Sign in to follow this  
rodbuilder

Question about contour cuting.

How do I contour cut pre-printed vinyl?  

  1. 1. How do I contour cut pre-printed vinyl?

    • ?
      0
    • ?
      0


Recommended Posts

Here's the deal ............. I have a new Graphtech CE5000 cutter with their "ARMS' optical character recognition, running on the new Flexisign PRO 8.6.

I bought some pre-printed gradient-shaded vinyl from Sign Warehouse to letter a friend's flatbed tow truck and want to laminate the finished cut with some clear vinyl, to protect the lettering.

After I cut out the lettering on my Graphtec and laminate the letters with my laminator, how can I get my cutter to contour contour cut the laminated lettering?

Is it possible to hand apply some registration marks to the job and do the contour with Graphtec's "Cutting Master" software?  Also, when registration marks are used is it necessary that the marks are symmetrical - that is to say exactly aligned, it can ya' just cut some out and stick them on to your job and expect the cutter to read them correctly?

PLEEEEESE word your reply in simple terms because I'm REALLY new at this!!!  You can write me at: clseller2@comcast.net  Your help is VERY much appreciated.

Da' Rodbuilder

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Rod... Registration marks are not to be toyed with... They need to be perfect and placed exactly! Do you have time to do a remote support session and walk through a complete contour cut. I am willing to do this at your leisure even if you did not purchase your Graphtec from US Cutter...?!?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Nice talking to you this evening... We will be in touch tomorrow to go through the basics... I want to keep this thread live with everything we cover, so make sure to post back here about your experience and what you learn.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Why not just laminate the piece you're going to cut first, make a couple of test cuts,then cut what ya want. Your Graphtec won't have any trouble cutting through the laminated vinyl.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well lamination may cause an issue with registration mark recognition.... I am on the phone with Rod now and i will post feedback after the call...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If he's using just one color of vinyl (even if it's the gradient), he wouldn't need any registration marks. I use it occasionally, it has to be laminated, and I just laminate the entire piece first. Maybe I'm missing something in the question.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey guys thanks a BUNCH fopr your input, and to you Brandon and the crew at US Cuter, a TREMENDOUS debt of gratitude for your help and awesome phone support.

I chickened-out with the testing on this job, because of a shortage of "test" material, I'm going to re-open this case in a few days and do wheat the others have suggested - just laminate the whole uncut sheet first, THEN cut it, using a deper blade setting.

Anyone that knows me at all will tell you that I don't take kindly being told that "it can't be done"!!!  After I had this job all cut out I had it figured like was said here, but it was too late for me.  In lieu of the laminate I told my buddy to just clearcoat the lettering. It will probably work out a lot better than laminate - don't ya' think?

But like Brandon said, depending on laminate thickness there MIGHT be a problem getting the cutter to discern the edges?  I'll try it and let you all know.

THANKS A BUNCH, GUYS.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest fivestar

But like Brandon said, depending on laminate thickness there MIGHT be a problem getting the cutter to discern the edges?  I'll try it and let you all know.

I don't think so... I've talked to several people on another signage forum, where they do that all day long. In fact, while I've been searching for a vinyl printer... I've come across a ton of people who would rather have a vinyl printer, and a vinyl cutter(two different machines) to have a continuous follow of printed material... plus the media has to come out to have the laminate applied. They certainly aren't contour cutting the decal, then contour cutting the laminate, and finally applying the two.

Nope you are correct Tim you print with reg marks then laminate, then put into cutter and contour.  Or you can get liquid laminate and print, cut then liquid laminate it.  ;D ;D ;D I sound like a printing pro already, I've had my printer for a little over 24 hrs. but I seen James605 do it. ;D

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

In genereal contour cutting is nothing special if you know the tricks.  :thumbsup:

Like already said

1] Take a file you like to print and add registration marks outside the boundries of the objects.

For ARMS equipped machines I think they need to be specific design.

For manual laser point machines a simple crosshair of 0.25 mm thickness lines is enough.

Make sure the marks are always on a white background.

2] Depending on the design software you use (SB, Corel Illustrator) make a layer with the prints and a layer with the contours you like to cut.

3] Send a printjob to the printer without the contour line layer but with the marks.

4] Laminate the print you rolled out your printer.

5] Load the laminated print in the cutter and use the appropiate software to align the registration marks and hit cut.

Ready.

Paco

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

i recently screenprinted and contour cut 850 black on whit oval stickers on my lp24. and i didn't use the contour cut featurem i created a pair of crosshairs to align the blade to that was relevant to my cut layout. you could do it on any plotter.

bb

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest HowardI

If your vinyl is pre-printed with a gradient the shading might prevent the cutter from being able to find the registration marks.

You may need a manual registration machine like a laserpoint if you're going to use pre-printed vinyl to do contour cutting.

I don't believe the "eye" can see colors.  Just looks for light/dark and shapes.

(I could be wrong however!)

Howard Irwin

Support Specialist

US Cutter

425-481-3555

888-298-8143

  - Option 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Like I said, I may be missing something in rodbuilders original question. But, if he's not printing anything on the gradient vinyl, why would you need registration marks at all? The only reason I can see that he would ever need to register another cut, would be if he wants the laminate to extend farther out than the letters/graphics, to make a waterproof seal. If he is using what I'm thinking, something like this,http://www.krrainbow.com/, it is "printed" on a rotary printer, but not printed like an image would be.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this