Cutters
How do I really measure the performance of a cutter?
What's the difference between a tangential cutter and a drag knife cutter?
What software do I have to have?
Graphics Printers
Do I have to laminate my prints?
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The straight line speed of a cutter only gives a partial indication of its performance. The
most telling indicator is the acceleration. Acceleration measures the speed at which the cutting
head travels through curves and around corners. The SummaCut series use 2g
acceleration to cut
curves and corners, the SummaSign series uses 4g. On its own 1000mm per second
cutting speed only offers good performance, with 4g acceleration it provides blistering
performance.
A drag (or swivel) knife cutter literally drags the leading edge of the knife around and pivots
on the point of the knife to go around corners. On a tangential cutter the blade is steered by
two bearings inside a special nose piece.
To negotiate corners the blades lift, turns, returns to the vinyl, and then cuts in
the new direction. This is a far superior method for materials like rubylith, or jobs that
involve large amounts of small lettering on self-adhesive vinyl.
A Summagraphics drag knive cutter can exert 400g down pressure, a tangential 600g so it
is particularly appropriate for reflective materials, especially
Class 1.
Summagraphics cutters are HPGL devices so any software that outputs HPGL files will drive
a Summa cutter. Basically, any proprietary brand software will output HPGL - eg CorelDraw.
CAS software that supports Summa cutters includes Amiable, CASmate, Signlab, and Sign
Wizard.
Depending on your expected life requirements prints produced using pigment inks will last longer outdoors than those made
with dye-based inks. However, even pigment-based prints typically need to be laminated for long-term
colour fastness outdoors, and general protection against the elements.
With the introduction of Summa' new thermal transfer printer,
DC3 Plus. The Durachrome uses resin ribbons to transfer solid colour
onto various media. This process results in a print that will last 3 - 5 years outdoors on uncoated
media without lamination. Additionally the DC3 Plus can apply an abrasion overcoating automatically after the last colour is printed. This provides greater wear resistance for Automotive and similar applications.
Graphics Printers