Software version: Asanti 2.

0
Tutorial Acorta Cutter Integration Note Document version: May 2, 2016

This document explains how drive the Acorta cutter. You have to download the latest ‘Acorta’ resources from ‘Asanti_2.0_CutterResources’
and extract the zip file to a secure location on the hard disk of your Asanti server.
Download the Asanti Sample Files via the Asanti Client (Help > Asanti Online > Download Sample Files).

1. Create the Acorta Cutter

1. Open the ‘System Overview’, select a digital printer and double
click the ‘Finishing Hub’ Resource.
2. Select File > New cutter.

3. Enter a name for the cutter e.g. "Acorta ".

4. Click the icon to unlock the settings.

5. Click the "Result delivery" tab.

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6. Keep the default the export directory which is set to

\\$SYSTEMCOMPUTER\FinishingRoot\$CUTTER.
• $SYSTEMCOMPUTER is a variable and will be replaced by the hostname of
the Asanti Server.
• $CUTTER is a variable and will be replaced by the cutter name.
7. Keep the default file name convention for the cutting file which
is set to: $JOB_Sheet $SHEET
• $JOB is a variable and will be replaced by the job name.
• $SHEET is a variable and will be replaced by the number of the print layout.
8. Select ‘Replace existing files’ to ensure that the latest revision
of the cut file will be used.
9. Enable ‘Create preview file’ and select format ‘PNG’.
10. Close the ‘Finishing Hub’.

2. Import the Acorta Finishing Operations

The Finishing Operations in Asanti correspond with the tools provided for your Acorta Cutter in Acorta CAM.
1. In the Finishing Hub remove all existing ‘Finishing Operations’
except the one that is set as default (bold text).
2. Context click in the ‘Finishing Operations’ and choose ‘Import’
3. Locate the ‘Finishing Operations’ on the hard disk of your Asanti server
in ‘…\Asanti_2.0_CutterResources\Acorta\Finishing Operations’,
select the tools you need and click ‘Open’.
4. Choose to ‘overwrite’ if the ‘Finishing Operation’ already exists

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5. Select your most used Finishing

Operation, set it ‘Use as Default’ and
remove the Finishing Operation that
was previously set as default.
6. Close the ‘Finishing Hub’.

3. Import Mark Sets

1. Open the ‘System Overview, select the ‘Impose’ Task Processor
and double click the ‘Mark Engraver’ Resource
2. Click the cog wheel to import the ‘Mark Sets’
3. Locate the ‘Acorta’ Mark Set on the hard disk of your Asanti server in
‘…\Asanti_2.0_CutterResources\Acorta\Mark Sets’ and click ‘Open’.
4. Choose to ‘overwrite’ if the ‘Mark Set’ already exists
5. Close the ‘Mark Engraver’.

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4. Creating a job
1. In the ‘Jobs’ window, select File menu > New Layout Job.
2. Open the finishing inspector.
3. Select Cutter ‘Acorta’, select ‘Finishing Margins’ e.g. iCut Corner
Marks, between 10.
4. In the Images panel click + and browse for the ‘ASANTI Visual
390x250.pdf’ sample file. Select the file and click ‘Open’.
5. Select the image in the ‘Images panel’.
6. Open the ‘Image Inspector’ (Alt+2)
7. You can see that the content element ‘Frame’ is assigned
automatically to your default operation e.g. Fixed Blade. If this
is not the case, context click the ‘Frame’ Content element >
Edit…’ and assign it the correct operation.
8. Drag the image from the Images panel to the Print Layout.
9. Verify if the Cutter Registration Marks are automatically placed.

10. Submit job, choose for Print files: ‘Hold’ and for Cut Files: ‘Make
and send to cutter’.

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5. Import PDF in Acorta CAM

1. Start Acorta CAM.
2. Select the Project menu > New to Import
3. Select the ‘DXF Asanti’ User Configuration
4. Browse to the location where Asanti exports the PDF cutting
files e.g. \\$SYSTEMCOMPUTER\FinishingRoot\Acorta’
5. Select your PDF cutting file and click ‘Open’.
6. Click ‘OK’ to confirm the selection.

7. The cutting file is now imported and the Finishing operations which were
used for this job are available in the layers. These layers are assigned to
the tools of the Acorta Cutter.

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8. Select the ‘Assign tool’ and press mouse wheel or select one cut
path and press the keys ‘ù’ and ‘2’ on your keyboard. The list
with tools appears and you can see which tools are used.
9. If needed you can still change the cutting file in this editor and
then select the ‘Store and export Cam’ button

10. Start AcortaCut

11. Choose ‘Load file’

12. Place the prints on the Acorta table

13. Select your file and click OK
14. From the Windows Task bar, open the Seeker window and make
sure that it is set to AUTOMATIC mode
15. Close the Seeker with this button:
16. Choose ‘Find Registration marks’
17. Seeker will search for the cut pieces.
• Left click to select the pieces, right click to confirm and continue.
• Seeker will now locate the registration marks.
18. Choose ‘Start cutting’ to start the cutting process.

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6. Creating a job with true shapes

1. In the ‘Jobs’ window, select File menu > New Layout Job.
2. Open the ‘Finishing Inspector’.
3. Select Cutter ‘Acorta ’, select ‘Finishing Margins’ e.g. iCut
Corner Marks, between 10.
4. In the Images panel click + and browse for the ‘Asanti
Box_Pantones.pdf’ sample file.
5. Select the image in the Images panel’.
6. Open the ‘Image Inspector’ (Alt+2)
7. Context click the ‘Frame’ Content element > Edit…
8. Assign content element ‘Pantone 1635 C’ to e.g. Vibrating Blade
9. Add a ‘Finishing Operation’
10. Assign content element ‘Pantone 300 C’ to e.g. Creasing
11. Drag the image from the Images panel to the Print Layout.
12. Submit job, choose for Print files: ‘Hold’ and for Cut Files: ‘Make
and send to cutter’.

13. In Acorta CAM, Select the Project menu > New to Import
14. Select the ‘DXF Asanti’ User Configuration
15. Browse to the location where Asanti exports the PDF cutting
files e.g. \\$SYSTEMCOMPUTER\FinishingRoot\Acorta’
16. Select your PDF cutting file and click ‘Open’.
17. Click ‘OK’ to confirm the selection.
18. Select the ‘Store and export Cam’ button

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19. In AcortaCut, choose ‘Load file’

20. Place the prints on the Acorta table
21. Select your file and click OK
22. From the Windows Task bar, open the Seeker window and make
sure that it is set to AUTOMATIC mode
23. Close the Seeker with this button:
24. Choose ‘Find Registration marks’
25. Seeker will search for the cut pieces.
• Left click to select the pieces, right click to confirm and continue.
• Seeker will now locate the registration marks.
26. Choose ‘Start cutting’ to start the cutting process.

7. Setup the Acorta Cutter for using barcodes

1. Open the ‘System Overview’, select a digital printer and double
click the ‘Finishing Hub’ Resource.
2. Unlock and select the Cutter: Acorta.
3. In the ‘Result Delivery’ tab, change the ‘File Name’
as follows: “$JOBID:>10$SHEET:-02”.
• $JOBID is a variable and will be replaced by a unique internal jobid, clipped at 10 characters.
• $SHEET is a variable and will be replaced by the number of the print layout, clipped at 2 characters.
4. Select ‘Replace existing files’ to ensure that the latest revision
of the cut file will be used.
5. Close the ‘Finishing Hub’

Most barcode hand scanners support up to 12 characters. If you need fewer characters, you can order a custom barcode at Customer Care.

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8. Import the Acorta barcode Mark Set

1. Open the ‘System Overview, select the ‘Impose’ Task Processor
and double click the ‘Mark Engraver’ Resource
2. Click the cog wheel to import the ‘Mark Sets’
3. Locate the ‘Acorta Barcode Code 39’ Mark Set on the hard disk of
your Asanti server in ‘…\Asanti_2.0_CutterResources\Acorta\Mark
Sets’ and click ‘Open’.
4. Choose to ‘overwrite’ if the ‘Mark Set’ already exists
5. Close the ‘Mark Engraver’.

9. Create a job with a barcode Mark Set

1. In the ‘Jobs’ window, select File menu > New Layout Job.
2. Open the ‘Finishing Inspector’.
3. Select Cutter ‘Acorta, select ‘Finishing Margins’ e.g. iCut Corner
Marks, between 10.
4. In the Images panel click + and browse for the ‘Woman with
grapefruit 493x740.jpg’ sample file.
5. Select the image in the Images panel’.
6. Open the ‘Image Inspector’ (Alt+2)
7. Context click the ‘Frame’ Content element > Edit…
8. Assign content element ‘Frame’ to e.g. Fixed Blade
9. Drag the image from the Images panel to the Print Layout.
10. Select the ‘Acorta Barcode Code39’ mark set in the
Mark Sets inspector
11. Submit job, choose for Print files: ‘Make and send to
printer’ and for Cut Files: ‘Make and send to cutter’.

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10. Import a PDF cutting file with a barcode scanner

1. In Acorta CAM, Select the Project menu > New to Import
2. Select the ‘DXF Asanti’ User Configuration
3. Browse to the location where Asanti exports the PDF cutting
files e.g. \\$SYSTEMCOMPUTER\FinishingRoot\Acorta’
4. Read the barcode with the ‘Barcode’ hand scanner or enter the
numbers from the text displayed next to the barcode.

5. Click ‘Open’
6. Click ‘OK’ to confirm the selection.

7. Select the ‘Store and export Cam’ button

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8. In AcortaCut, choose ‘Load file’

9. Place the prints on the Acorta table
10. Click ‘Select’ to browse to your DXF file.
11. Clear the edit box and read the barcode with the ‘Barcode’ hand
scanner or enter the numbers from the text displayed next to the
barcode.
12. Click OK
13. From the Windows Task bar, open the Seeker window and make
sure that it is set to AUTOMATIC mode
14. Close the Seeker with this button:
15. Choose ‘Find Registration marks’
16. Seeker will search for the cut pieces.
• Left click to select the pieces, right click to confirm and continue.
• Seeker will now locate the registration marks.
17. Choose ‘Start cutting’ to start the cutting process.

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11. Limitations
Preview
Because the preview file is created at the moment you sent the raster data to the printer the preview file will be missing or outdated when:
- your printer is a Generic SD in vector mode
- the raster data is not yet sent to the printer (Hold or Make & Hold)
- the cutter is setup to ‘Keep existing files, add sequence number to new file name’ because this can lead to name mismatches
- the cut file is created by the Asanti Layout Editor (Job Set-up, Finishing, Generate Cutting file) or the Asanti Job list (context click a job,
Send Cut File)
Note that for all of the cases mentioned above, the preview is missing but the cut file is created and can be used by Acorta CAM.

Barcode
Because Acorta CAM and AcortaCut have no specific barcode implementation the usage of the barcode reader to automate your production
process is rather strict and has following limitations
- the name of the PDF cutting file can only contain the unique number (see Setup the Acorta Cutter for using barcodes) you can’t add
$JOB or any other variable to the file name
- Acorta CAM can’t find the PDF cutting file if it is saved in a subfolder or when the filename extension is displayed by Windows. Go to
the Windows Start button, Search for ‘Folder Options’, go to the ‘View’ tab, enable ‘Hide extensions for known file types’.
- For both Acorta CAM and AcortaCut you need to have the focus on the edit box when you browse/search for files. If you have the focus
on another part of the user interface the barcode will not work correctly.

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