Summa S3 Vacuum

[Engstrom Graphics]

It's been a long day and I feel like this is a simple thing but I just cannot find how to increase the vacuum on my S3? It's gotta be in the control panel somewhere - any help? I am still dealing with my blade making a small cut across my prints during initialization on the X axis. Blade is barely sticking out - other than buying a middle pinch roller (which is expensive!) I figure I would try to increase the vacuum but I can't seem to be able to find this setting on the control panel.

Thanks!

 

[Pauly]

You can't adjust it, you need to add more pinch wheels.

 

[balstestrat]

I don't know how many vacuum fans it has but you can also try to mask off remaining holes. In theory it could increase suction.

 

[PHILJOHNSON]

You cannot adjust the vacuum suction on the S3, but you can add additional pinch rollers which are called "media select kits". The part number for the kit on the S3 models is 395-682, cost is $417/ea., and we(Airmark) usually keep those in stock. The additional pinch roller will reduce the gap distances between the rollers and keep the material down flatter to the cutter surface so the blade doesn't scratch the material when it boots up and does the auto loading process.

Let me know if you have any questions or if there is anything else that I can do to help.

Best regards,

Phil Johnson
Airmark Corporation
(800)527-7778, ext. 112
philj@airmark.com

 

[White Haus]

It's been a long day and I feel like this is a simple thing but I just cannot find how to increase the vacuum on my S3? It's gotta be in the control panel somewhere - any help? I am still dealing with my blade making a small cut across my prints during initialization on the X axis. Blade is barely sticking out - other than buying a middle pinch roller (which is expensive!) I figure I would try to increase the vacuum but I can't seem to be able to find this setting on the control panel.

Thanks!

Here's the thread Summa doesn't want you to know about.....: https://www.signs101.com/threads/s140t-dragging-blade-across-laminated-prints.159007/

(We're still running our plotter like this, years later)

 

[Snydo]

Another option to consider is making your prints narrower. I regularly print on 54" 6 mil media, with a 10 mil laminate that is 51" wide, I try to keep my prints less than 46" wide and this is WITH the extra pinch roller.
You can also place the leftmost pinch roller inside(to the right of) the bottom left crop mark to facilitate less spacing between pinch rollers, resulting in less material bulge.

 

[Engstrom Graphics]

Interesting - initial support told me to increase the vacuum. Ha.

My prints are only 30" wide to begin with - I didn't think I needed an added middle pinch roller since I have the smallest version. I do use thick material - and still getting the cuts across unfortunately.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Engstrom Graphics]

Well - added a thicker cleaning swab and taped it up - so far so good. Crazy you have to add something like this to a brand new cutter (which I love by the way - way more accurate than my Roland could ever dream of) - or add a $400 pinch roller just to eliminate this issue.

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[Engstrom Graphics]

Here's the thread Summa doesn't want you to know about.....: https://www.signs101.com/threads/s140t-dragging-blade-across-laminated-prints.159007/

(We're still running our plotter like this, years later)

Thank you!!!

 

[Saturn]

If you're running something heavy, you could consider a 4-5 inches of an outfeed "platform" taped/attached to the front of the machine. Helps it lay flatter as it cuts. Just use some old cardboard as a ledge gently sloped/curved down.

 

[DonutSlinger]

We changed the insert on the tip on the blade holder to black. that has helped. We recently purchased an S3 Tc160 and noticed this problem and it's very consistent. We are having to reprint and throw away alot of material. Never had this issue with the S2 or Graphtec's. It's weird.