Troubleshooting paper cutter malfunctions on Custom Engineering VKP80II card terminal printers. Covers diagnosis, non-invasive fixes, and maintenance.
Use compressed air to remove paper dust. A soft brush can also dislodge debris. Avoid liquids.
Visit the Custom Engineering website or contact their support team for the latest firmware updates.
Ragged edges on the cut paper, excessive noise during cutting, or complete failure to cut.
The VKP80II paper cutter is typically a motor-driven assembly. Common issues include low voltage to the cutter motor, worn cutter blades, accumulated paper debris obstructing the cutting path, or firmware errors affecting cutter timing. Signal attenuation in the control cable can also lead to intermittent cutter failures. Static discharge (ESD) can corrupt the printer's memory causing unexpected behaviour.
Avoid contact with the cutter blade while the printer is powered on. Static discharge (ESD) can damage the printer's electronic components. Discharge static electricity by touching a grounded metal object before handling the printer. Never attempt to open the printer casing or tamper with internal components, as this may void the warranty and compromise the security of the card terminal.
Regularly clean the printer's cutter area with compressed air to prevent paper debris buildup. Avoid placing the printer in areas with high levels of dust or humidity. Ensure the printer's power cable and data cables are properly secured to prevent accidental disconnections or damage. Implement a scheduled firmware update process.
Sometimes a simple paper jam fragment can stall the cutter. Use a bright light to check the cutter path carefully. A small piece of packaging tape on a business card can act as a 'probe' to gently remove such debris. Rebooting the terminal will often reset the cutter sequence.