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Which Multi-Media Cutter Should You Purchase?

By: Richard Day Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Picture framers, hardware stores, window and screen repair shops, and various other companies use wall mounted glass cutters in their daily work. (These machines are also called "Multi-Media Cutters".)

In addition to cutting glass, they may cut Coroplast, foam board, Foamcore, acrylic, Plexiglass and of course, mat board. There are several machines available. What factors are important in choosing the right one? Can you go by price alone?

Here is a list of factors you should consider:

Durability: What happens if you mount your machine on a wall made of concrete or brick? If so, will it corrode the metal over time? Over time, there will be an eroding action between steel and the concrete or brick wall and your attachment to the wall will corrode.

Ergonomics: Many of the older glass cutting machines were designed thirty or more years ago. They are difficult to use because they require you to have a strong thumb to apply pressure on the cutter. This can be a problem if you need to cut acrylic or glass in large volumes. A large volume user will make ten or more cuts per day. Look for a machine that allows you to put force to the cutter with your arm and shoulder. Applying force this way is very easy, and you won't become fatigued.

Materials: The use of anodized aluminum is today's way of making a machine that is resistant to wear and corrosion. If the company uses stainless steel, that is a tremendous bonus. Stainless steel will look good over many years of use and won't gall or scratch under normal use.

Look for places on the machine where aluminum and steel can wear against each other. Aluminum is a much softer metal than steel and it wears out quickly with this type of improper design. Make sure that there are oil-impregnated bearings between the aluminum and steel wear points. That is the only way to be assured that the machine will last.

Speed of tool change: Here's an example: If you need to cut a mount board, then, a foam board backing, and finally glass or acrylic, you want to be able to make the change to the cutting tool quickly. Machines use several methods of changing the tools. Some employ the use of a turret. The turret will contain the glass cutter, the razor blade and the acrylic cutter. The design, on the face, looks good, but it is very slow to use. Because of the size of the turret, special compromises had to be made in the design. It is much better to get a machine that can quickly exchange the complete cutting heads.

Delivery: Most glass cutting machines must be delivered by motor freight. Motor freight is two to three times more expensive than FedEx or UPS. Since you, the buyer will be responsible for paying the shipping, be sure to choose a machine that allows FedEx or UPS shipping.

Smoothness of operation: The better machines will use UHMWP in large amounts. UHMWP is Ultra High Molecular Weight Polystyrene. It is a great way to make the metal parts move against each other with hardly any friction. It is self-lubricating and resistant to abrasion and corrosion. Observe whether the UHMWP was properly manufactured for the proper fit. You can do this by feeling whether there is looseness or sloppiness in the fit of the tool cart.

Price: Most people feel that a machine that costs more must be better. Although this may be true in many cases, don't be fooled. Examine the machine carefully or watch demonstration videos. Just because a machine has been around for thirty or more years, doesn't mean that it is the best. Computer-aided-design and computer-aided-manufacturing have made it more economical for up to date companies to manufacture a quality product for a much lower price.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Rich has been in the custom framing business for over twenty years. He consistently had trouble teaching his framing department employees how to cut glass and acrylic accurately and efficiently. Consider the Onyx 90 media cutter.