Plotter blades problems  (FAQ)

GIS Premium Blades

Occasional problems with cutting plotters and plotter blades.

Problem:

Possible causes: Remedy:

1. Cutting results are generally unsatisfactory...

1a)
Fonts are not cut at all, interrupted cut or cut only after repeated plotting.
Plotter misaligned, especially:
- Incorrectly set cutting depth
- Too low contact pressure
- Blade holder is loose
- Blades Unsuitable
- blade is blunt
- Plotter unsuitable for the material
- interrupted cutting mode is selected
Re-adjust plotter:
- Setting the cutting depth
- Adjusting the contact pressure
- Check the fastening of the blade holder.
- Select a sharper blade if necessary
- replace worn knife if necessary
1b)
Fonts are cut too deep: silicone paper gets stuck to the individual letters during weeding.
- Plotter set too low
- Too high contact pressure
- Blade too pointed
Especially for drag blades:
- Blade protrudes too far from the holder
- Change setting (z-axis higher)
- Change setting (less pressure)
- use a blunter blade

- Change setting (reduce protrusion)

1c)
Fonts are cut alternately not at all or badly and then again too deeply.
- Mechanics misaligned
Especially for flatbed plotters:
- Table surface uneven
Especially for roller plotters:
- Cutting bar worn out
- can only be fixed by a specialist

- can only be fixed by a specialist

- Replace cutting bar

2. The cut contours are not as expected...

2a)
General error, reproduciable (error is always the same, regardless of the plot location).
Reproducible contour errors are usually the result of software problems:
- the software itself
- the plotter driver
- the Fonts
- the special file


- Consult a specialist
- try update if necessary
- try a different font
- Create new file
Especially for drag knife plotters:
2b) Contours are not closed, reproducible
2c) corners are too pointed or rounded, reproducible
2d) Contours are "blurred" at the start, later no more

2e) Contours are "blurred" over their entire length


- Wrong offset setting

- Wrong offset setting

- Alignment process of the blade at the start


- Blade blunt or defective
- Blade holder dirty, loose or defective
- Cutting bar worn out

- Set the correct offset

- Set the correct offset

- Select blade with smaller offset

- Replace blade
- Clean, fix or replace holder
- Replace cutting bar
Especially for tangential plotters:

2f) small "bridges" remain in the corners

- the blade's tip is not exactly in the centre of the axis or the blade is damaged

- the mechanics is misaligned, e.g. play in
the guides or the z-axis
does not stand exactly perpendicular to the
Table.

- Replace blade


- Consult a specialist

3. Problems with weeding...

should not occur if the problems mentioned above are solved.

3a) Fonts are generally difficult to weed (to lift out) - mechanical problems (e.g.
Cutting depth, cutting force, speed, offset setting, wrong / defective blade, wear etc.)
- unsuitable foil
- see above
- try another foil
- try double-sided blade (with overcut to both sides)
3b) Fonts are difficult to weed (remove) with very small letters - The limits of technology or the adhesive strength of the film on silicon paper have been reached... - Try blades with smaller offset
- sometimes it helps to weed from behind: BEFORE weeding apply the transfer foil, peel off silicone paper and weed the contours from behind. Cover the currently untreated parts with silicone paper.
3c) Fonts cannot be weeded some time after plotting (especially with cast vinyl)
- Adhesive runs over the cutting gap and converges again - use duller blade or a blade specially designed for this purpose (a blade with a small "plateau" at the tip) or a double-sided blade.
- Weed immediately after plotting.
- Store foil before and after plotting
as cool as possible (especially in summer)

4. Unusually high knife wear...

Rule of thumb: With "normal" use (approx. 8 h / day, little metallic, chrome, flock foils etc., little paper, no "accidents") you should not need more than 1 blade / month.

4a) High blade consumption in general - poor quality of the blades
- unsuitable blade for the task
- mechanical problems, e.g. frequent cutting into the table due to incorrectly adjusted plotters, worn blade holder (with drag blade plotters)
- Good quality pays off ...
- Take tendentially duller (larger α, δ) blades if possible
- Use knives with tips on both sides if available
4b) High blade wear especially on flatbed plotters worn damping elements replace (or have replaced). For some
plotters it is also sufficient to add
of a thin felt disc.
4c) Blades with inclined clamping flats frequently fall out of the holder Counter supports in blade holder (e.g. cylindrical pin or inclined clamping surface) are worn (rounded)  get them replaced