Vinyl cutting presents an intriguing process whereby 2D images or vectors are precisely carved into vinyl using a computer-controlled CNC machine equipped with a maneuverable pen knife.
The Roland GX-24 is a desktop vinyl cutter widely used in the sign-making and apparel decoration industries. It's known for its precision cutting capabilities and versatility in handling various types of vinyl materials. With its computer-controlled operation, it can accurately cut intricate designs and shapes from digital files. The GX-24 is often used for creating vinyl decals, signage, heat transfer graphics for garments, and more.
This is the type of vinyl-cutting machine utilized in our lab.
When discussing vinyl cutting machines, there are primarily two types available:
Active and Passive.
In active machines, the cutting blade's rotations are controlled by a servo mechanism. However, in passive machines, the turning mechanism resembles that of a roller coaster tire. If the entire head moves across a plane, the blade will turn in that direction. The Roland GX-24 is a passive blade-type machine.
It operates on a servo motor, providing high-speed precision. The blades are sharply pointed, angled at 45 degrees to the cutting direction, as depicted in the image. Additionally, blades with cutting angles of 30° and 60° are available.
In our lab, we use 45° cutting angle blades. The cutting speed depends on the force applied in the machine and the surface quality of the material being cut. Excessive force can damage the vinyl and the cutter tool. Therefore, we conducted a force test on the vinyl stickers from our lab's inventory.
The successful test involves removing the circular shape without damaging the inner square shape, as shown in the figure. In the figure, there are different tests conducted with varying forces. From the results, it was determined that 90gf is the optimal force for cutting this material.
The Roland cutting specifications are as follows: Force: 80 gf Speed: 20cm/s