User’s Manual—Sonic Knife
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Classification: Avery Dennison - Public
1.0
Introduction
AVERY DENNISON has designed the sonic knife to work in-line with the
SNAP
TM
family of printers. It is not intended for stand-alone operation.
The sonic knife uses ultra-sonic vibrations to produce a cut in a woven polyester
label. These vibrations create micro-pockets of heat which melt the polyester
fibers on a microscopic level, cut through the fibers, and join the fibers to
adjacent fibers. The result is a smooth cut that is:
fray resistant, and
soft to the touch.
Cutting the woven polyester with a standard knife requires that the ends of the
label be sewn in or “loop sewn”. Otherwise, the label will fray as there is nothing
physical to keep the weave together.
Other cutting technologies such as a hot knife will cut and melt the fiber ends
together, but the resulting bead of the cut is sharp and uncomfortable for skin
contact.
Only a sonic cut woven polyester label has satisfactory fray resistance and soft
edge suitable for skin contact.
This manual guides the printer operator as an easy-to-use, quick-reference
guide. It contains procedures for receiving, handling, set-up, installation,
operation, and maintenance of the sonic knife.
The SNAP 500 printer with the sonic knife is show here. Note that the power
supply is not shown.
