Drivers for the stencil cutters are included in most leading sign-making and cutting programs. Summa does not make or supply the drivers that are included with your software. If you cannot find a specific driver for your Summa cutter, other Summa cutter drivers should work. If not, please contact Airmark support so that we can offer recommendations based on your specific sign or cutting program.

Different software programs communicate in different languages (cutter commands). The two languages we support are our own, Summa DM/PL, and the generic, HP/GL. Summa cutters are shipped in DM/PL mode, by default. If your cutter does not cut when files are sent, the most likely cause is software sending HP/GL commands. Setting the cutter in HP/GL mode, or alternatively, selecting a specific Summa driver in your software's plotter setup, should solve the problem.

Your cutter should be cleaned on regular basis. Regularly check the cutting head, keeping it free of any debris; you can do this by blowing it out with a can of compressed air. Next, and less frequently, you should clean your driver drum (also called grit rollers); this can be done using scraps of adhesive-back vinyl, with the adhesive side facing the drive drum. (this procedure is also outlined in your on-disc manual) Note: do not use anything abrasive to clean the rollers. It will damage the special coating, which is critical in preserving the diameter of the drive drum. Changes to the precise consistency of the drive drum diameter will result in poor tracking. Aside from regular cleaning, there is no set maintenance schedule. Simply use your best judgment on replacing consumable parts, such as blades, blade holders and platen protection strips.

Your network, due to its many variables and complex settings, is not something we, as a cutter maker, can support. However, we can suggest two methods for sharing your Summa cutter with multiple users: 1) your sign-making software may support cutter communications over a network. If so, your Summa cutter must be correctly configured in your software's network options. Contact your software maker for more information. 2) The Summa Cutter Control gives you the option of creating a Hot Folder. Files saved to the Hot Folder, which are a recognized plot file type such as .PLT, are automatically sent to your cutter. By making the Hot Folder a shared folder on your network, other users in your company can plot to your Summa cutter by saving compatible plot files to the Hot Folder, provided the Summa Cutter Control program is actively running on the computer to which the cutter is attached.

It is on the Manuals & Drivers CD-ROM that came with your cutter. With your cutter powered on, attach the USB cable. Windows should automatically recognize the cutter. (If not, restart your computer). An Add New Hardware wizard will appear. Simply follow the on-screen instructions. The driver can also be downloaded from this Web site in the Support under Software and Drivers.

The physical cutting area is determined by the placement of the cutter's pinch rollers. For proper tracking the pinch rollers should be placed at least 1/4-inch from the edge of your material. The roller itself also occupies approximately 1/4-inch, which means that about 1/2-inch of material on each side is needed to insure proper tracking. Therefore, you should assume that at least one inch of your material is unusable. So you'll have approximately 14 cutable inches on a 15-inch roll, 23 cutable inches on a 24-inch roll, and so on.

All users that register online, or who have provided their email address to Summa support representatives via other means, will be notified by e-mail of improvements to firmware. It can be downloaded from the AirMark site free-of-charge.

The serial cable that came with the cutter uses a unique configuration (also called a "pin out"). Therefore you cannot simply purchase a longer serial cable at a local computer supply store. You must extend your Summa cutter cable by purchasing a "strait-through, pin-to-pin serial cable." Then connect the straight-through cable to your computer and the Summa serial cable between it and your cutter. Note: extending the cable length too far may result in data loss and drop out.

For most large format prints, sizing your bitmap images to 100 dpi at output size delivers the best results. For example, a 24-inch by 18-inch image should be sized to 24" x 18" at 100 dpi, which translates to 2400 pixels wide by 1800 pixels high. But that is not to say that a small bitmap image can be blown up to many times its original size and still look good. Good printing results require that the graphics are created at or close to their final output size. If creating a file in Photoshop, for example, create it at your output size and 100 dpi. If scanning an image, or taking a digital photo, also keep in mind the size at which it will be printed. Scaling an image up, and even down, reduces image quality and sharpness.

On Summa DC3 Plus, a single roll prints a minimum of 369 square feet. DuraChrome and Summa DC2 two-roll refill packs print a minimum of 316 square feet. (Process colors; spot colors vary in length) SummaChrome ribbons print a minimum of 273 square feet (Process colors; spot colors print 252 square feet). But these specifications are based on 100% coverage. All Summa printers utilize ribbon-saving methods, in which, the print head skips portions of the image in which a specific color is not required. As a result, you should anticipate even greater square foot coverage per ribbon refill. However, it will vary depending on your image.

This depends on the color mode used in your graphic. If you are printing an image that is in RGB mode, printing in 3-color (CMY) mode is best. However, 4-color CMYK printing tends to offer more accurate color and subtle black areas. If file is in RGB mode (quite common), you might achieve superior results by converting your file from RGB to CMYK. Then print the image in 4-color mode.

Summa DC3 Plus, Summa DC2, DuraChrome and SummaChrome do not require scheduled maintenance. Most parts have been in real world conditions for many years without a maintenance requirement. Routine cleaning of the internal print and media feed areas with a vacuum is suggested to reduce the chance of dust contaminating your media. Cleaning the printhead with denatured alcohol and a lint-free cloth is required for SummaChrome and recommended for DuraChrome, Summa DC2 and Summa DC3 Plus in the event that the automated printhead cleaning routine is not sufficient due to excessive printhead build-up.

Yes. Go to the Color Charts & Palettes section, which is and option within Service & Support section under Drivers & Downloads. By printing the charts with your own equipment, you're assured of being able to offer your customers repeatable and accurate colors without wasting time and materials on experimentation.

CMYK; absolutely. All Summa printers print process color in CMY or CMYK mode. (For spot colors, color mode is irrelevant) Therefore, when creating bitmap images, you'll get better color accuracy. And when creating vector fills, you'll frequently reduce the number of process colors required to build the color, and with it the screened appearance at closer distances. (Selecting vector fill colors from the Color Charts we provide in the Downloads section of this Web site is by far the best way to print vibrant, saturated and repeatable colors)

All users that register online, or who have provided their email address to Summa support representatives via other means, will be notified by e-mail of improvements to firmware. It can be downloaded from the Summa Web site free-of-charge.

Download and install the latest Service Release from www.cocut.com.

Choose "Continue Anyway". Our software has been tested internally and no Windows XP problems have yet to be reported.

Many sign and cutting programs can include speed and pressure settings in the plot data. That will override the current settings in the cutter. You can either disable the speed and pressure settings in your software, or simply be sure that the speed and pressure setting being sent by your software are the same as the settings you wish to use for that specific job.

For a Parallel port protection key to be recognized it requires one of two things. 1) No peripheral is attached to the "female end" of the protection key, or; 2) A peripheral is attached, AND, the peripheral is powered on. Most likely, this error is the result of a printer being attached by not turned on. Turn it on, and then restart CoCut. If that doesn't solve the problem, reboot your computer with the peripheral turned on.

It is likely that you installed a version of CoCut that does not match your CoCut key. Make certain that the CoCut version you choose during the installation process matches the level of CoCut product that you bought. This can be determined by checking the serial number, which is located on the inside cover of the CoCut manual. If the number begins with "CC9" you have purchased CoCut; if it begins with "CC9P" you have purchased CoCut Professional.

CoCut, unlike CoCut Pro, has no standalone features. It is a pure plug-in to CorelDRAW, Illustrator or FreeHand. Therefore, you must open your design software and click on the CoCut icon if you wish to cut your images.