 Cutting-Edge Technology
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This wasn't going to be an easy task. When the new Sprint Center asked Digital Lagoon to re-create the Time-Warner Metro Sports logo, they wanted something very special. It was going to be big - 4 feet high by 16 feet across. It was going to be three-dimensional, involving 5 layers of 1/2-inch PVC. And it was going to be a challenge to print and cut. Fortunately Digital Lagoon was up to the task with their state-of-the-art large format flatbed press and the Zünd L-3000 optical digital cutter.
The project began humbly enough, with a 1/4-scale, 3D mockup printed and produced on 3/16" Gatorfoam for presentation purposes. The Zünd cutter would be put to great use on this smaller model as well as the full-sized version. Once the scale model was approved by the client, Digital Lagoon moved on to construct the real thing.
The base of the full-sized sign was created using 1/2-inch black PVC, but because of the unusual length, three separate pieces were cut and then linked together in jig-saw puzzle fashion, requiring very precise cuts from the Zünd. The next step would also demand flawless precision. To connect the many layers needed, the Zünd cutter was used to rout 1/4-inch deep holes on the fronts of some layers and on the backs of others. The holes had to match perfectly. Once the 1/2-inch wooden dowels were inserted into the holes, the various layers of PVC were connected and fastened with double-sided tape. The Zünd once again performed with uncompromising accuracy.
Digital Lagoon is a premier provider of large-format, point-of-sale signage throughout the Midwest. Because of their long-standing relationship with Zünd and their work on a wide array of substrates, Digital Lagoon is also a Zünd beta site. They are currently participating in a test involving the next generation of Zünd cutting-edge software - the Optiscript Workflow Manager - which promises to greatly speed the workflow process by eliminating any unnecessary steps and any unnecessary guesswork. |
