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Press & Post Press => Bindery => Topic started by: Slappy on October 02, 2022, 12:30:39 PM

Title: JDF For a new cutter
Post by: Slappy on October 02, 2022, 12:30:39 PM
I noticed a "new" cutter on the floor this week, a Perfecta 92, (https://www.perfectausa.com/perfecta-bp92) and the operator says "Yeah, I'm told you computer guys are going to send the cutting info to it so we don't have to even think any more!"

:ohno:

Briefly looked at the machine, can't even find a network connection & I recall from previous places that the cutter needs an actual PC attached to it, correct? Also, is there an add'l module for XMF (and HP since the digital work is all Indigo) to supply the JDF info?

I believe there's a Perfecta tech coming in this week to train the Ops, I'll see what they know about the software side but I'm skeptical since it's usually a whole different person handling that side.
Title: Re: JDF For a new cutter
Post by: Possum on October 02, 2022, 03:01:15 PM
Good luck! You know that no machine does everything the sales slime claims. (Or even half).
Title: Re: JDF For a new cutter
Post by: Foozball on October 03, 2022, 06:05:40 AM
Quote from: Slappy on October 02, 2022, 12:30:39 PM... you computer guys ...
As a former Production Floor worker, I'd be pulling that idiots chain this week ... with all the spectacular things it can, and how they do his team out of a job.
Or maybe just tell him to "get f@$#ed" ... yeah that seems better, I'd just do that!!
Title: Re: JDF For a new cutter
Post by: David on October 03, 2022, 07:46:06 AM
you'll probably find out you have to have a specific MIS system in place in order to send the JDF data to the smart cutter.

good luck!

Title: Re: JDF For a new cutter
Post by: Slappy on October 03, 2022, 09:20:58 AM
Ha! I did it!! :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

There's actually a shockingly included module in XMF for Finishing. Turned it on, tied it to the Sheet Impo & it spit out a usable JDF. I guess it'll do folding schemes too but I'm only dealing with cutting – this week.

Title: Re: JDF For a new cutter
Post by: Tracy on October 03, 2022, 01:26:58 PM
so what does it do? create a program for the cutter?
Title: Re: JDF For a new cutter
Post by: Slappy on October 03, 2022, 06:39:35 PM
Yup, so it has a "Starting point" for the operator, I gather that's the gripper edge of the sheet, and then all of the resulting moves are automatic based on the file XMF passes along. For typical jobs (4up Letter, 72up BCs, 2up tabloids etc.) they'll just have stored templates on the cutter. But as we try to maximize sheets like the weird B2 on the Indigo and start doing more twist cuts & mixed-size gang runs it'll really pay off.

Now, I just have to find the CAT5 connection on the cutter and see about pointing it to a network folder so I don't have to schlep files on a USB.
Title: Re: JDF For a new cutter
Post by: AaronH on October 04, 2022, 11:26:59 AM
Oh that's awesome. I kinda wish our cutters had that setup. I think they're JDF capable, but bindery just makes their own programs on them and they're not connected to the network at all.
Title: Re: JDF For a new cutter
Post by: born2print on October 04, 2022, 11:45:54 AM
We used to send CIP3 (or 4?) data to the bindery for the cutter(s) but over time it seemed that they didn't want it and preferred to program from scratch and their own saved files so we quit bothering.
YMMV
Title: Re: JDF For a new cutter
Post by: AaronH on October 04, 2022, 01:05:14 PM
Oh interesting. We send CIP3 data to our presses from XMF. It's apparently the end of the world if the pressmen need to figure out how to do things without it.
Title: Re: JDF For a new cutter
Post by: born2print on October 04, 2022, 01:20:42 PM
Yeah, the pressroom uses it here too, just not the bindery.