Edward Mathias
& Company

IS IT IMPORTANT?

If your customers are happy to accept distorted text: NO.

If you want your plotter to cut correctly it is VERY important.

If you have a tangential cutter it simply does not apply.

What is cutter offset ?

The distance from the point at which a blade cuts to the point about which it rotates.

Why must plotters compensate for it ?

Without compensation a drag knife cannot cut sharp corners corners. [See:- Drag Cutting]

How is offset compensation achieved ?

All modern drag knife plotters have a routine, usually built into their firmware,
to manoeuvre the knife on a path which compensates for the blade offset.

Is it automatic ?

ALMOST. But you must give the plotter the correct information about the offset of the blade in use.

Usually a distance between 0.175mm and 1.0mm Graphtec Plotters use a different system

What is the setting usually called ?

Blade Offset  -  Cutter Offset  -  Knife Tip Offset  -  Cutter Compensation

How is it set ?

On the plotter control panel [usually], may also be controllable in [some] software.

Recommended setting is usually supplied with the blade or Smart Knife.

Instructions for how to set it on your plotter can always be found in the manual !!!