Automated Cutters for Packaging - Short Run & Samples

Aeronaut Automation has a long history of manufacturing automated cutters for the packaging industry. The Elektron B2 was originally developed in 1998 for a US box-making company and it's still the best performing and most economical digital cutter for short run and sample making.

The Elektron B2 is the key to profitability in short run packaging with corrugated board. It's fast, reliable and low maintenance, very reasonably priced compared with European cutters and well supported compared with Asian machines. The Elektron B2 can be made in sizes to suit all types of work from the design studio to the factory floor with many short run cutters being the size of two boards so one can be cut while the other area is being picked and new board put on the table.

High cutting speeds, accuracy and reliability are just part of the production and profit equation. After discussions with users of other cutters, Aeronaut designed the Elektron B2 to use low-cost off the shelf blades as well as high performance carbide blades, and both ranges are a fraction of the cost of European consumables. The high grip porous cutting surface is another low-cost high performance innovation which is appreciated when the time comes to replace it.

The Mikron 2 is another standout cutter for packaging work. Intended more for box board and thin corrugated, the Mikron 2 is, as a competitor's distributor noted, "twice the speed and half the cost" of a European cutter. The Mikron 2 is made in sizes perfect for a design office and large enough for the shop floor.

The Mikron 2 comes with the Cyclops machine vision camera for automatic recognition of registration marks. Cyclops can be fitted to the Elektron B2 and SiliconEye whole of table machine vision can be fitted to both machines to make cutting printed materials as easy as it gets.

The Tools of Your Trade

For packaging work, specialised tools are fitted to Aeronaut cutters to configure them for cutting, creasing, scoring and perforating board. All Aeronaut cutters have quick change tooling so you can fit the right cutter and creasing profile for any job in seconds. Tool pressures are digitally controlled with software templates for consistent work with any material from box board to corflute or tri-wall.

The Mikron 2 can be fitted with a plunge axis for very fast and detailed work. With the plunge tool, a pressure foot keeps the material on the vacuum table while the concentric blade is raised and lowered, keeping the material stationary on the table. The Elektron B2 can be fitted with a Bigfoot to stabilise warped corrugated board as well as a plunge tool.

Packaging CAD File Formats

Aeronaut has been working in packaging since 1998 and our software is compatible with all major packaging design applications and file formats including DXF, Illustrator ai and PDF. For cutting digitally printed files with registration marks, industry standard PDF files which include cut, crease, mark, regmark and optionally the print layer are supported.

Boxes and Packaging

The Mikron 2 cutter is a fast, economical and very versatile cutter for packaging materials less than 8mm thick. The Mikron 2 is made in a range of table sizes suitable for studio and sample work through to production. With automatic recognition of registration marks, the Mikron 2 is perfect for short run work with digitally printed packaging materials, point of sale and signs.

Corrugated and Short Run

The Elektron B2 is an industrial strength automated cutter configured for corrugated packaging and box board. Cutting tables can be built to suit your board sizes and applications to board thicknesses over 15mm. The Elektron B2 has two steered bayonet tool holders which can take a full range of quick change tooling from reciprocating blade cutters to plunge knifes and creasing profiles to suit any material.

Cam-lock Tools

Bayonet Tools

Cam-lock tools are a proprietary Aeronaut design, modelled on the tool changing used on metalworking CNC machines. They have many advantages over basic bolt-on tools used on most competitive machines.

Cam-lock tools can be changed in seconds.
The quarter turn fastening method is simple and reliable.
Changing blade off the machine is quicker and safer.
When high production speeds are essential, having two Cam-lock blade holders means one can be in use, while the blade is being changed on the other.
Drill-punch tools can be fitted to any steered axis so you can easily use more than one punch size.
Cam-lock tools effectively future-proof the machine. You can fit the tools you need for work in the future.
Cam-lock tools all have the same geometry and blade angle so any tool can be fitted to any steered axis without changing settings.
Cam-lock tools come in nice colours. One NASA contractor bought two sets just because they liked the colours!

Bayonet tools are another Aeronaut innovation. Tools are locked in place with a quarter turn bayonet ring, similar to the way a lens locks in place on an SLR camera. Because bayonet tools load from above, larger static and powered tools can be carried.

Quick change mounting in a few seconds.
Static tools such as cutting and creasing tools can be carried.
Thicker and more difficult materials can be cut with powered tools.
Electrically powered tools like powered rotary and reciprocating or oscillating knives can be fitted.
Pneumatically powered tools like long stroke oscillating blade tools can be fitted.
Ultrasonic cut and crease tools can be fitted.
Pneumatic plunge knives can be fitted.
Bayonet tools effectively future-proof the machine. You can fit the tools you need for work in the future.
Where a drill-punch tool is required, it can be fitted on the front of the cutting head.

Software, Nesting and Technology

Nesting & Control

Aeronaut's Tangent software is the key to reducing fabric waste and Tangent's powerful and user friendly cutter control is essential to increase production.

Package Design

Aeronaut's Tangent software is compatible with all major package design programs and industry standard formats for tool paths and registration marks

Aligning Patterns

With Aeronaut's full-table or gantry mounted machine vision systems, aligning cut profiles to patterned fabric or digitally printed material is simple.

Inkjet Printing

Inkjet printing is the fastest way to do job references, markings and text on almost any material.

15 years of great service... what is there to complain about?

AM

Window furnishings.
Actually, your cutter can cut everything. We also use it for hard materials (Cordura, thick foams and polyethylene, etc.) rigs, bags and so on. For this just increase the pressure.

A.K

Sporting Goods
Advantages of the Aeronaut cutter are: 1. Accuracy and neatness of details is much more better. 2. Possibility to cut various materials and multilayers for some fabrics (with good airporosity). 3. More reliable work 24 hours per day 7 days a week.

P.H.

Recreational Products NSW
Aeronaut software is by far the best in the industry and was the swaying factor in our decision to buy an Aeronaut cutter.

M.C.

Window Furnishings.
All our Tensioned Fabric Structures are cut on the plotter we have never had accuracy issues. 18 years this year, more square meters than I’d care to think about and still going strong.

N.M.

Tension structures & shade sails
At that price? We can aﬀord to buy two... (And they bought six.)

B.F.

Window furnishings
Buying a cutter from Aeronaut Automation has been one of the best decisions we have made in the last 10 years.

S.L.

Shade structures
Buying an Aeronaut cutter has improved accuracy and reduced waste. Production time has been greatly improved.

B.M.

Fabric structures
I am impressed by our Aeronaut machine. It is absurd to make comparisons between Aeronaut and XxxXxxx product. If Aeronaut is a cutter then XxxXxxx is a toy.

A. K.

Paragliders
I called five of your customers. You can't buy goodwill like that. You can expect our order this morning.

A.C.

Blind maker
I don't know what we would do without it. I could not imagine going back to working in the old way.

M.B.

Sailmaking
I just cut some medium weight kevlar sails, I'm still impressed by the speed and accuracy the Aeronaut cutter runs. Very nice when I have to work on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

J.H.

Denmark
I just want to say, this week we have going hard, 20 hours a day for 5 straight days and the Aeronaut machine hasn't missed a beat. Just wanted to congratulate you on a fine piece of machinery.

T.H.

Short run packaging
I knew within five minutes of seeing an Aeronaut cutter that I was going to buy it.

B.F.

Soft furnishings.
I must admit the more I use your machine more I am in love with it. It's a wonderful machine.

B.V.

India
I saw one of the new Aeronaut tables last week at XXXX Sails, a very smart set up. I can honestly say I don't know of anyone who has anything but praise for Aeronaut's installations here in the UK.

A.S

Cloth Supplier. UK.
I'm impressed by Aeronaut's practical approach instead of the marketing approaches of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx etc.

T.G.

Manufacturing Consultant UK
If you are looking for an endorsement for Aeronaut, mine would be 110% Yes!

T.R.

Blind Maker USA.
If you were thinking of getting an Aeronaut cutting system, just do it!!… You won’t regret it!!!

S.L.

Shade structures
In comparison with our old xxxxxx machine, cutting speed have increased (around 20-40%).

M.W.

Sailmaker
In my experience the Aeronaut is very good. It is simple and robust, and is able to be maintained with a limited skill set.

B.H.

Sailmaker
It is incredible what our Aeronaut cutter has allowed us to achieve in production and technical add-on to our business.

T.R.

Blind Maker USA.
It was the Aeronaut software which was the clincher. The software was the best we saw anywhere.

M.W.

Automotive Upholstery
Many thanks and well done on a fantastic product.

R. H.

Blind Maker
Next time, I won't buy just one Aeronaut cutter, I'll buy two or three!

F.C.

Window shades
Our Aeronaut cutter has fully fulfilled my expectation to the letter. I can’t fault the machine.

C.M.

Window shades. USA.
Our Aeronaut cutter has tripled our business. It has made our company a lot more successful and life is easier.

C.T.

Canvas
Our Aeronaut cutter is a great bit of kit. I would recommend it to anyone.

P.W.

Sailmaking
Our Aeronaut cutter is the best thing we have ever bought.

S.M.

Truck Curtains Victoria.
Our Aeronaut cutter oﬀers great advantages on smaller orders as well as the large ones due to fast and precise cutting of materials we use to create the final products.

P.M.

Shade structures
It's reduced a day's cutting for four people down to 1.5 hours for just one.

M.K.

Canvas
Our Aeronaut cutter paid for itself three times over inside the first two years.

JG

Truck Curtains
Our Aeronaut has done a phenomenal job... otherwise we would not be buying another.

JK

Window furnishings.
Our cutter has cut hundreds of thousands of pieces and we've never had a breakdown.

AK

Window furnishings.
Our cutter is an Aeronaut out of Australia and it has been my best purchase ever.

T.R.

Blind Maker USA.
The Aeronaut cutter does more work than two and a half people, and it doesn't make mistakes. Based on that and the price, I can pay for it inside two years.

M.B

Blindmaker
Our decision to invest in your product was like flying to moon for us but it has made a massive diﬀerence to our company.

B.D.

Composites NZ
The Aeronaut cutter has completely transformed our manufacturing process. The cut pieces just fall together under the welder.

S.T.

Tension membranes NZ.
The Aeronaut cutter is the best, most simple solution to the problem of wide format cutters that I have seen.

P.A

A CNC machine manufacturer
The best thing about our cutter... is that it has reduced stress in the factory. If we get a big order we know the machine will handle it, fast, and no mistakes.

P.W.

PVC fabrication
The eﬀort was well worth it as the new machine has revolutionised the way we do things here, and has been for the past few years.

D.P.

Paragliders
The Elektron Quattro is ideally suited to high volumes as it's very accurate in minimising fabric waste.

P.M.

Shade structures
The good thing about our Aeronaut machine is that it is so easy to operate that we have four workers who can use it.

N.S.

Carbon and Glass Fibre pre-preg
The quality of the machinery speaks for itself… it is more accurate than any other cutting table.

S.C.

Window Shades"
The reason we bought an Aeronaut cutter is that it looked simple and reliable, and I knew we could do any maintenance on it ourselves.

D.M.

Corrugated Packaging.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Aeronaut cutter is the best way to go when it comes to supplying pool blankets.

S.B.

Swimming pool covers
We are excited about the prospects and the future. Aeronaut's table is true work-horse and is out performing any other table on the market.

A.M.

Packaging.
We are happy with the product and your team is responsive and your are providing a good support. For these reasons I would like to ask you if you would be interested in working with us on a much larger scale project.

T.R.

Composites
We are only as successful as our suppliers and supporters allow us to be, and we view Aeronaut as an integral part of our success.

M.W.

Window Furnishings
We are very happy with our new cutter, you made a very good job. Thanks. When you have clients, who are interest for the Aeronaut cutter, its no problem so send the guys to us. We can show them, no problem

S.S.

Sailmaker
We can unpick a product, lay it flat on the table and trace it with SiliconEye so what might have taken days to design, draw and make up, might be finished in just hours.

P.M.

Shade structures
We cut 2,000 to 3,500 metres each week with 30% less waste than our competitors.

J.L.

Carpet Cutting
We have achieved an 80% reduction in the labour to mark and cut. It takes 2 minutes to mark and cut everything. Previously, that would have taken over 10 minutes.

W.K.

Hurricane screens
We have just cut 36 bags with our new laser at nearly 2 bags per minute. That's a saving of over three days a year on this product alone compared with the old method.

A.R.

PVC
We love our Aeronaut cutter! It's the best machine we've got.

G.H.

Window Furnishings
We love this machine... it just goes and goes.

AK

Window furnishings.
We've had our Aeronaut cutter two years now and it's going like a train. If anyone wants to know, they can call me.

B.S

Sailmaking.
Why wouldn't I promote Aeronaut at every opportunity? Our cutter has been the best technical investment we ever made!

B.D.

Inflatables NZ
With an Aeronaut cutter, production is up 30% on our most optimistic estimates. and that is after using two types of competitive machine.

R.B.

Corrugated Packaging
With the Aeronaut cutter performing three times faster than hand cutting, the company had to put on two extra full-time machinists, as well as one casual, to keep up.

C.K.

Canvas & PVC
Aussie Bills has been using the Aeronaut for about 9 years. We have found the drive system to be very reliable with low maintenance required.

A. J.

Blinds, awnings
With the Aeronaut cutter performing three times faster than hand cutting, the company had to put on two extra full-time machinists, as well as one casual, to keep up

K.C.

Truck curtains

Contact Aeronaut

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Automated Cutters for Packaging - Short Run & Samples