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Best Flatbed Cutter for Die-Cut Vinyl
Hi All,
We print lots of little die-cut stickers and our Summa D160 is getting a bit tired so we’re looking for a new flatbed cutter that can die-cut standard laminated vinyl from a role.
I’ve been introduced to the Summa F series but they seem a bit costly and over-engineered for what we’re after. We don’t need to cut board or anything other than standard thickness vinyl stickers.
So I’m asking the hive-mind for their best suggestions on flatbed solutions?
We print from two latex machines currently using onyx. If there is anyone else doing lots (thousands a day) 100mm(ish) die-cut stickers on here? Would love to get some insight into your production, if we don’t have a clash in target market.
:smiles: Rick
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15 Replies
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One option, although it’s not a flat bed, is the the summa s2 with a take up roll. We have this alongside the d160. The accuracy is much better on the s2. You should also be able to save all your cut files from onyx to a folder, then send down as one job, so it will cut each sheet, wind it up and move on to cutting all other sheets automatically! I suspect this machine will be an awful lot cheaper than any flat bed
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Thanks Luke, I’m looking into that now. Would certainly be cheaper, and more accurate the 160D is pretty hit and miss, but not sure if it would speed production up. But worth a look. Thanks.
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It is much faster than the 160D, plus in theory, you could print a whole roll of labels and just press cut and have the whole lot done, could be left at night…
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We have a Roland gr640 which we thought would be great for cutting rolls of labels. The problem we found with it is your recommended to cut sheets approx 1.5m long for max accuracy. This in theory sounds OK as you can split your labels up into sheets this size. The problem is that after cutting a few sheets the machine has ran off and can’t read the registration marks anymore which means you have to return to the machine to reload the roll again 🙁
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quote David Stevenson:We have a Roland gr640 which we thought would be great for cutting rolls of labels. The problem we found with it is your recommended to cut sheets approx 1.5m long for max accuracy. This in theory sounds OK as you can split your labels up into sheets this size. The problem is that after cutting a few sheets the machine has ran off and can’t read the registration marks anymore which means you have to return to the machine to reload the roll again 🙁
Thanks David, that’s what it’s like with our current Summa which is why I was thinking flatbed.
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I cut a bit of vinyl. In my work flow I use 3 Summas along with barcode sever. This means that the summas cut multiple 1 meter length jobs (ensures cut accuracy in smaller length batches) with out any interaction from an operative, just leave the machine to get on with it, it reads the barcode associated with the job, finds the corresponding file and cuts it.
Saves a lot of time, i get through about 1500 running meters a week using this method. If I used a manual method of sending each job it would take up a fair amount of man hours.
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quote Steff Davison:I cut a bit of vinyl. In my work flow I use 3 Summas along with barcode sever. This means that the summas cut multiple 1 meter length jobs (ensures cut accuracy in smaller length batches) with out any interaction from an operative, just leave the machine to get on with it, it reads the barcode associated with the job, finds the corresponding file and cuts it.
Saves a lot of time, i get through about 1500 running meters a week using this method. If I used a manual method of sending each job it would take up a fair amount of man hours.
Hi Steff, that sounds like the perfect setup for us, what Summa machines are you using?
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Same machines as yourself. Research Summa Cut Server, thats the clever bit.
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We operate similar to Steff using barcodes, these are generated via Onyx RIP – the whole process creates a highly automated workflow.
Work very well 😎
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Hi Steff/Colin,
I’ve not used our s class to its full potential yet! Just wanted to query your automation process. Is the cut file generated by onyx? Then you have to use the files generated by onyx in summa cut server?
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I use Flexi, the cut file is generated in Flexi, but the bar code associated with the flexi contour cut is generated in production manager of flexi. This file is then sent to a unique location, which Summa cut server will look for once the opus eye has read the barcode for that job.
Once the job is printed along with the barcode (which can be put above or below the print job depending upon your own preferences) and loaded onto the summa, the opus searches for the bar code and then retrieves it from the job file. It then cuts it after it has aligned the job etc etc. Its like watching magic.
I think Onyx rip is a slightly more streamlined production work flow than flexi.
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Onyx work very pretty much the same – Barcode is generated by Onyx, unique to the job. Printed jobs loaded into cutter, Onyx Cut-Server will then read barcodes & cut automatically (just have to position the first job) and off it goes, even can tell which way the leading edge is loaded :smiles:
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When I was shown the basics on onyx, it didn’t seem to streamlined for me… I would have to alter the cutter from cut to usb to cut to file, then these files will have to be loaded into summa cut server, does this sound correct?
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This has got the makings of a great UKSB tutorial by the way
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Hi,
did a bit of research for a client of mine on these quite a while ago. Only two options, I could see. were good were the Graphtec FC2250 and the Mimaki CF2.
http://www.graphteccorp.com/imaging/fc2250/index.html
https://www.hybridservices.co.uk/produc … ng-plotterNew retail is about £25k for the graphtec and £35k for the mimaki.
hope this helps
Loic
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