Plotter Cutters

Digital contour cutting at Print & Finishing Solutions (PFS) is engineered to transform wide-format prints into finished products through precision tracking and automated tool switching. We provide two industry-leading paths: Summa for high-volume industrial versatility and Mimaki for seamless print-and-cut integration.

Plotter Cutter Technology Comparison

1. Summa S Class 3 Series (Industrial High-Performance) Summa S3 cutters are the global benchmark for high-speed vinyl cutting and heavy-duty industrial films.

• Tangential vs. Drag Knife: Available with either a Drag Knife (D Series) for standard vinyl or a Tangential Knife (T Series) which utilizes a motorized head for precision cutting of thick, sandblast, or reflective materials.
• Extreme Tracking: Features a specialized grit roller system that ensures tracking accuracy up to 40 feet, allowing for long-run vehicle wraps without material drift.
• Dual-Head Capability: The S3 series can be equipped with a dual-head configuration, allowing for simultaneous cutting and creasing in a single pass.
• Format Support: Available in multiple widths, including the S3 160 (63 inches), to match the output of industrial wide-format printers.

2. Mimaki CG-AR & CG-SRIII Series (Precision Workflow) Mimaki cutters are designed to provide a cohesive workflow for shops requiring high-detail decals and high-mix production.

• ID Cut Function: When paired with Mimaki printers, the CG-AR series can read a printed ID barcode to automatically load the correct cut data, enabling unattended continuous cutting of multiple jobs.
• High-Speed Detection: Utilizes a continuous crop mark detection system that automatically adjusts for print distortions to ensure 100% registration accuracy.
• Half-Cut Feature: Specifically engineered for the decal market, this allows for a "perf-cut" that leaves a small tab of backing paper, making it easy to pop out finished stickers without them falling into the machine.
• Substrate Range: Capable of handling a diverse substrate mix from thin decorative window films to heavy 350 gsm cardstocks for packaging prototypes.

Solving Plotter Production Failure Points

Q: Why do my long-run vehicle graphics lose registration halfway through the cut? A: This is typically a tracking issue caused by material slippage. The Summa S Class 3 utilizes a unique grit roller and media flange system that maintains physical control of the media, ensuring the cut returns to the exact starting point even after 40 feet of travel.

Q: How do I cut through heavy, reflective laminate without tearing the corners? A: Standard drag knives "drag" through the turn, which can lift the corner of thick films. The Summa S3 T Series uses a Tangential head that physically lifts the blade, rotates it, and drops it back down for every corner, providing a surgical-grade cut on materials up to 1000g of pressure.

Q: Is there a way to automate the cutting of multiple different jobs on a single roll? A: Yes. The Mimaki CG-ARutilizes "ID Cut" technology. The machine reads a unique barcode for each job on the roll, fetches the cut file from the server, and executes the cut without any manual intervention between jobs.

Technical Specification Matrix

Critical Risk Assessment

While Mimaki cutters offer the most seamless integration for shops already utilizing Mimaki printers, they are primarily designed for standard commercial vinyls and films. For industrial environments processing high-intensity reflective films or heavy magnetic media, the Summa S3 T Series is a technical necessity due to its 1000g of cutting pressure and tangential blade rotation. Failing to use a tangential head on thick substrates will result in "rounded" corners and premature blade failure. Conversely, the Summa S3 represents a higher capital investment that may not be justified for shops only producing small-format decals where the Mimaki "ID Cut" provides a more tangible labor-saving ROI.

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