I can learn a lot by looking at existing sketches and using bits that fit my needs – yours has been very helpful. I also like the ‘get_value’ routine for increasing/decreasing numbers!!

Cheers

I have not worked on this project for quite a while so it is not fresh in my mind but I would say the setup is just a typo – although it does not appear to make any difference.

As for the key reading, I used my own code in order to incorporate a debounce and custom repeat. If the key is held down it goes into repeat mode for increasing/ decreasing the values quickly.

The code is rather untidy, it was the first project I have done with the Arduino so I was learning the syntax & language as I wrote it, if you wish to make use of any of the code and/ or modify it then please feel free to do so.

Interesting project!!

I couple of questions if I may:

- The setup of the LCD includes LCDi2cR lcd = LCDi2cR(4,40,0×63,0); but it looks like you have the same LCD as me i.e. 4 x 20 characters. Any reason for the reference to 40?
- I am using the same LCD library as you. This library includes a command to obtain a value from the keypad – lcd.keypad() – but I see that you have included your own code in the sketch. Was there a reason for this?

I ask because I am having problems with false characters being read when no key is pushed – I might try your code if that is OK.

Cheers

Regarding cutting mats:

You do not need to buy new mats when they loose their tac. Often washing them with a drop of washing up liquid in a cup of water and leaving them over night to dry will restore the stickiness, when that fails you can just spray them with a re positionable adhesive and they are good as new. You only need to replace the mat if it becomes badly scored by cutting with too much pressure (The cougar on full force will easily cut right through a cutting mat).

I am not sure how many times you can cut on a mat before it loses tac as it would depend on the material you are cutting. If you are cutting a more fibrous paper/ card then the mat will lose tac much quicker than if you are cutting a smooth shiny paper/ card. It all depends on how much fibre gets permanently stuck to the mat.

I don’t buy cutting mats at all any more, I buy heavy duty template plastic sheets and spray them with re positionable adhesive to make my own, very much cheaper and I think they are better than bought mats. The adhesive I use is Krylon Easy Tac 7020 and the tin will refresh a mat hundreds of times for about £5

Using offcuts of paper/ card/ vinyl on the Cougar is very easy indeed, you put it on the carrier and load it into the machine, then you use the controls on the Cougar to move the blade to the front right corner and press the origin button. The Cougar then starts cutting at that exact spot. With the craft robo it is not as easy as you cannot change the cutting origin at all so you have to make sure the paper is positioned correctly before cutting.

My advice would be to contact Dawn at Thyme graphics via phone or email and discuss your requirements with her, she will not attempt to pressure you into a purchase but will be more than happy to give you honest free advice.

Personally I would recommend a Cougar over a craft robo. The Cougar will not let you down at all, the software it uses is fantastic and you will be able to do very much more with it than the software that comes with a CR, the Cougar machine is a professional cutter at an affordable price and will cut practically anything you throw at it. Yes it is more expensive, but it is worth every penny, and you may well find the cheaper option becoming frustrating with its limitations very quickly.

I have been looking at the craft robo/pro but I am really put off my the carry mats I have had an xyron which lost its tack way to quick and now I am reserved about the alternatives as I don’t want to be replacing cutting mats it gets expensive. Someone told me that I would need to change a cutting mat every 4 months/100 cuts. Just wondering if you could advise me on what you have found.

Also can you get on none full sheets of paper?

Thanks for letting me pick your brain.

T

I have not really had that much interest shown in it, in fact you are the first person to ask about part 7, so it is not exactly a high priority for me and there is little chance of me making a kit of parts without there being a fair bit of interest – I would have to buy in bulk and split the lots, I don’t want to end up with loads of components I will never use

Sorry