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.