the '''cutting head''' to raise the cutting blade away from your material.
# Press in the '''pin detent''' to lock the cutting blade in the up position. You can now release the '''short trigger'''.
# Raise the '''cutting head''' to the top of your material, stopping when the '''break out rollers'''  are slightly below the upper edge of your material.
# Press and hold the '''long trigger''' firmly until you hear the plastic snap. Hold the trigger at that position.
# With the '''long trigger''' still held, pull the '''cutting head''' all the way down to the bottom of your material. You will hear a snapping sound all the way down.
# Open the '''clamp''' to release your material.

==Documentation==
* [https://www.fletcher-terry.com/application/files/6916/3796/1589/3000_Manual_English.pdf User manual]
* [https://www.fletcher-terry.com/frame-joining-material-cutting-products-1/3000-multi-material-cutter Product page]




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