What is print-to-cut inspection, and where is the camera mounted
Print-to-cut inspection looks at the printed image against the die cut or the eye mark, not at every dirt spot. Mount the camera where it can see the register mark and the length about to be cut, usually before the die. Dirt and color difference outside the mark still need another inspection.
Print-to-cut inspection looks at the position of the printed image against the die cut or the eye mark. It does not look at every dirt spot. The camera has to see the register mark and the length that is about to be cut at the same time, usually before the die. It will not find dirt or color difference outside the mark. Those still need another inspection.
Before the knife or after it
Mounted before the knife, the offset can still be sent to the die or the print so this label has a chance not to be cut off position. Mounted after the knife, it can only judge a label that is already cut wrong. It cannot stop this stroke. So if print-to-cut is meant to correct, the camera must be upstream of the knife and must see the mark that decides this stroke.
Its field is usually around the mark, not the full web. The mark can be right and a dirt spot in the middle of the artwork will not alarm. Do not write the print-to-cut camera down as 100% inspection on the acceptance sheet.
What it owns
| Problem | Print-to-cut camera | Who owns it |
|---|---|---|
| Artwork offset from the knife | Must alarm | This camera |
| Dirt, missing print | Not guaranteed | Appearance inspection |
| Color | Not guaranteed | Spectro or a color camera |
Check at a job change
- Confirm the camera is before the knife and this job’s mark is in the field.
- Offset the mark past one tolerance on purpose. Confirm it alarms or corrects.
- Put a dirt spot outside the mark and confirm nobody thinks this camera will see it.
