SGIA Journal Graphic November/December 2016 - 44

the fabric to move, creating errors in the
cut path. With the laser, you are limited
to cutting polyesters only, and just like
the hot knife method you end up with a
sealed edge. Because the process doesn't
involve contact with the fabric, the chance
of it moving is remote. Since most flag and
banner material is 100-percent polyester,
the laser option is a good way to go if that
is the type of work you are doing. The
MCT also has a dual-roll capability which
allows for cutting two types of fabrics at
the same time.
I asked Carbonell for his pros and cons
when comparing a laser cutting system to a
knife system when cutting polyesters. His
first thought was that the laser technology
cuts and seals all in one pass and that
the laser allows for more precise and fine
cutting. And with a knife system, the
operator must be aware of the wear and
tear on the knife tool so that it is not
allowed to dull and catch and pull the
fabric while cutting. The Matic Helios
laser uses a low power laser for contactless
cutting of textiles.

42 | SGIA Journal

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Finally, I reached out to Beatrice Drury,
Director of Marketing & Communications,
Zund America, Inc.* Zund uses a driven
rotary tool (DRT) for cutting textiles and
industrial fabrics. Woven and non-woven
fabrics are made from natural or synthetic
fiber. This tool uses a decagonal blade to
cut allowing the user to choose between a
"low" and "high" RPM setting (low is for
materials with lower melting points). The
DRT produces considerably less drag force
on the textile, resulting in a clean cut of each
individual fiber. This tool is recommended
for garments, home textiles and some
industrial fabrics (awnings, and banners).
For tougher textiles and composites with
carbon, glass or Aramid fiber content, Zund
recommends their more heavy-duty Power
Rotary Tool (PRT).
There you have it - at least for now.
The challenge in covering a topic as
broad as finishing is there are so many
different materials and so many different
applications that there will always be
information left on the table to be covered
the next round.

November/December 2016

PCF_SGIA_Nov_Dec_2016_halfpg_8125wx5438h_FL.indd 1

*SGIA member company in order of
mention:
Matic S A, since 2013
Miller Weldmaster, since 1999
Zund, since 2001
Ray Weiss, Digital Imaging Specialist
for SGIA, joined the Association in 2014.
He provides solutions and technical
information on digital printing as well as
digital equipment, materials, and vendor
referrals. He oversees several workshops at
SGIA along with the association's digital
equipment evaluation program. His 25+
year career in the graphics industry began
with a typesetting and prepress business
in Washington, DC, which grew into an
offset print operation in Maryland. He then
moved into wide format sales, training,
support and service.

V i s i t S G I A a t S G I A . o r g9/30/16

12:13 PM
SGIA Journal Graphic November/December 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SGIA Journal Graphic November/December 2016
