Tab cutting

[bcr]

i normally get blank tabs delivered from an overseas supplier as we can't source them all locally. that supplier is not responding at the moment which got me thinking about whether we could cut our own tabs.

i looked at some options for tab cutters, including the JBI Onglematic 5.

Onglematic5 | JBI

O5 Standard Cutting width : 210mm / 8.5" & 297mm /11" O5 P Cutting width : up to 320mm / 12.5" O5 A3 Cutting width : up to 420mm / 16.5" Cutting thickness : 10 - 15 sheets (80gsm) Up to 500 dividers / hour Above output is based on…

jamesburn.com

Productivity is not that great at a claimed 500 tabs per hour.

I then was wondering if there is an improvised way of doing this? Some kind of cutting machine that can be adjusted to cut at set depths horizontally and vertically. I'm probably overthinking this.

 

[DYP]

This is probably what your looking for.

Lot #2: Scott Heavy Duty Index Tabcutting Machine - WireBids

Register now to start bidding for quality printing equipment across the country! Auctioning the best bindery / finishing equipment from print shops across the country. Quality Presses & Bindery. Global Buyers & Sellers. Types: Sheetfed Offset Presses, Bindery, Pre-Press.

www.wirebids.com

 

[gregbatch]

The Onglematic 5 is about $3,300. The Scott tabbing machine is the way to go. As you can see, a good machine can be found at auction and probably for little more than the Onglematic 5. 10X the productivity. With the Scott, you will need compressed air. This would be sufficient: 2 Gallon 135 PSI Ultra Quiet Hand Carry Jobsite Air Compressor

 

[bcr]

thanks both, that looks a good machine.

 

[Ynot_UK]

Look at the Onglematic 7 or it’s predecessor the Onglematic 6P+GP, we have the latter. It takes up little space on the back of the bench, and is programmable. No air required, no setup time or tooling and will throughput a good couple of thousand tabs per hour. They don’t come up very often and get snapped up quickly when they do.

 

[kdw75]

We just use dies on our Heidelberg Cylinder for custom tabs. The machines aren't very expensive and they are pretty fast.

 

[Inkscape Print]

We us the Duplo Digital Die Cutter. We have a Scott tab cutter but since we got the die cutter that seems to be the way to go.

DPC-400 Digital Die Cutter | Duplo USA

Create custom-shaped samples and short runs with the DPC-400 Digital Die Cutter. Process paper, adhesive and synthetic stocks. Watch video.

www.duplousa.com

 

[Ynot_UK]

We us the Duplo Digital Die Cutter. We have a Scott tab cutter but since we got the die cutter that seems to be the way to go.

DPC-400 Digital Die Cutter | Duplo USA

Create custom-shaped samples and short runs with the DPC-400 Digital Die Cutter. Process paper, adhesive and synthetic stocks. Watch video.

www.duplousa.com

View attachment 291397

On the downside that would be much slower than the Onglematic 5 hand cutter the OP linked to in the first post, however on the upside, it is automated so you can walk away and let it run and you can design whatever style of tab you want on the fly, whereas on all the Onglematics you generally commit to one style and buy the corner die for that pattern.

The Scott tab cutters seem to be the way if you're doing thousands of tabs on a regular basis. Before getting the Onglematic 6P+GP, the finishing house that did our tab cutting used a Scott. Being able to make small quantities and samples for trial/client approval are a big advantage of both your Duplo - we have the same machine (Veloblade) from Vivid - or indeed the Onglematics.

 

[kslight]

We used a Scott much fancier than above…but we cut and mylar’d tabs by the thousands every day.