By Digital Output Staff
Every Fall we are inundated with new product announcements across the industry and within every segment—flatbed cutter/routers are no exception. The September issue of Digital Output dives into the topic in a bit more detail, but here we include information on available products.
Cutworx USA will debut its Apex M Series Flatbed Cutting System in October. Speed is what sets it apart from the competition, with Raum DiVarco, GM, Cutworx sharing that its rapid traverse speed clocks in at almost 5,000 inches per minute (ipm). The Apex M Series features X and Y axis linear motion technology as well as a new magnetic drive system that DiVarco says eliminates physical wear and tear on units. With customization in mind, the systems are offered in pre-built and modular size configurations. Its also equipped with Cutworx’s standard three-head interchangeable system.
Elitron’s Kombo THC is a state-ot-the-art cutting system with a conveyor working area—3,200×1,600 and 3,200×2,000 mm—and two multi-tool cutting heads with five tools in each cutting head. These can each be fitted with a one kW milling router or a more powerful three kW milling router with an automatic, seven-position milling tool changer. The Kombo THC is a flexible, standalone, multi-function cutting and milling system for roll materials and rigid sheets alike.
Graphic Wizard Inc. – GW Wide Format recently launched three flatbed router cutting systems. The most popular being the DG 1216 (5×4-foot) conveyor cutting table. Market research shows that many emerging wide format providers need more capabilities and functionality with a smaller footprint. GW brings all the standard tools for a digital or wide format print shop; kiss-cut, crease, router, perforating, through cutting using knives or oscillating tools, but in a footprint half the size of the competition.
Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems promotes its C series, a multifunctional, superwide digital finisher for signage and display applications. The C64 is the flagship model. Kongberg is also home to the MultiCam Apex 3R CNC router. It features a heavy, all-steel tube frame that ensures durability and makes it more rigid, which reduces vibration and improves routing quality. The Apex 3R includes the EZ Control operator interface so users can start routing right away and have minimal interruption in work processes, while a three-axis motion control system gives tight control over routing quality for precision and quality cutting.
Techno CNC Systems introduced the Atlas digital registration high-performance machine to the market in 2018. This technology is now integrated into the new Titan Series equipment. The Titan machine features a 12 horsepower automatic tool changer with a high flow dust hood, which extracts all the dust and debris as the machine routes. The machine includes a vacuum table that firmly holds the printed substrates to the bed surface as their geometric patterns are routed. The Titan also includes pop-up pins for easy sheet alignment. The machine includes a PC-based controller with a digital registration camera and software suite, which imports graphic design files from most graphic programs.
VTX Tools offers blades and bits. “In regards to tooling, the current trend is coatings for blades and bits. We produce a diamond-like carbide coating that prolongs the life of the tool. At the end of the day, the cutter is only as good as the tip of that tool that is actually cutting the material. You can have the fastest cutter but if the blade or bit is failing or needs to be replaced on a more frequent basis you are losing productivity,” shares Nikolai Mikkelsen, president, VTX Tools.
X-Edge Products is another provider of bits and blades. At press time, it was set to launch a half-inch version of its popular Omega Series router bit line. “We spent hundreds of hours of research and development on the Omega in order to create the best acrylic cutting router bit possible without being an expensive diamond tool. The XO2012 quarter-inch Omega is our best-selling product to date and using our suggested speed, feed, and process customers are able to achieve edges that are clear enough to avoid having to flame polish in many instances, and where they still need to flame polish they are able to take the cut part straight to flame without any sanding or other edge prepping,” says Josh Martinez, account manager, X-Edge Products.
Zund America, Inc. formally launched the Zünd Q-line with BHS180 in April 2023. It is a new and completely unique digital cutting system designed for fully automated, industrial production of packaging and displays. With an extremely heavy-duty, mineral-cast substructure and dual CF-reinforced plastic beams, the Q-line with BHS180 delivers maximum precision at unprecedented speeds of 2.8 meters per second or more than nine feet per second, with a 2.1g acceleration, both thanks to the cutter’s linear drive system. Q-line with BHS180 stands out from the competition as a fully automated, ultra-efficient production line complete with automatic loading/unloading capabilities designed for pallet-to-pallet, non-stop industrial production, working with stack heights of 1.8 meters or nearly six feet.
Be sure to look for many of these products on trade show floors this Fall or in virtual showrooms.
Sep2023, Digital Output
