Cutting and Trimming Machines Explained
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
In the printing industry, cutting and trimming are crucial processes that refine a printed product. Cutting separates joined pages, while trimming tidies up sheet edges by removing extra bits to avoid press jams and other issues.
Now, let’s take a closer look at cutting and trimming machines commonly used in printing.
What is a Cutting Machine?
In printing, a cutting machine uses a micro blade to score and precisely cut images into paper, vinyl, and other materials. It works like a printer but instead of printing images, they cut them.
Types of Cutting Machines
- Guillotine Cutter: This machine can both cut and trim, making it great for quick tasks at home offices and print shops. Guillotine cutters are designed for thicker paper stacks, offering practicality, ease of use, and precision in one device.
- Printer/Cutter: A printer and cutter in one, this machine is popular with businesses of all sizes due to its ease of use and versatility. An example of this device is the Roland DG printer.
- Film Cutting Machine: Used in various industries such as electronics, automotive, packaging, and graphic arts, a film cutting machine cuts paper, laminate, or film automatically into sheets.
- Die Cutting Machine: Also called craft cutting machine, this machine cuts different shapes of paper or cardstock using a die. Popular examples of this type of cutting machine are Silhouette, Cricut, and the Glowforge Laser Cutter.
- Business Card Cutting Machine: Available in manual and automatic models, a business card cutting machine neatly cuts multiple cards from a single sheet. The automatic type efficiently handles large quantities at once.
Applications of Cutting Machines:
- Stickers and Labels
- Decals
- Vinyl wall art
- Cards
- Business Cards
What is a Trimming Machine?
A trimming machine is like a magic tool that reduces sheets of paper, whether blank or printed, to the size you want.
Types of Trimming Machines
- Rotary Trimmer: A kind of guillotine cutter, this machine features a round blade enclosed inside a plastic head for safety. They're versatile, trimming not just paper but also plastic films, vinyl, and PVC.
- Three-Knife Trimmer: Commonly used in bookbinding, a three-knife trimmer precisely trims all three sides of a book or block simultaneously for a polished finish.
- Hydraulic Book Trimmer: A machine that can cut a whole book in just one go.
- Cutting Press or Plough: A machine used in the book production process, a cutting press is used to trim the page edges with precision.
Applications of Trimming Machines:
- Bookbinding
- Book production
- Magazine production
- Catalogs and brochures
In a nutshell, cutting machines precisely cut images into various materials, while trimming machines refine paper edges for a polished finish. These machines are crucial in printing, efficiently resizing sheets to the desired dimensions.
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