Crafters Companion Gemini User Manual

TWIN-FUNCTION

DIE CUTTER & EMBOSSER

USER GUIDE

ENG

USER GUIDE

Congratulations on purchasing the Gemini™ Twin-Function Die Cutting & Embossing
Machine. Offering an extra wide opening and oversized platforms, the Gemini™ provides

edge-to-edge cutting of letter and A4 size materials such as thick paper, card, vinyl, fabric and
foil.

Perfect for all kinds of decorative and craft applications – Scrapbooking, Card Making, Paper or
Fabric Embellishments, Table Décor & much more.

IN THE BOX

•

Gemini™ Die Cutter & Embosser

•

Rubber Embossing Mat

•

Clear Cutting Plate

•

16 Die’sire Dies™

•

Base Cutting Plate

•

3 Embossalicious™ Embossing

•

Metal Cutting Plate

Folders

• Power Cord

•

Magnetic Shim

•

User Guide

•

Plastic Shim

A NOTE ABOUT PRESSURE

The Gemini™ is very powerful and designed to exert a lot of pressure – which allows for
cutting very intricate dies. The amount of pressure on the die can be increased or decreased
depending on the combination of plates and shims you use.

SANDWICHING THE PLATES

To feed a die through the Gemini™ you must first sandwich it between the included plates and

shims. The Cutting Plate and the Base Cutting Plate should always be the top and bottom
plates of this sandwich. These are the only two plates which should ever touch the rollers. The
combination between the cutting plates is flexible. The standard starting combination is as
follows (top down):

• Clear Cutting Plate

• Material to be cut

• Die (blade side up)

• Magnetic Shim

• Plastic Shim

• Base Cutting Plate

This combination is suitable for most thin metal dies. Thicker metal dies (such as Crafter’s
Companion™ mixed media dies, or other brands of deep-dish dies) will need a different

configuration (see pages 4-6). Our suggestion is that you always start with this sandwich when
using a new style or brand of thin metal die – then, if you require more or less pressure you can
adjust your sandwich accordingly.

NOTE: Because of the high level of pressure in the machine, the cutting plates will naturally bow over
time – this does not affect the performance of the plates or the machine, but you can reduce bowing on
the plates by rotating and flipping them between each pass. Replacement plates are also readily
available at crafterscompanion.com.

ENG-1

USING SHIMS

For very intricate dies you may want to add additional shims to your sandwich to increase the
amount of pressure on your die. The 2 additional shims provided in your box are as follows:

• The Metal Shim: This thin shim can be added at any level of the sandwich to increase
pressure, but when placed above the material you are cutting you will get a stronger
cut.

• The Magnetic Shim: The best use for the Magnetic Shim is beneath your die as a
positioning plate for holding your die in place. This shim should never be used above
your die, as the die can cut directly through the Magnetic Shim.

• NOTE: For thinner dies, you can increase the pressure very slightly by simply using a piece of paper
as an additional shim between the Plastic Shim and the Base Cutting Plate.

Our recommendation is that you adjust the plate and shim combination depending on the level
of intricacy of the die. Some especially intricate dies may need to be fed through the machine
2-3 times.

NOTE: Additional shims aren’t recommended for simple dies, as they would create too much
pressure. Over-pressuring a die can cause the material you are cutting to buckle or warp, as well as
increase the bowing of the cutting plates. We recommend when using a new die for the first time, to
try various shim combinations until you achieve the result you require and are happy with.

OPERATING YOUR GEMINI™

Power Pause /Resume Reverse

• Place the Gemini™ on a dry, level surface.

• Connect the power plug to the back of the machine.

• Press the Power Button to turn the unit on.

• Insert the platform combination into the front of the machine.

• The motor will start and pull the platforms into the machine.

• The motor will stop automatically.

• Remove the platform combinations from the back of the machine after the motor

stops.

• To stop the forward motion of the platforms, press the Pause/Resume button.

• To resume forward motion, press Pause/Resume again.

• To reverse out the platforms, press the Reverse button.

The Gemini™ is equipped with safety sensors to prevent accidental motor activation.
Only use Gemini™ platforms in order to correctly operate the machine.

Do not force platforms into the Gemini™. In the event that the Gemini™ senses that the

combination is too thick to run through the rollers, it will stop the forward motion and reverse
automatically. Verify the platform combination before feeding it into the machine again. Also
check that you are not trying to cut or emboss too many layers of material at one time.

ENG-2