The purpose of this article is to guide you in setting up your flatbed cutter in combination with Summa GoProduce and CalderaRIP to get the most out of your automated workflows.

What is Summa GoProduce?

"Summa GoProduce is software that integrates the flatbed into the workflow. It is the perfect link between the design station, RIP station, printers, and cutting devices. Once the workflow is set up, macros automate the process. Consequently, the operator's handling before starting the next job is reduced to a minimum, as well as the downtime of the table" (Summa's support).

Summa GoProduce + CalderaRIP

Since version 12.0, it is possible to combine the use of CalderaRIP with the Summa GoProduce software. To do so, you must first install and configure the Summa GoProduce GrandCut driver.

You might be interested in reading:

• How to install a GrandCut cutter?
• How to configure a GrandCut cutter?
• Summa F Series (Technote on flatbed cutters using GoProduce)

Driver specifications

• Type: GrandCut (A)
• Format: HPGL (data)
• Connection: File + XML materials definition
• Marks type:
  • Dots on edges and inside nests or S&R
  • Horizontal lines on top and bottom
  • PostNet barcodes on top and bottom
  • PostNet barcodes on top and bottom with decimal coding of job ID and orientation

Driver configuration

Marks and margins

Specific feature

• Registration type. Choose where marks are placed on your job depending on the cutting you want.
  • Best fit. Geometric cutting objects are modified and/or distorted to best fit each area of the print:
    • All marks: By considering all marks.
    • SmartComp: Smart compensation by using marks per area, adapted for local distortion.
  • Fit to job. Geometric cutting objects are not modified. The entire job is positioned for the best possible position for the sheet:
    
    • All marks: By considering all marks.
    • SmartComp: Smart compensation by using marks per area, adapted for local distortion.

Materials / Methods Association

Before you can link your CalderaRIP with the Summa GoProduce software, you first need to get from the latter an XML file with the materials and methods definitions (need help creating them? Check this article).

1. 1. 1. In GoProduce, go to the General tab and select Create RIP XML (screenshot based on GoProduce V2.3.1):
         
         
         
      2. After locating the file, you must rename it cutter_name.materialsRaw.xml and copy it to the folder: /opt/caldera/lib/shared/
         

           Warning

         You must have root user privileges (Linux) or administrative access (macOS) to make changes. Also, the file name must be exactly the actual cutter name that you use. For example: summagoprod.materialsRaw.xml

      3. Open CalderaRIP and a Print server.
         
         
      4. Click on Page Setup and then go to the Cutting tab. Click on the Tools button:
         
      5. From there, use the Methods and Materials tabs to make the associations.

You might be interested in reading: How to associate materials/methods? (Article explaining the automated process with the Editor's tab, but its information is also useful for GoProduce users).

Barcode workflow

To complete the automation workflow, you can also import the barcodes of your cutting jobs created in CalderaRIP into GoProduce (and set them as defaults there).

Read the process on Summa's documentation site, or watch the video below: