How Does a Plotter Cutter Work?

Overview of Plotter Cutters

A plotter is a graphics printer that uses a pen or pencil to draw images. A plotter cutter is a plotter in which the plotting pen has been replaced with a knife or a sharp blade. Plotter cutters use continuous lines to create objects and are slower than other types of cutting machines because of the mechanical motion necessary to cut using continuous lines. Garment and sign manufacturers prefer plotter cutters since the devices have the ability to create large objects using oversized pieces of vinyl, plastic or cloth.

How Plotter Cutters Work

A plotter cutter works closely with a computer's imaging software to produce a final object. The first step in using a plotter cutter is to enter the appropriate coordinates for the shape you want the plotter cutter to create. Modern software allows the user to accomplish this goal very easily by drawing lines and images with the imaging software. Once the schematics for the object are complete, the computer downloads the coordinates to the plotter cutter, which interprets the code and calculates the most efficient path for the knife and the material. Newer plotter cutters use one of two programming languages: Hewlett-Packard's HPGL2 or Houston Instruments' DMPL. Early plotter cutters contained two separate knives, one that moved vertically and one that moved horizontally. These plotters were limited in terms of the complexity of the objects they could produce as well as the speed at which they could operate. Some plotter cutters continue to operate in this manner; however, vinyl sign cutters and other plotter cutters that work with flexible materials use a sliding roller, which moves the material against a stationary knife. The sliding roller moves the material horizontally and vertically against the knife until the object is complete.

Cutting Devices

A plotter cutter's knife is mounted on ball bearings, which allows the knife's blade to rotate as the material moves against the knife. The plotter cutter may also contain a pressure control device that regulates how firmly the knife presses down on the material. Manufacturers who wanted plotter cutters used to purchase and overhaul pen plotters, but many companies have begun producing plotter cutters that can be purchased directly. As a result, plotter cutters are used to manufacture a variety of items, including customized signs, billboards, posters and vinyl sheets.

Resources

• Plotter Supplies, Inc.