Paper Cutters -- The Winning Edge

The industry demands innovation that allows the customer to do more with lower overhead costs, according to Britt Cary, director of sales and marketing for Challenge Machinery. Cary notes that the pool of skilled bindery journeymen has been decreasing to the degree that small- to mid-sized shops must utilize less experienced labor. Thus, the equipment they operate must be safer and more user-friendly.

Have to Be Accurate

Distinguishing characteristics, notes Cary, include programming ease for the backgauge controller. Backgauge positioning accuracy is another key factor.

"Having all the bells and whistles of the most advanced controller will not increase productivity if the operator does not understand how to program the machine," Cary says. "With modern computer operated backgauge controllers, position accuracy and repeatability should be self-checking. If the backgauge is knocked out of location by jogging the stock, the computer should automatically correct the error. The computer should have the ability to detect the loss of accuracy of the positioning system and notify the operator of a problem. On all but lower cost machines the backgauge position should be derived from some device other than the lead screw so position accuracy will not be affected by wear of the lead screw."

The 301⁄2˝ Champion 305 X-series paper cutters are available as either the manual backgauge X model, or programmable as the XD (single screen LCD), the XG model (dual screen LCD), or XT model (touchscreen color display with a floppy disk port). All of these UL- listed machines have as standard a holder for the storage of the false clamp plate (FCP) when it is not in use on the cutter. A sensor tells the unit that the FCP has been removed from the clamp and therefore allows the backgauge to move to a closer forward limit in relation to the knife. A slot closure device covers the opening in the table for the movement of the backgauge.