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General FAQs

Please find below a list of our Frequently Asked Questions. If you can't find what you are looking for, please don't hesitate to Contact Us .

• How many layers of material can the Pathfinder K5000 series cutter cut at one time?
  The number of layers will depend on the type of material that is to be cut. The maximum lay height before vacuum compression is approximately 120mm. The maximum lay height of material under compression is 50mm.
  Example 1: material commonly used in cotton T-Shirts can be layered approximately 100ply.

  Example 2: foam at 4mm thickness can be layered to approximately 30ply.

• What is the expected cutting productivity of the K5000 series cutter?

  Productivity can vary and depends on the following: size of shapes, intricacy of shapes, frequency of notches and drill holes, material type, lay planning and operator enthusiasm.

  Apparel - throughput speed is calculated at approximately 7 to 8 linear cutting meters p/min. Due to the intricacy of Lingerie throughput speed is calculated at approximately 5 to 6 linear cutting meters p/min.

  Furniture- these larger shapes can achieve throughput-cutting speeds as high as 18 linear cutting meters p/min.

  In a ladies apparel application it would be reasonable to expect up to 40,000 units cut in a 40hr week operation.
• What is the MTS option?
  The Machine Transfer System (MTS) is an option that allows the cutter to travel laterally along tracks fitted to the floor so the machine can service multiple lay-up tables. In most cases the material lay up process will take longer time than the cutting time on a K5000 series cutter, therefore greater machine utilization and production can be achieved with the MTS.
• What is the travelling limit for the MTS?
  Although most customers will typically service up to 4 tables that equates to around 12mtrs of travel, there is no limit.
• Can the K5000 series cutter cut a variety of materials?
  Yes. There are a number of integrated software features that will enable the operator to effortlessly tune the machine for a particular material characteristic. These software features are all dynamically linked to customized 'Pre-Set Parameters.
• How often do I need to replace the knife in the K5000 series cutter?
  Typically in the more demanding applications the knife will last approximately 4 to 5 days. In less demanding applications the knife can last as long as 3 weeks.
• How long does it take to replace a knife in the K5000 series cutter?
  The knife can be replaced in less than a minute by the operator.
• How many operators are needed to run the K5000 series cutter?
  One or two operators depending on the application.
• If there is a machine fault, how is this handled by the machine and supported by Pathfinder?
  Every Pathfinder machine has a comprehensive self-diagnostic system in place. The diagnostic system integrates both hardware and software devices. If needed, direct contact with the Pathfinder technical support team is available by phone, email and fax. Response from the Pathfinder support team is immediate and in most cases the fault can be resolved quickly by the customer.