Discuss the various aspects of heat pressed vinyl transfers. Popular and new types of vinyl media, suppliers, vinyl cutters /plotters, press times, quality, how to instructions and more can be found in this heat press sub forum.
The units that contour cut, in simplistic terms, can cut around the design. They use a vector path to do this, the same thing that you would use to cut vinyl shapes.
In the case of regular transfers, removing the film that can be present where ther isn't a design. In the case of opaque transfers, remove the white backing. Without these specific cutters you would have to do it by hand.
So basically you have three kinds of cutters. Ones that cut, with out any kind of contour capabilities. Ones that can contour cut, but need a manual process to do it. An thirdly, ones that use an optical eye to recognize where to cut around the design.
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For simple, unprinted vinyl, no, you wouldn't need a plotter with an optical eye for registration marks. You can cut apparel vinyl and sticker vinyl on just about any plotter (as long as it holds a blade!).
If you plan on cutting inkjet transfers, then yes, you would need a registration mark sensor.
Cutters don't care what it's cutting ( a cut line is a cut line). However as everyone said, if you are doing transfer papaer, you would need the optical eye to read the registration marks when the paper is put in the cutter.
If you are cutting vinyl, flock, tackle twill etc..., thouse are cut based on the lines in the software, so an optical eye is not needed.
Our Copam doesn't do Contour Cutting, but we have a new model called the "LaserPoint" that does. You have to manually align, but it is extremely precise and very fast once you understand how to do it. There is very little that you sacrifice as compared to optical registration. While the machine is not as heavy-duty as the Copam, it is less expensive, and it really is a solid machine.
The Copam weighs about 70lbs boxed, the LaserPoint weights about 55 lbs (if you don't count the material basket). The Copam was developed in Taiwan and has a far more complex design. It is hard to describe the differences without seeing it first hand. There are probably several members on here who have both a Copam and a PCUT or a Copam and Refine, and I would say that the Laserpoint more closely resembles those models than the Copam in construction. That said, they are both capable of very accurate cutting, but I would expect the Copam to be more accurate over long distances and faster and quieter as well.
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Originally Posted by prometheus
Can you elborate on "not as heavy-duty" please? Just for info sake. Thanks.
contour cutting 
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