Summa S One D120 vs. S Class 120T for High-Detail Contour Cutting?

[PIXELPALM]

Hi everyone,
I’m getting ready to step into the sticker business and need some advice from those with experience. I’m trying to decide between the Summa S One D120 and the Summa S Class 120T for highly detailed, small contour cutting. Accuracy is my top priority since I’ll be focusing on intricate designs rather than large-scale production, so speed isn’t as important for me. Based on your experience, which of these machines would you recommend for precision cutting?

Thanks in advance for your insights!

 

[Pauly]

Tangential vs drag knife. heaps of videos out there demonstrating the difference.

 

[vondegroot]

I've done some pretty tiny stuff on my D120, and it's pretty dang accurate!

 

[balstestrat]

There is only one answer to this. Tangential.

 

[BigNate]

No matter what you decide, the biggest area where you will see increased accuracy is in the operator - using tips like the final blade adjustment is always in the extend direction, even if you need to retract first so the net is a retraction. (think about the way helically inclined planes mesh, the screw threads have slop which can be controlled by always ending with an extension motion.)

The smallest of changes can make a difference in the final quality, You can produce some really tight registration on a loose machine if you think through every adjustment this way.

that being said, it will be easier to quickly see good results using good equipment - the best knife handling is by the plotters that control the rotation of the blade as well (as opposed to allowing it to just caster to the correct direction of cut) - you will see the difference where the blade starts the cut. But to be fair I have seen very good results from skilled operators and drag-castering blades.

 

[Saturn]

using tips like the final blade adjustment is always in the extend direction, even if you need to retract first so the net is a retraction.

Very good advice for the tangential—mastering the offset feels like the final piece of the puzzle, and this technique helps keep this variable consistent. Even paying attention to which way your cuts are generally going is whorthwhile, CW vs CCW.

 

[ProColorGraphics]

The S-Class is will be a way better machine in the long run!!

 

[PIXELPALM]

Thank you all for your responses. However, would you take into consideration the age of a first-generation S Class compared to an S One plotter, which was released many years later? Would a first-generation S Class cut with the same precision as the S One, given the 10 years of advancements in cutting technology?

 

[BigNate]

Thank you all for your responses. However, would you take into consideration the age of a first-generation S Class compared to an S One plotter, which was released many years later? Would a first-generation S Class cut with the same precision as the S One, given the 10 years of advancements in cutting technology?

the physical world has not changes - mechanically a 10 year old plotter can in-theory be just as accurate in cutting as a new plotter - HOWEVER, what small wear items have warn in the past 10 years that no one ever thinks of changing? Though for 90% of all plotting jobs, the 10 year old plotter should be just fine, to really hit those last 10% accurately you will want to replace all of the unusual wear items... not sure if this is practical - basically take entire machine apart and rebuild. For most sign-businesses (most are small and still under a very restrictive budget) the savings of a used machine will be better than the benefits of a brand new machine (but my personal recommendation is to always buy new with a good maintenance contract and just build you pricing accordingly)

There are also lots of old-skool tricks - like the always have extend be the last blade motion when adjusting - that will allow very accurate cuts with poor equipment....

I would also worry about the computer in the device - how long will it still be supported? a new machine generally has at least 10 years of support. I am running 3 Oce presses which were rated at 2 billion copies - many many years of printing - but we were told that they are nearing the end of supported life; and none are any where near even 1 billion.

Be aware that the software may ultimately be what kills the older plotter.

 

[balstestrat]

You can also buy a new S3T and not worry about the aging.

 

[ProColorGraphics]

Thank you all for your responses. However, would you take into consideration the age of a first-generation S Class compared to an S One plotter, which was released many years later? Would a first-generation S Class cut with the same precision as the S One, given the 10 years of advancements in cutting technology?

I am still running a first gen s-class. Going on 10 years and still running strong. I replaced 1 motor once. I have no plans to update it either.

 

[geNe36]

S Class 3 T is a good choice. The build is robust. Smoothness in operation (The firmware was written from scratch and not modified from S2 FW). Tangential for detailed designs Definitely. there are people who will say they use Drag for detailed designs like the previous member, im not saying it cannot but the expectation and acceptance from different people are different when it comes to 'detailed'. It may be acceptable for them but not for you. Tangential for Detailed designs, No question about it.