Exploring Drag and Tangential Knife Technology: Pros and Cons
When it comes to roll cutters and flatbed cutters, Summa offers two distinct cutting technologies: drag knife and True Tangential knife technology. Each one offers unique advantages and considerations, catering to different cutting needs across various industries. Let's delve into the pros and cons of drag and tangential knife technologies to help you understand their applications and suitability in full.
Understanding Drag and Tangential Cutting
Drag Knife Technology
As the name suggests, drag knife technology employs a blade that is dragged through the material to make cuts. This straightforward approach ensures that the cutting direction determines the orientation of the knife.
Drag knife technology in action
True Tangential Knife Technology
In contrast, Summa’s True Tangential knife technology uses a more complex mechanism. The knife is actively controlled and rotated by a motor in the cutting head, allowing the blade to lift, turn, and reposition itself as needed during cutting operations. This fast and precise cutting mechanism is completely unique to Summa.
Tangential knife technology in action
Comparing 5 Key Aspects of Drag and Tangential Knife Technology
To truly understand the technologies' differences and advantages, we need to examine them from various perspectives. Here, we compare the key aspects where the technologies distinguish themselves from each other.
1. Knife Positioning
The positioning of the knife is the main difference between drag and tangential cutting technology.
- With drag technology, the knife maintains constant contact with the material surface throughout the cutting process. While this ensures efficient cutting speed, it may struggle with sharp corners and intricate details due to the limitations of continuous dragging.
- Tangential technology offers precise knife positioning through motor control. The ability to lift and rotate the knife enables precise cutting of intricate designs and sharp corners, albeit potentially at a slightly slower pace due to the meticulous movements.
2. Cutting depth
Contrary to popular belief, the pressure applied to the materials does not always determine the depth of the cut. There are several ways you can exert pressure on the material, which can lead to different cutting outcomes.
- With the drag head, cutting depth is managed by adjusting the pressure applied to the knife. This method works well for thinner materials but may result in inconsistent cutting depths with thicker or more rigid substrates.
- The tangential head, on the other hand, utilises a mechanical stop – the nose piece – to control cutting depth. This approach ensures consistent and accurate cuts across various materials, including thicker and more challenging substrates.
3. Applications
The number of applications possible with your (flatbed or roll) cutter depends on the knife technology you choose.
- Drag technology is ideal for basic shapes and designs in materials like vinyl and paper. In short, it excels in simple cutting tasks.
- While tangential technology handles both basic and complex designs, including sharp corners and thick, tough materials. Its precision makes it indispensable for applications demanding high-quality finishes and intricate detailing.
4. User-friendliness
Knowing beforehand whether a machine is easy to handle and user-friendly is important. At Summa, we always aim to make our machine software and interface as easy and intuitive as possible.
- A drag knife is straightforward to install and operate with minimal setup requirements. Users only need to adjust pressure and knife offset for optimal performance.
- The tangential knife’s calibration is a bit more complex because you need to adjust three parameters when calibrating your knife.
5. Versatility
Whether you need a versatile machine or one dedicated to a specific task, we have roll and flatbed cutting solutions that meet your needs:
- Our drag knife technology is primarily suited for quickly cutting simple shapes in vinyl and paper, limiting its versatility compared to tangential cutting. This more wallet-friendly machine is perfect for beginners and professionals alike.
- The tangential knife technology offers dual functionality, as it is capable of both tangential and drag cutting. This unique feature expands the cutter’s application range, accommodating a wider variety of cutting tasks. It can cut not only simple shapes but also more detailed ones, as well as more rigid and thicker media.
The Perfect Fit For You
Choosing between drag and tangential knife technology depends on your specific cutting needs, material types, and desired outcomes.
While drag knives excel in simplicity, speed, and cost-effectiveness for basic cuts, our True Tangential knives offer unparalleled precision and versatility for complex designs and challenging materials.
The drag knife technology is standard on both our S One and S Class 3 roll cutter series and is available as a drag module on the F Series. Summa’s True Tangential knife technology can be found only on our premium roll cutter series – the S Class 3 – and in the tangential module on the F Series.
Not sure if a flatbed or roll cutter is the right fit for you? We can help you!
Understanding these two technologies' pros and cons will empower you to select the right cutting solution that aligns with your business objectives and production requirements.
Want to know more?
For a detailed comparison, contact us to explore further insights into drag and tangential knife technologies. Discover how these advancements in digital cutting can elevate your workflow and production capabilities.
