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Add to SafariWhen comparing Roland Stika SV-12 vs KNK Force, the Slant community recommends Roland Stika SV-12 for most people. In the question“What are the best vinyl cutters?” Roland Stika SV-12 is ranked 2nd while KNK Force is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose Roland Stika SV-12 is:
This simple-to-use vinyl cutter can work with various materials, such as standard vinyl, twill, paint mask, heat transfer, reflective vinyl, and etching materials, which makes it perfectly suitable for domestic DIY applications.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Good for domestic use
This simple-to-use vinyl cutter can work with various materials, such as standard vinyl, twill, paint mask, heat transfer, reflective vinyl, and etching materials, which makes it perfectly suitable for domestic DIY applications.
Pro Rigid and durable
The body of this vinyl cutter is made from very durable high-quality, injection-molded plastics. Overall, it feels very rigid, with no loose parts.
Pro Portable
Due to its small dimensions (17-⅜” x 8-⅛” x 4-½” ) and lightweight design (only 6 pounds), you can take this machine anywhere you want.
Pro Simple, straightforward software
This machine comes with a simple, clean, and reliable software: Roland CutStudio. With it, you can either create new vector designs or import existing ones from the BMP, JPG, STX, AI, or EPS files. After the design was created, just adjust the outline options and press the start button. The machine will do the cutting automatically.
Pro Capable of cutting custom designs
This machine can cut custom printed designs. The process is implemented by the aid of registration marks and a camera. This is a must-have feature for those who want to cut custom stickers or do multi-color heat transfers.
Pro Can export a design directly
With this cutter, using the provided Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw plug-in, users can export and cut specific design files straight from those editors. Step files are not required.
Pro Can handle thick materials well
This vinyl cutter is capable of producing up to 39N of downforce. While this might seem like a total overkill when it comes to cutting vinyl, it opens up possibilities to cutting thicker, more robust materials, such as plastics.
Pro Can be used as a CNC milling machine
This machine can be turned into a competent CNC milling machine by adding an optional rotary tool attachment. With this accessory, you will be able to cut 3mm wooden and acrylic plates.
Pro Cross-platform, efficient software
The KNK Force has a built-in computer, and you can access it using a web browser on any Windows, Linux, iOs, or Android device. Even more, you can seamlessly switch from one device to another. The embedded software is called C3, and it accepts design files in the form of .svg files.
Pro Can be monitored remotelly
Due to the built-in WiFi module, you can access your KNK Force vinyl cutter from anywhere where you have an Internet connection. This means that you can monitor the machine's job's progress remotely, from a smartphone, for example.
Cons
Con Unsuitable for commercial use
Even though Roland Stika SV-12 is a decent machine, it is not the right option to use in commercial applications. First of all, the cutting speed is slow when compared with more professional competitors. Secondly, its cutting quality is suitable only for cutting standard thickness vinyl: since the blade is actuated by a stepper motor, the machine struggles to adjust the cutting depth with enough precision to cut thin vinyl. Furthermore, thick vinyl cannot be cut, as the downforce of the blade is too weak.
Con Can't cut fast
Regarding cutting speed, this machine is on the lower end of the market. The speed of almost 2 inches per second seems like a joke when compared to the speeds of larger Graphtec, Roland, and USCutter machines (more than 30 inches/s).
Con Imprecise height control
The manufacturer did not use a digital servo driver to control the Z axis of the machine. Instead, a cheaper and less reliable solution was implemented: a stepper motor.
Con Small cutting area
The cutting area of this vinyl cutter is minimal, only 9-13/16” x 39.47”.
Con Hard to find spares
The manufacturer does not sell spare parts for this machine (apart from blades). If a mechanical part (a motor, a pulley, a belt or a gear) fails, you will have to find an alternative part yourself.
Con Limited workplace
The maximum media width that this machine can accept is only 15”. This is the most obvious limitation this machine has. Furthermore, 15” vinyl rolls are not as easy to get as 12” and 24” rolls.
