One of the best ways to complement a digital inkjet printing business is with a digital cutting machine. Producing beautiful signage, displays and textiles starts with a high-quality printer, but finishing the job with clean cuts, customizations and details calls for the right cutting technology.
Before you make the investment, you need to understand the different digital cutting technologies available. In this article, we focus on the most common cutting methods for the sign and graphics and fabric industries, and explain the factors you need to consider before choosing a machine.
The 4 Most Popular Types of Digital Cutters
The following is an overview of the most widely used digital cutting technologies. While there are many other options available (CNC, waterjet, etc.), we’ll just be focusing on these four:
Laser Cutters
Printer-Cutters
Laser Cutters
There are two types of laser cutters: laser engravers and laser fabric cutters.
Laser Engravers
Laser engravers are perfect for businesses that need to cut low production volumes of small, on-demand items. The wattage of the laser will determine how fast the machine can cut and the thickness it can cut through. The bigger the bed or higher the wattage, the more expensive the equipment will be.
- Applications: Non-PVC plastics and acrylics.
- Price Range: $10k to $70k. Industrial size cutters with high wattage can be $200k and up.
- Advantages: Laser cutting produces smooth, clean edges.
- Disadvantages: Only suitable for low production volumes. These cutters can cut some fabrics, but the beds are often too small.
- Equipment Example: The Gravotech LS900 has a working area of 24” by 24” and is available in laser powers of 40W, 60W or 80W.
For more on laser engravers, check out our picks for the top 5 machines on the market.
Laser Fabric Cutters
If you’re looking for a textile cutting machine, look toward laser fabric cutters. This technology seals the edges of fabric perfectly, with no fraying. Most laser fabric cutters use the same laser technology as engravers, but on a different type of flatbed that can handle fabric rolls.
- Applications: Textiles, technical textiles and synthetic fabrics.
- Price Range: $100k to $200k.
- Advantages: Tight seals and no fraying on the edges.
- Disadvantages: Intended for fabric only.
- Equipment Example: The Summa L1810 was developed for technical textiles, sportswear and fast fashion.
Vinyl Cutters
Vinyl cutters use a sharp blade and roll feed. This cutting technology is the most well-known because of the popularity of vinyl lettering. In fact, vinyl cutting existed well before digital inkjet printing, and started with cutting letters from solid pieces of vinyl.
Vinyl cutters are also known for kiss cutting, which is also known as half cutting. This technique does not cut through the back of the vinyl material.
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- Applications: Vinyl materials for creating decals and lettering.
- Price Range: $1,500 to $8K.
- Advantages: The equipment is often inexpensive compared to other cutters.
- Disadvantages: These cutters are strictly vinyl only.
- Equipment Example: Summa’s SummaCut Series is available in five different models to accommodate roll sizes up to 25″, 31″, 49″, 51″ and 64″ in length.
Flatbed Cutters
This type of cutting is similar to vinyl, but instead of a roll feed, the media lies on a flatbed table. Vacuum technology holds materials in place during production to avoid bowing.
Flatbed cutters are the ultimate diverse cutting machine. You can use a variety of tools, such as a router bit for cutting wood and heavy plastics or an oscillating tool to cut through dense materials.
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- Applications: Rigid substrates, heavy plastics, plastic films, control panels, wood, vinyl, fabric, etc.
- Price Range: Small table cutters range from $15K to $40K. Bigger, more diverse models range from $60K to $250K.
- Advantages: Vacuum technology. Versatility. Complete, solid cuts.
- Disadvantages: Throughput isn’t as fast as with laser and vinyl cutters. Since flatbed cutters utilize blades, they won’t seal fabrics as well as laser cutters.
- Equipment Example: Summa’s F Series is available in four different widths: 51”, 63”, 72” and 128.7”.
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Printer-Cutters
If you’re looking to conserve space and cutting speed isn’t a priority, you may want to consider a combination printer-cutter machine.
- Applications: Vinyl decals, window signs, labels, T-shirt transfers, etc.
- Price Range: $12K to $25K.
- Advantages: Conserves space and costs.
- Disadvantages: Operates at slower speeds than other cutter-only machines.
- Equipment Example: The Mimaki CJV150-160 is a solvent printer-cutter available in four widths: 32”, 43”, 54” and 64”.
5 Factors to Consider Before Purchasing a Digital Cutting Machine
1. Applications & Media
What do you need your cutter to do? Are you planning on cutting plastic and cardboard, or tougher media like leather and wood?
As we covered above, you will need to make sure your cutter is designed for your chosen media and can feed the size of the materials you’re working with; this includes width, length and thickness.
For example, let’s say you’re opening up a new signage and displays business. In this instance, a flatbed cutter would be your best bet, so you’re comparing a Mimaki tabletop cutter and a Summa industrial cutter. The Mimaki has a smaller bed size and more material limitations than the Summa, but it’s more affordable. While you might be saving money in the short-run, you may be eliminating yourself from future projects that would require a large bed size.
2. Production Capacity
How much will you be using your cutter and how fast do you need it to work?
One thing you want to avoid is bottlenecks. If you’re expecting high production volumes, you’ll need a continuous-feed machine or multiple machines. Features like conveyor systems and media supply rollers can maximize production capacity, while pneumatically-driven media advance clamps will hold the material down while pulling it forward for continuous work or multiple jobs.
Hybrid printer-cutters tend to have slower speeds than machines that only cut, so be sure to factor in your production goals when deciding on a model.
3. Budget
The cost of cutters will depend on a few factors:
- Size
- Type (laser, vinyl, flatbed, printer-cutter combo)
- Features
- Brand and model
- Wattage (for laser cutters)
Here’s a quick look at the price ranges for each type of cutter:
| Laser Engravers | Laser Fabric Cutters | Vinyl Cutters | Flatbed Cutters | Printer-Cutters |
| $10K to $200K+ | $100K to $200K+ | $1,500 to $8K+ | $15K to $250K+ | $12K to $25K+ |
Note that these prices don’t include materials or labor, so you may want to factor those additional costs into your final budget.
As with anything, you get what you pay for. Small, desktop cutters may be more affordable, but they are more suited for home crafting projects. To get the precision, speed and quality you need for your business, look toward commercial-grade models.
4. Business Growth
What are your business plans for your cutter in the next year? The next two years? The next five? If you’re willing to make the investment, you should take the time to think about your goals for the future and how your cutting machine will play a role.
Maybe you are planning to move to a different space in the next few years — will your cutter fit in a new area? Or maybe you want to explore different types of media — does the cutter you have in mind have the versatility to work with various materials?
Also consider how the lifespan of these machines will correlate with your business goals. A high-end cutter may come with a bigger price tag, but it will likely have a longer lifespan than cheaper models.
5. Industry Trends
What’s happening in the industry? Are there reviews for new products? As with any business tool, new technologies are introduced all the time. In the last few years, more wide-format printers have entered the market, leading cutter manufacturers to increase equipment sizes to cut larger prints. Printer-cutter machine options are also expanding, with more brands exploring hybrid varieties.
If you don’t see a cutter that you’re ready to buy right now, check out industry publications and resources like Printing News, SGIA or FESPA. You can also contact ITNH. We’ll talk you through your options and help you find a cutting technology that’s best for your business.
