How Does a Plotter Cutter Work?

06 Aug.,2024

 

How Does a Plotter Cutter Work?

When it comes to creating the perfect graphic and sign to meet your business needs, having the right equipment and support at your disposal is paramount. 

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Whether you are working with a flatbed cutter plotter or trying to understand the how-to&#;s behind cutting corrugated plastic boards, AirMark&#;s extensive selection of high-quality equipment has your back. Add in a knowledgeable support team, and you can rest assured that your next project will go off without a hitch. 

We understand there is a lot of information out there when it comes to creating the right sign. From vinyl cutting to printing to labeling to finding the right machine to use, it can all get overwhelming very quickly. That is why we are here! 

You most likely have come across the range of Summa flatbed cutters and Summa vinyl cutters AirMark has to offer. Summa plotter cutters are renowned for their incredibly precise cutting. But what are plotter cutters, and how do they work?

What Is a Plotter Cutter? 

A plotter cutter is a computer-controlled piece of equipment that is able to cut through vinyl, fabric, paper acrylic, and more. It is able to cut these materials into complex designs and shapes. Because of a plotter cutter&#;s ability to cut through a range of materials, it is the go-to tool for various industries and professions, including sign-making, architecture, and fashion. 


Each plotter cutter comes equipped with a cutting blade, a computer, and the appropriate accompanying software to create and shape the designs to be cut. Arguably, the most important part of a plotter cutter is the cutting blade. Durable and powerful, the cutting blade is attached to and operated by the equipment&#;s motor. 

How Does It Work? 

Once your design is ready to go in the accompanying software, it is sent off to the cutter. It is here that the motors and gears cut through the material. Because plotter cutters have motors that move along both the x-axis and y-axis, there is a wide range of flexibility and freedom when it comes to cutting designs. All of these options mean that nearly anything you can imagine is possible!

Types of Plotter Cutters

There are two types of plotter cutters: flatbed cutters and roll-fed cutters. Flatbed cutters, like the Summa flatbed cutter, can be used on more rigid materials, like metal and acrylic. Roll-fed cutters, on the other hand, are designed to be used on more flexible materials, such as fabric and vinyl. Unlike flatbeds, roll-fed cutters push material to the cutting blade through the rollers. 

In Conclusion

When it comes to finding the right plotter cutter for your needs, be sure to contact the experts at AirMark. We take pride in our extensive array of tools and supplies available, as well as our ability to help take your project from ideation to completion!

Getting Started with a Vinyl Cutter | Roland DG

Hundreds of entrepreneurs across the world are making money printing t-shirts, making vinyl lettering for doors and windows and producing vehicle graphics.

In many cases, they are using a vinyl cutter or plotter to produce the work. This simple technology is quick to learn and can be adapted to a whole range of products.

In this article, we&#;ll tell you all you need to get started with a vinyl cutter and give you some ideas on how to make money with vinyl cutting.

What is Vinyl Cutting?

What Do You Need for Vinyl Cutting?

What Can You Make with a Cutter?

Roland DG VersaSTUDIO GS2-24 desktop vinyl cutter

What is Vinyl Cutting?

Vinyl cutting, or CAD cutting is a process in which graphics, letters and other vector designs are accurately cut from material using a cutter or plotter. Since their invention in the s, the simple design, compact size and versatility have made them popular with everyone from casual hobbyists to professional graphics companies.

cncvicut supply professional and honest service.

What Do You Need for Vinyl Cutting?

A Cutter

Although a plotter can cut a range of materials, vinyl is the most common option. The material is fed in and out of the device from a roll while a blade moves left and right, cutting the vinyl according to a digital graphic.

Some of the most successful businesses start out with a small, cheap craft cutter and as customer demand increases, they move on to faster professional vinyl cutters. with the ability to cut thicker, tougher materials.

Read more: 5 Signs You Need a New Cutter

Cutting Blades

There isn&#;t a single blade which can cut every type of material reliably. You will need to buy the right blade for the types of material you wish to use. This is usually based on the thickness or toughness of the material and the blade manufacturer can provide guidance on the right blade for your needs.

When a blade gets dull or broken, it has an obvious detrimental effect on the quality of your output. Depending on your usage, each cutting blade should last several weeks or months, but it pays to have a few spares in reserve.

Material

The range of different materials you can cut is massive and there is an option for almost any job you want to do or effect you want to achieve.

You can use white or black adhesive vinyl to make lettering for signposting doors, or coloured vinyl to build more elaborate graphics. Frosted vinyl is popular for window graphics or manifestation.

Heat-transfer vinyl is used to produce custom t-shirts and other garments and you can find a range of HTV including glitter, reflective, patterned or textured to name a few.

Professional vinyl cutters often have higher cutting pressures which unlock thicker materials for sandblasting, etching and other specialist applications.

Read more: A Beginner's Guide to Print Media

A Computer

The cutter only works when it receives digital information. For this reason, you will need a computer to send the data. Typically, the software needed to produce a cutter is not very power-hungry or complicated, so you can get by with an inexpensive computer, however, be sure to check the minimum requirements with your hardware/software manufacturer.

Vector Design Software

Most cutting plotters operate using vector graphic information in PDF, EPS, or SVG format. If you only need to produce lettering or simple shapes, you can find pre-made designs or free software to get you started.

However, if you want to design more complex graphics, or you want more flexibility, you will need a more professional vector graphics editor like Corel DRAW or Adobe Illustrator.

Space to Work

Desktop vinyl cutters don&#;t take up much space, and even large-format cutters are fairly compact devices. You will probably need a bench or a table on which to cleanly prepare or apply your cut vinyl, as well as a clean, dust-free area to store your media and a place to put any additional equipment you need.

Additional Tools

You will find things like squeegees, weeding tools, scalpels, and application tape useful for most jobs. You might also need additional equipment for certain jobs. For example, if you are customising t-shirts, you will need a heat press to apply the heat-transfer vinyl to the garment.

What Can You Make with a Cutter?

A shirt on a heat press with vinyl cut details

Custom T-shirts and Other Garments

You can make a handsome profit without even needing to set up your own website by selling personalised clothing on marketplaces like Etsy. Alternatively, you can market your services to local business and produce personalised and branded uniforms.

Vehicle Graphics

Speaking of local businesses, you can easily use a cutting plotter to brand vans and cars with simple logo stickers, lettering and contact details. Or you could sell cut vinyl window decals to the consumer market online.

Wall Graphics

Cut vinyl wall stickers are popular products on online marketplaces. Simple motifs like leaves, stars and other shapes are in high demand and custom products like personalised wall stickers can fetch an even higher price.

Personalised Gifts

From weddings to birthdays, a vinyl cutter is a great solution for adding names and initials to a range of products. A quick scroll through online selling platforms like Etsy will reveal champagne glasses, water bottles and much more.

Conclusion

If you&#;re ready to take the next step, check out our range of cutting plotters here, or if you have any other questions, get in touch with a Roland DG expert who will be happy to help.

For more information, please visit vinyl cutter plotter.