How to use a cutter/trimmer equipped with OPOS Xtra?

To improve cutting and trimming workflows, Summa developed the Optical Positioning System (OPOS sensors) a few years ago. This article will teach you a little about this technology, as well as the configurations you should follow in CalderaRIP to take full advantage of its benefits. 

OPOS Xtra sensor capabilities

OPOS Xtra is an evolution of OPOS XY2 and is specifically beneficial for processing deformed media or small sticker jobs, as this sensor adds additional lines between each set of registration marks, allowing more accurate calibration and detection of curvature changes:

Source: Summa

You might want to read: Summa - Registration marks

Cutting job configuration

The following information concerns users of the following devices equipped with OPOS Xtra: Summa S Series (One, Class 2, and Class 3 with up-to-date firmware), and HP Latex Plus.

1. In CalderaRIP, open the Print Module Interface of your printer and go to Page Setup:
   
   
   
2. Go to the Marks tab and enable the Trimmers feature. Then, select the OPOS Xtra trimmer:
   

     Info

   The Bleed function is enabled by default, however, it is easier to set up the cutting job without the limitations of Bleed so we disabled it in this example.
   If you enable the Allow additional marks setting, visible after clicking on the    button, you will be able to add crop marks or annotations.
   As of CalderaRIP V17.2, trimmer mark detection on non-white materials has been improved for CalderaCare subscribers, with a new set of options to add color and/or white under the marks. Learn more.

   
   
   
   
3. In the S&R tab, select the option Standard or Textile:
   

     Info

   The Summa OPOS Xtra feature is only available for Step and Repeat with rectangular nesting, which means that it doesn't work with Contour Nesting.

   
   
   
   
4. Then, go to the Cutting tab, click Enable cutting contour, and select your cutter. 
   
   
   VisualCut drivers for OPOS Xtra-equipped cutting devices:
   

   HP Latex Plus OPOS Xtra Summa OPOS Xtra Summa PostNet (old)

   Summa S2 PostNet (panelling) Summa S3 OPOS Xtra Summa S3 PostNet

   
   You might want to read: How to install a VisualCut cutter?
   
   
5. (Optional) By clicking on the Tools button, a new window will open where you can Use custom margins, for example, to modify the size or space between the horizontal marks.
   

     Good to know

   To improve the experience of OPOS Xtra users, in CalderaRIP V17.3.1 the left and right Barcodes have been disabled (see image below) since they are ineffective with such devices and may cause the marks to overlap when used. Considerations:
   - Deactivation of these marks will appear by default in new installations.
   - If the left and right barcodes were activated before you updated CalderaRIP to V17.3.1, they will appear activated but you won't be able to click on the buttons. To deactivate the barcodes, click on the button Apply (which will remove the existing settings). The same process needs to be done for QuickPrints or Workflows using presets.

   
   

Recommendations and limitations

• OPOS Xtra jobs are not recommended if images are larger than 500mm.
• When setting up a page for non-white media, the background setting is set by default to 0. In this sense, it is recommended that you leave at least 10 mm of white space margin, to avoid wasting media (as the cutter won’t be able to find the marker/fiducial).
• Printing white under (and around) marks has some limitations with certain layering methods. If you encounter any of these limitations during production, please follow the workflow below:
  
  Click here to expand

  Cutting tab settings:
  1. Expand the registration marks
  2. Activate the background with white in the color picker
  
  
  White tab settings:
  1. Method: Use a Spot Color
  2. Tick the "Print Marks" checkbox
  3. Tick the "Generate even if empty" checkbox (at the bottom)
  
• To use the OPOS Xtra functionality you need to activate both the Trimmer in the Marks tab and select the correct driver in the Cutting tab.
• For HP Users: When selecting a cutter driver, in the Cutting tab, make sure to choose the HP Latex Plus OPOS Xtra and not the HP Latex Plus/Cutter, as these drivers do not include all the features in CalderaRIP.
• The Summa OPOS Xtra feature is only available for Step and Repeat with rectangular nesting, which means that it doesn't work with Contour Nesting.
• We recommend that you make the most of the Page Setup Preview: the lines that this sensor adds can be moved around by playing a bit with the margins and even changing the size of the media. We recommend that you do all the necessary tests before sending the job to cut.
• If one or more unnecessary Edge Marks/Barcodes appear in your cutting job, go back to the Page Setup > Cutting tab > Tools and check for any settings that might be causing this to happen.