Contour Cutting...? HELP please

[Silver Star DC]

Hey everyone. I have come across an issue that I don't quite know how to approach. I am using FlexiSign-Pro 8.1 on a Windows 7 computer,
with a Graphtec FC7000-130 cutter. I am currently using a supplier for all my full color prints and contour cuts. This supplier charges extra to
do the contour cutting for me. But I would like to start utilizing the Graphtec Cutter for my contour cuts. I send my prints to the supplier in
PDF format and they have me put randomly placed registration dots on the PDF for alignment. To my knowledge, my Graphtec will not pick up
random registration like that.

So now to the questions that I have.
1) How do I output my prints from Flexi with registration marks on the PDF for my supplier to print, and my Graphtec to read for cutting?
2) Am I trying to do something that Flexi is not able to do?
3) Is there another software that I need to use to be able to do this?

I appreciate any advice or help that anyone can give me on this. You can reply back to this message, or you can email or call.
Email: jason@silverstardc.com
Cell: 423-620-8205

 

[J Hill Designs]

I always figured those random marks were so the supplier could infer orientation when contour cutting - kind of a foolproof check.

You may have to use a plugin (cocut etc) that adds registration marks that your cutter can read to a file, then send that output (pdf most likely) WITH registration marks - to the supplier -- make sure you leave margins etc so that when you put the material into your cutter, there is room for rollers, and room front/back

 

[bob]

It's not hard to do.

Create a wire frame rectangle that complete surrounds whatever it is you're printing and cutting. Make this rectangle at least 1/2" or so larger all around than the print and/or cut path. Do yourself a favor and make the dimensions of this rectangle an integer number of inches. You'll see why later.

In Flexi put Graphtec type 2 registration marks on the corners of that rectangle. The marks I use are .8" high and wide and the lines are .01" thick.

Delete the bounding rectangle.

Send the thing off to be printed.

Load the print into the plotter. Move the blade so that it's inside the lower right registration mark.

Set up your plotter for either automatic or manual registration mark sensing.

After sensing the 4 registration marks the plotter will display the X and the Y distance between the marks that it detected. It will ask you to correct these measurements. Enter the X and Y dimensions of the original bounding rectangle that you created and deleted in earlier steps.

Send your cut paths to the plotter.

 

[GAC05]

You can automate what Bob has laid out by downloading the free Cutting Master app from the Graphtec server.
Load your pdf into the app and have it set the registration marks.
Send it off to the printer and when it comes back you can cut it from CM.
The have plug-ins for CM that will work with both Illustrator and Corel, if you design in either it is even easier.

http://www.graphtecamerica.com/grap...ntinued-legacy-cutting-plotters-fc7000-series

wayne k
guam usa

 

[Silver Star DC]

Awesome advice guys. I will do this and send some test prints to the supplier and see how everything works out.
Thank you all very much.