After you have installed your Zünd cutter to the software, it is time to set it up correctly. Follow the steps below.

Prerequisites

• On Zünd Cut Center (ZCC): Make sure that your ZCC license includes the “Cut queue” option, which is mandatory for retrieving Materials and synchronizing Methods in other software. Example:
  
  
  
• On CalderaRIP:
  • Verify that you have the correct GrandCut license to use a ZCC driver.
  • Install the ZCC driver that works for your cutter controller. Learn more.

Cutter Tools Configuration

1. Open CalderaRIP.
   
   
2. Open the Print Module of any of your printers.
   

     Info

   The configuration must be made for each printer to be used in your print-to-cut workflow with Zünd Cut Center.

3. Then, go to Page Setup > Cutting tab.
   
   
4. If you haven't already, click on Enable Cutting Contour. Select your Zünd cutter and click on Tools:
   
   
   
5. A pop-up will open with the Cutter tools configuration for ZCC drivers.

Status tab

The first fields will appear in color red as the setup is not yet completed.

You will be able to see the model of your cutter and the ZCC version. The hostname comes directly from your Zünd server (which uses port 51000).

Materials tab

1. Go to the Materials Tab. It should be empty:
   
   

     Info

   As of CalderaRIP V16.0.2, when a ZCC3 or ZCC4 driver has not yet been configured (synchronized), a method will now be associated with some materials by default.

2. Click on the Get from media button, which will create materials with your printer’s media names:
   
   
   
3. You can change the name with the Edit button, add another one yourself with New... or Delete one. However, we don’t recommend any modifications, unless you expressly need them.

ZCC Materials and Media tabs

These two tabs are available only in the ZCC driver.

1. Go to the ZCC Materials tab:
   
   
   
2. Select a line (you will have to replicate the operation for each of them).
   
   
3. Click on Edit…
   
   
4. Choose from the list the ZCC material corresponding to your medium type (paper, wood, vinyl, PVC, textile, aluminum, leather, etc.):
   
   

     Info

   The ZCC list of materials comes from your Zünd Cut Center and is downloaded into CalderaRIP in its language.

5. Click on OK, and then repeat the operation for every material:
   
   
   
6. Go to the Media tab to see that now every media is linked with its corresponding material:
   

Methods tab

After linking materials and media, you need to create methods. as these are not printer or media-related.

1. Go to the Methods tab:
   
   
   

   A method is defined by a Contour Name and a cutting method (like Register, Draw, Thru-cut, etc.), which are specific to Zünd Cut Center.

   In fact, Zünd Cut Center searches in these methods what to do with a contour present in the job. The search is conducted from the top to the end of the list and stops when it finds a method that suits.

   A contour is compatible with a method if:

   • Its name suits the pattern:
   • “*” means that it can be everything
   • “*Word” means your contour’s name has to end with “Word”
   • “Word*“ means your contour’s name has to begin with “Word”
   • *Word* means your contour’s name has to contain “Word”
   • Available with this media is Yes. "This media" refers to the current media chosen for the print. Some cutting methods are not compatible with every media because of the cutter tool used for it.

   We are now going to create a new method for our generic CutContour and another one, more specific.

     Warning

   Every new method is placed under the previous one and right before “*Register*” and “*”. So make sure you create the specific methods before creating the general ones.

2. Click on New... to open the creation pop-up and fill it as displayed. As said in the warning, we have to create the specific one first:
   
   

     Warning

   Do not put “*” yourself into the Contour name. Use the Filter instead.

3. Click on OK. The new method has been added to the top of the list. In this example, this method only works with contours that have CutContourCircle by name:
   
   
   
4. Now, let’s add the general one: click on New… then fill in the pop-up as displayed:
   
   
   
5. Click on OK. The new method has been added just on top of *Register*:
   
   

     Info

   It is possible to add, delete, or edit as many methods as you wish.

6. In the Status tab, all the methods are now displayed as OK:
   

Main Settings tab

• Cutting mode: Choose between Speed, Standard, and Quality, from the fastest to the best quality.
  

    Warning

  Starting with V18, and as suggested by the manufacturer, the "Cutting mode" option is no longer available in CalderaRIP (see the changelog).
  If your production requires this option, do not forget to configure it directly in the ZCC software. Contact the manufacturer for more information.

• Transmission: Choose between:
• Network: The cut file is directly sent to the Zünd Cut Center.
• Shared folder: The cut file is placed into a folder shared both by the CalderaRIP station and the Zünd workstation.
• Both: The file is sent directly to the Zünd Cut Center and placed into a shared folder.

The following information will be added to your cut file and displayed in your Zünd Cut Center software:

• Include thumbnail: Check this box to add a thumbnail (a little picture) of the job image.
• Description: Add a description.
• Include RIP's name: Check the box to add the RIP’s name.
• Include printer's name: Check the box to add the printer’s name.
• Priority: Choose between Low, Medium, or High to assign a priority.
• Order ID: Add an order ID.
• Due date: Enter a due date. It has to fit the hint format (dd/mm/yyyy).

Marks tab

Configure the way your marks will be printed.

• Marks type: Choose if the mark will be represented by a Cross (for laser pointers) or a simple Dot.
• Registration type: Choose where marks are placed on your job depending on the cutting you want.
  

    Warning

  In previous versions, when sending a file over the network, the "Registration type" option was ignored. Starting with V18, and as suggested by the manufacturer, the option is no longer available in CalderaRIP (see the changelog).
  If your production requires this option, do not forget to configure it directly in the ZCC software. Contact the manufacturer for more information.

  • Fit to job: Geometric cutting objects are not modified. The entire job is positioned for the best possible position for the sheet.
  • Fit to objects: Geometric cutting objects are not modified. Each object is positioned individually for the best possible position for each printed image.
  • Best fit: Geometric cutting objects are modified and/or distorted to "best possible fit" to each area of the print.
  • Border left: Marks are only placed on the left border of the page.

Marks and margins tab

In this tab, you can customize the size of your marks and the margins between them and your job. You can do negative margins as well. And, finally, you can also choose the space between two marks and their thickness:

Clicking Reset uncheck “Use custom settings” and replace all the settings with the ones displayed in the previous image.

You may be interested in the general article: Cutter Tools Configuration - Overview

Diagnostics tab

In the Diagnostics tab, users can enter an 8-character, uppercase barcode to retrieve detailed information about each cutting job.

The tab includes three fields that display diagnostic information related to the job.

At the bottom, several action buttons provide additional functionality:

• Big Test: Runs a comprehensive test for diagnostics.
• Acquire Methods: Retrieves methods contained in the job information.
• Request Job: Pulls job details based on the barcode entered.
• Raw Request: Displays the job's raw JSON data for deeper inspection.