Choosing the Right Digital Cutting System for Your Converting Operation

See Five ATOM FlashCut Configurations in Action at the MSC Open House, November 10–12

For conveyor belt converters, digital knife cutting can do more than replace traditional cutting methods. The right system can help reduce setup time, improve material utilization, accommodate changing part designs, and create a more flexible path from one job to the next.

But not every digital cutting system is designed for the same production environment.

At the MSC Open House 2026, NIBA members will have the opportunity to see five different ATOM FlashCut systems in action and compare how different cutting tables, heads, feeding systems, and configurations support different production needs.

Before you visit, here are four areas to consider when evaluating digital cutting technology.

1. Start With the Material

The first question is not necessarily how fast can the machine cut? It is what does the machine need to cut?

Material thickness, rigidity, elasticity, and construction can determine everything from the cutting tool to the feeding and hold-down system.

ATOM’s FlashCut FLEX platform supports a wide range of configurations for flexible and semi-rigid materials. Specialized configurations can accommodate thicker materials and combine operations such as cutting, creasing, angled cutting, and milling.

For converters processing an increasingly diverse mix of materials, that flexibility matters when considering both today’s applications and what may come through the door tomorrow.

2. Look Beyond Cutting to Material Utilization

Material cost makes nesting an important part of the production equation.

Automatic nesting software can reduce the time required to position parts while arranging shapes to improve material yield. On the FLEX platform, ATOM combines optimized nesting with a partitioned vacuum system that concentrates hold-down where it is needed during cutting.

For a converter, the question becomes:

How efficiently can we turn the material entering the table into usable finished parts?

That makes nesting, material hold-down, feeding accuracy, and scrap reduction important considerations alongside cutting speed.

3. Match the Feeding System to the Workflow

A shop primarily processing sheets may need something very different from one continuously processing roll goods.

FlashCut FLEX systems can be configured with static or conveyorized cutting surfaces. Belt-fed configurations advance material using the conveyor and grippers on the gantry to maintain feeding accuracy. FLEX systems can also incorporate feeding systems, spreaders, and loading tables.

For higher-volume roll processing, the FlashCut SPEEDY 1660 BP takes a different approach. Its patented “pinch and grab” system uses pincers and vacuum hold-down to maintain material positioning during high-speed and multi-layer processing.

The takeaway is simple: material handling should be evaluated as part of the cutting process, not as an afterthought.

4. Consider How Many Operations a Part Requires

Some applications require more than one cutting technology.

The FlashCut TWINS platform is designed for combined processes. Its modular head can perform sequential operations using different cutting, creasing, marking, and punching tools on the same shape. The TWINS line also offers the US35 ultrasonic spindle for cutting material up to 35 mm in a single pass.

This type of configuration can be valuable when a converter needs multiple operations but wants to simplify how those processes move through production.

There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Cutting Table

Choosing the right digital cutting system should go beyond comparing specifications. Consider:

What materials are you processing now and in the future?

Are they supplied in rolls, sheets, or both?

Where are you losing material or production time?

Do your parts require multiple cutting or finishing operations?

What level of throughput does your operation require?

The answers can help determine whether your operation needs a flexible cutting platform, dual-head configuration, roll-processing system, or equipment capable of combining multiple processes.

Compare Five FlashCut Systems at the MSC Open House

Rather than comparing configurations on paper, see them up close at the MSC Open House 2026.

MSC will have five ATOM FlashCut systems available to showcase different approaches to digital cutting:

ATOM FlashCut FLEX 2H 4015 S
ATOM FlashCut FLEX PRO 3015 S
ATOM FlashCut FLEX L12 with VRX
ATOM FlashCut SPEEDY 1660 BP
ATOM FlashCut TWINS 3020 US35

Join MSC November 10–12, 2026, from 9:00 AM–3:00 PM at its Earth City, Missouri headquarters to see equipment in operation, connect with the MSC team, and discuss which configurations make sense for your materials, applications, and production goals.

See it in action. Learn more and RSVP for the MSC Open House:
https://mfgsup.com/msc-open-house-2026