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How Do I Choose the Right Corner Rounder for My Print Shop?
In this series of posts, “How do I choose?”, we will help you take a little of the guesswork out of selecting the best print finish product for your shop or office. It’s sometimes difficult to find the right machine to fit your needs when there are so many models.
For example, Lloyd’s has nine different round corner machines. There are options and add-ons for some, and others are simply manual. In each purchase you make, you should consider the following as it relates to your business’s operation.
Corner rounders are pretty simple machines. They basically make measured cuts on the corner of your printed sheets. This finishing method has always been popular, but more-so in recent years as print products mimic the style of online communications. It’s not often that you see an icon or a photo online with squared-off corners.
So, let’s look at application first. Are you printing posters or business cards? Are you printing on heavy or standard stock? The size alone may rule out a manual table-top rounder, so be sure to look at the table dimensions. And, heavy stock may require the power an automatic can provide – which also puts you over $1,000. If you’d like the option to cut through metal for signage production, you’ll need a specific machine.
For rounders I think quantity and speed necessary can be measured by the capacity of sheets you can feed the machine at one time (in inches). A rounder in the hobby category may only accept a few sheets at a time with a .04″ clearance, but commercial medium and heavy-duty rounders will allow an inch or more to be cut. Thicker cut, means you’ll be moving through projects faster. Do you think your capacity will grow or remain the same? Choose a model for 2 years down the road, rather than one you need today, because your needs will hopefully grow once you add this machine.
The frequency of your use will require replacement cutting dies, so the availability and cost of these parts should also be a consideration. You’ll also want to investigate the variety of blade sizes and designs available for a particular model as well. A wide variety of cutting options will also add to your flexibility and options for the customer.
Finally, consider maintenance. All Lloyd’s corner rounders come with a year warranty, but looking beyond this time frame consider your potential frequency of use and the availability of replacement parts.
To check out Lloyd’s selection of corner rounders and compare models, visit our website.
Lassco CR-50 Manual Corner Rounding Machine (CR-50)
The Lassco CR-50 Manual Corner Rounding Machine isn’t for everyone. If you’ve got a high-production print shop, and need to do a lot of cutting and corner rounding, the Lassco CR-50 is the one for you. It’s a floor model, so it’s made for durable, rugged use — the kind of tough use that a high-production shop can dish out.
How is it Used?
The Lassco CR-50 Manual Corner Rounding Machine is designed to cut everything from paper to plastic. It includes one standard cutting die (1/8″, 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″) unit of your choice, and there are 9 optional speciality dies from 1/16″ to 1-1/2″.
And How Much Does it Cost
The Lassco CR-50 Manual Corner Rounding Machine is $733.50 at Lloyd’s, and comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty.
Lassco CR-60 Sign Makers Metal Corner Cutter (CR-60)
I don’t know what sign makers did before the Lassco CR-60 Sign Makers Metal Corner Cutter. (My friend, Three-Fingered Sal, says he knows, but he doesn’t like to talk about it.) But with the Lassco CR-60, sign makers can handle even the toughest sign making jobs, literally cutting corners up to 1.5″ in size.
How is it Used?
?The Lassco CR-60 Sign Makers Metal Corner Cutter is made of heavy steel, and has a shear capacity of up to .080 half hard aluminum, and has four die sizes available — .5″, .75″, 1″, and 1.5″ — so it can handle any sign size your customers throw at you.
And How Much Does it Cost
The Lassco CR-60 Sign Makers Metal Corner Cutter is $697 at Lloyd’s, and it comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty.
Akiles Diamond 1 Manual Corner Rounding Machine
Corner rounding machines are great for, well, rounding corners. Sure, that doesn’t seem like much, but that can be important in print finishing when you want a professional looking card, document, or laminated sheet. The Akiles Diamond 1 Manual Corner Rounding Machine is great for doing
How is it Used?
?Not only can the Akiles Diamond 1 Manual Corner Rounding Machine cut through paper, but it wil cut through PVC, polyester, leather, and polypropylene. It’s ideal for rounding covers, pictures, laiminated IDs, and invitations. And the price is right for scrapbooking enthusiasts too. It has a 1 year warranty, and only weighs 5.5 pounds.
And How Much Does it Cost
The Akiles Diamond 1 is $134.95 at Lloyd’s.
Which Cutter is Best?
Whether in the classroom, the office or the studio, every workspace needs a paper cutter. Scissors just can’t compete with the clean, perfectly straight cut of a quality paper cutter. These tools come in two flavors, and it’s important to know the advantages of each before making a purchase.
Marie Antoinette Was NOT a Fan
You don’t have to be a French Revolutionary to enjoy a good guillotine cut. The guillotine cutter has one long blade arm that is pulled down to make a cut through stacks of paper. These are great if you’re cutting stacks of newsletters, invitations, postcards, placecards, pamphlets, reply devices, or handouts. Because these use heavy-duty blades, they are also typically a heavier unit for stability. They’re often equipped with a tabletop measurement guide clearly marked, and typical cuts are outlined on the surface. One of our models will cut up to 360 sheets of 20# paper in a single stroke.
Make a Precision Slice
If you need to make a precise cut, but you’re not worried about cutting stacks of paper, then a rotary cutter is your best bet. Artists and model builders use these, as well as scrapbookers, photographers, and teachers. The rolling wheel blade is sharp, safe and glides easily over your project on a sliding rail. What you don’t want is the cheaper knock-off version of a rotary cutter. These use a razor-like blade that dulls quickly and works poorly on anything but standard stock paper. Forget cutting photos, artist quality paper, or cardstock.
Most rotary cutter models come with a measurement guide on the surface and the side, plus an adjustable depth guide to help you align your project with precision. You’ll set the transparent clamping bar to hold your trimming material in place and allow you to monitor the trimming process. Then, twin sliding poles will guide your blade with comfort and accuracy. It’s pretty quick and always precise.
Check out Lloyd’s selection of paper cutters and see which one is for you.