Which cutting plotter should I choose?

Table of contents

1. Possibilities and purpose of cutting plotters

2. Which plotter for the company - what to pay attention to

3. What materials will be cut on the plotter?

4. What will be the format of cut elements?

5. How will the device be operated?

6. Which plotter to choose?

Possibilities and purpose of cutting plotters

Cutting plotters are devices designed to cut shapes and lettering in the base material, most often it is paper or self-adhesive or thermal film. The designs to be cut out are designed on the computer in an appropriate graphics program. In practice, this means that a model of a stencil or other detail is entered into the machine's memory, and then the machine cuts it out on a sheet of paper or film and cuts it out. Such automation has many advantages, as it allows for economical use of material and guarantees repeatability of cut out elements and speed of their execution.

The range of applications of plotters is very wide. This is due to the huge variety of their models, technical parameters and materials from which different shapes can be cut. Therefore, the devices are divided into craft plotters for hobby use, they are also used in small businesses, and professional plotters dedicated to production and precise cutting of large volumes of projects. In order for equipment of this type to do its job, it must have the right features. Therefore, before buying it, it is worth knowing which plotter to choose so that it meets all the needs of the company.

Which plotter for a business - what to look for?

To decide what kind of cutting plotter to buy, you need to answer some basic questions. This will allow you to determine the expectations and needs to be satisfied by the equipment. As a result, the plotter will work efficiently, using all its technical capabilities and without unnecessary downtime. At the same time, the range of tasks performed on it will be as large as possible, which will streamline the work of the company, increase the quality of products and speed up the time of their manufacture.

What materials will be cut on the plotter?

The main parameter to consider when choosing a plotter is the type of materials to be cut. Individual machines are designed to cut elements in substrates such as:

1. paper up to about 300g,

2. self-adhesive films for stickers,

3. self-adhesive paper for labels,

4. thermal flex and flock films for napressing,

5. textiles, leather and felt,

6. materials of greater thickness - cork, foams, etc.

If the company cuts elements from a particular type of materials when buying a cutting plotter, it is worth thinking about which of them will be cut most often, and which episodically or not at all. This will help you decide on the best device for your needs.

What will be the format of the cut parts?

Another important parameter is the cutting area. It indicates how long and wide materials can be cut on a given device. In many plotters from the hobby and professional shelf, there is the possibility of cutting out backing materials, i.e. label papers, self-adhesive films and flex and flock films without the need for a mat - directly from the roll. If you plan to cut these types of materials, it is worth making sure that the selected plotter model gives you this possibility.

If you are cutting papers and transparencies for craft use including creating: scrapbooks, cards, invitations, balloon stickers or decorations, it is worth considering the Silhouette Portrait 3 device with a4 format mat and the ability to cut stickers without a mat. In the case of processing items with a larger format, such as 30x30cm or 30×60cm, a model with similar functionality but a larger working area such as the Silhouette Cameo 4 may be a good option.

There are also professional plotters available for sale with a wider cutting format, which can be tailored to the specific needs of cutting film directly from the roll. When considering which cutting plotter to buy, it is also worth paying attention to the form of the base material - whether it will be sheets of paper or rather film.

How will the device be operated?

Choosing a plotter also requires determining how it will be operated and the software used. Craft plotters come with the manufacturer's software that allows you to operate it. Before buying, it is worth making sure what the capabilities of this software are, whether it will be sufficient for our needs, what format file extensions I can open on it, and whether it will be necessary to assist additionally with external graphics programs such as Inkscape, Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator. For many users, the language of operation of the software is also not insignificant. When considering which plotter to choose, it is also worth paying attention to features such as cutting prints and making sure what the plotter's cutting area is in such a case.

Which plotter to choose?

If you are not sure whether the cutting plotter you have chosen will meet your expectations, wonder if you can handle its operation, or hesitate whether it will be suitable for use in your business - please contact us. We will be happy to help you choose the right model to suit your needs, answer all your questions about choosing the right accessories and operating a particular model.
👉 kontakt@wycinarnia.pl
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