Substrate Cutter needed - Recommendations?

I just have a panel saw, table saw and a 3ft shear. Works great for most projects. If I'm not comfortable with cutting the material here, I just have a supplier cut it for me.

 

We use the SawTrax machines. Have a 5ft and a 4ft. The 5ft has an ACM sheer and a substrate clamp, but the clamp only works with 4ft materials so we typically leave it off. We went with it because we can use the saw and rip long cuts of ACM or polycarb. Our first one was a 4ft one we bought many, many years ago and have never needed to adjust it. The new one seems to be built just as well.

 

Fletcher

 

We have enjoyed our Foster Keencut for years. Good machine. They are all challenging to square up though. Be ready to work through the challenge no matter which one you buy.

 

We've also had a Fletcher substrate cutter, but as Firesprint mentioned we found ours terribly difficult to square perfectly and sold it years ago.

Other than a CNC table, the best "cutter" at our shop is our DeWalt track saw. (Fletcher and Makita also make a version too.) For the money, this thing will fly through just about any material (except foam board) used in day-to-day sign making and do it accurately with a clean edge. We cut PVC, polycarb, MDO, coro, polymetals and many others with ease. Wouldn't be without it!