How to Cut Reflective Foil on a Summa F-Series

Introduction

Reflective films, especially Diamond Grade and Industrial Grade reflective materials, can be processed efficiently on the Summa F-Series. The main challenge when working with these materials is typically not the cutting itself, but the reliable detection of registration marks due to the highly reflective surface.

This document outlines the recommended tooling, machine setup, and best practices.

Recommended Tool Configuration

Speed and Quality Settings

Reflective films can generally be processed at the maximum machine speed.

Recommended Settings

1. Open the Layer/method options.
2. Change the Quality Level from High to Standard.
3. Run the machine at full production speed 1000mm/sec

Important: Leaving the quality setting on High will limit the maximum acceleration. Switching to Standard allows the F-Series to run at full acceleration while maintaining excellent cut quality on reflective films.

Registration Mark Reading

The most critical aspect of processing reflective materials is often the detection of registration marks.

The reflective surface can cause:

• Light reflections
• Camera glare
• Reduced contrast between the registration mark and the material
• ambient light can have a big impact on how the marks can be read

As a result, the standard camera profile may not always provide reliable mark recognition.

Printing white under the registration mark is the easiest solution, alternative you can create a new camera profile.

Using the Camera Protection Cup

When reading registration marks on reflective materials, the camera protection cup can significantly improve detection performance.

Benefits include:

• Reduced reflections
• Better shielding from ambient light
• More consistent camera readings

Creating a New Camera Profile

Follow the video tutorial below for a step-by-step explanation of how to create a custom camera profile on the Summa F-Series:

Video Tutorial:

Create a New Camera Profile for the F-Series