Roll Cutter - Bad Cutting Quality

When experiencing bad cutting quality, verify good working of the machine.

Check the following items and configurations:

Knife: The knife could be blunt. Sometimes re-sharpened knifes are used, or knifes from inferior quality are used. Try using a brand-new Summa knife to exclude a bad knife from making bad curves.

Knife Holder: The knife holder could get worn. Replace the knife holder.

Knife Offset: On a drag knife machine, the machine needs to know the distance between the knife tip and the center of the knife shaft to be able to correctly calculate the media and cutter head movement.

OptiCut: Switch the OptiCut option off when using a new knife, as this option is designed to extend the lifetime of a worn knife.

Media deformation: Due to the pressure used to cut the media, the friction between the media and the cutting strip increases. This will cause the media to deform. Use as low as possible pressure to reduce the friction and deformation.

1. Use the middle pinch rollers if possible
2. Set the middle pinch rollers over the grit rollers. When set over the platen and lowered, then friction and deformation will increase.
3. Do not cut near the front edge of the media, as this part is even weaker and will deform easier. Eventually stick some scrap media to the front of the media to use.

Loose pulley: When a pulley came loose, then there may be a delay when cutting direction changes. This creates deformation of the contour. Loose, then tighten the set screw used to mount the pulley on the motor shaft.

Defective motor: The motors have an encoder integrated, which is used to keep track of the position of the media and cutter head. In case one of the encoders do not respond correctly to the movement, then deformation of the contour appears. Replace the motor.

Carriage: The cutter head is mounted on a carriage, which moves the over the width of the media. The carriage has to run smooth over the Y-axis guiding.

1. Check for dirt on the wheels of the carriage, clean if needed.
2. Check for dirt on the Y-guiding: clean if needed.
3. Check for a defective wheel, replace if needed.
4. Check for play on the wheels, eventually adjust.

Cutter Head: The cutter head has to move the knife up and down.

1. The knife holder needs to be clamped sufficient.
2. The knife holder has to be as deep as possible in the tool clamp. Eventually reposition.
3. The tool clamp has to move smooth up and down. Eventually replace cutter head.