Laminating and Cutting After Printing (Crop & Cut)

After printing, remove the media, perform post-processing such as lamination, and then reload the media and cut it (cutting with crop marks).

There are two important adjustments involved in cutting with crop marks. One is blade adjustment (blade force, movement speed, and blade offset) on the media after post-processing, and the other is cut position adjustment. For blade adjustment, you should first determine the appropriate value for the media after each process. The blade position can be adjusted using one of the following methods, but here you will perform a simple concurrent test for printing/cutting with crop marks.
  • Concurrent Test for Printing/Cutting with Crop Marks
  • Separate Test for Printing/Cutting with Crop Marks
However, you can also use a Separate Test for Printing and Cutting with Crop Marks that will allow you to adjust the cutting position in a status that mimics the actual process of cutting with crop marks. In this test, print five crop marks, remove the media, and then set up again and perform a cutting test. At this time, if you also perform post-processing of the media, you can implement more accurate cut positions and blade adjustments.

This section introduces the printer and VersaWorks procedures, using the VG3-640 as an example. Media registration, setup and various adjustments differ depending on the printer model. See the User's Manual of the various printer models.https://downloadcenter.rolanddg.com

IMPORTANT

Blade adjustment should be completed in advance on media that has been laminated

If the blade is not adjusted (cut force and amount of blade extension) to account for the thickness of the laminate, the petting-in amount will be reduced and it will not peel off the backing paper.

Procedure
Printer Operation 1
  1. Set up the media.
    Load the media for printing, for example by turning on the heater.
  2. Perform [Nozzle Drop-out Test].
    Ensure that no dot drop-out or dot displacement occurs. Perform various types of cleaning as necessary.
  3. Adjust the crop cut position.
    1. From the hamburger menu, select the check box for Separate Test for Printing/Cutting with Crop Marks under Media Settings - Cutting Settings - Crop Cut Position Adjustment.
    2. Tap Execute under Printing Test 1 (Misalignment Check).
      A black square is printed, and a square of the same size is cut out.
    3. Check for any printing and cutting misalignment.
    4. If printing and cutting are misaligned, perform Printing Test 2 (Correction Values), and then correct the position.
      When checking the results of such correction, perform Printing Test 1 (Misalignment Check) again.
    5. Tap Save.
    6. Tap Panel_Icon_Home.
      You are returned to the home screen.
VersaWorks Operation - Printing
  1. Add the print data to the job list.
    A cutting line (CutContour) should be included in the print data. For methods for adding cutting lines using VersaWorks, see the VersaWorks Master Guide.
  2. Perform Settings.
    1. Use one of the methods below to open the Settings window.
      • Double-click the job.
      • Right-click a job, and then click Edit Design - Settings.
      • With a job selected, click VW7-ICON_JobMenu1 on the left side of the job tool area, and then click VW7-ICON_CustomizeSettings.
    2. Click VW7-ICON_Mark Mark.
    3. Select the Crop Marks (Print &Cut Alignment) checkbox under Marks .
      As necessary, select the crop marks from Entire Area, For Each Row, or For Each Data Entry.
    4. Click VW7-ICON_CutControl Cut Controls.
    5. Select Print Only for Operation Mode.
    6. Click VW7-ICON_PrinterControl Printer Controls.
    7. Select Sheet Cutting for Cut Sheet after Output under General.
    8. Select the check box for Use Custom Settings, and then specify at least 140 mm (5.52 in.)Page Space.
      Media will be fed during cutting, so the amount of margin required differs by printer model.
    9. Click OK to return to the main screen.
  3. Click Print.
    Printing and sheet cutting are executed. When the Advanced Print Settings screen appears, specify the print count, and then clickPrint.
Lamination Work
  1. Perform lamination.
Printer Operation 2
  1. Load the laminated media.
    • Set the heater and dryer to off.

      If you perform Duplicate as Media for Cutting for the media created in Step 1, the media for which the Heater Settings were set to off in the relevant settings will be created.

    • Place the front left and right crop marks so they are aligned straight on the blade protector.

      Ensure that the crop marks are not angled by more than 5 degrees.

  2. Check that blade adjustment (cut force and amount of blade extension) has been carried out for the laminated media.
VersaWorks Operation - Cutting
  1. Use one of the methods below to duplicate the job from Step 4.
    • With a job selected, click VW7-ICON_JobMenu1 on the left side of the job tool area, and then click VW7-ICON_DuplicationMediaDuplicate Job.
    • Right-click the job, and then click Edit Design - Duplicate Job.
    Configure the settings for cutting. Rename the settings with a name that will let you know they are for cutting if necessary.
  2. Configure the Settings for cutting.
    1. Use one of the methods below to open the Settings window.
      • Double-click the job.
      • Right-click the job, and then click Edit Design - Duplicate Job.
      • With a job selected, click VW7-ICON_JobMenu1 on the left side of the job tool area, and then click VW7-ICON_CustomizeSettings.
    2. Click VW7-ICON_Mark Mark.
    3. Check that Crop Marks (Print &Cut Alignment) under Marks is on.
      Set Entire Area, For Each Row, or For Each Data Entry so that they are the same as when printing.
    4. Click VW7-ICON_CutControl Cut Controls.
    5. Select Cut Only for Operation Mode.
    6. Click VW7-ICON_PrinterControl Printer Controls.
    7. Select None for Cut Sheet after Output under General.
    8. Click OK.
      You are returned to the main screen.
  3. Click Print.
    The printer detects the crop marks to adjust the position of the media, and then performs cutting.