Graphtec Cutting Strips — Replacement Strips for CE Lite-50, CE6000, CE7000, FC7000/8000/8600 & FC9000

Graphtec uses two surface materials across the cutting strip catalog. Teflon-coated strips (FC7000/FC8000/FC8600 series 51407-141/142/143, and the CE6000 series strips) — premium PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) surface that reduces drag, extends blade life, and resists adhesive residue from heat transfer vinyl and high-tack films. Teflon strips also hold up better against the heat generated during high-speed contour cutting. Standard / silicone strips (PM-CR-xxx series for CE7000 and FC9000) — silicone-rubber surface engineered for the newer cutter families. Excellent self-healing properties for the typical mix of sign vinyl and HTV. Practical difference: Teflon excels with sticky materials (HTV adhesive carriers, transfer tape, vehicle wrap film); silicone excels for general-purpose sign work and is cost-effective for high-throughput shops. You can't mix materials between cutters — Graphtec engineers each cutter to expect its specific strip type. Order the Graphtec OEM strip designed for your cutter model.

Yes — cutting strip replacement is one of the easier Graphtec maintenance tasks and takes 10–15 minutes. General procedure (verify against your specific cutter's service manual): (1) Power off the cutter and unplug it. (2) Lift the carriage assembly out of the way per your cutter's manual procedure (CE-series and FC-series have different access methods). (3) Locate the existing strip — it's the thin rubber/Teflon strip running the full cut width directly under where the blade contacts. (4) Carefully peel the old strip starting from one end. Old adhesive may leave residue; remove with isopropyl alcohol on a lint-free cloth. (5) Position the new strip from your cutter's reference edge and press it down evenly, avoiding air bubbles. Most Graphtec strips ship with an adhesive backing — peel and stick. (6) Reset the carriage, run a test cut on scrap material, and verify the blade depth is correct (you may need to recalibrate after a strip change). Tools needed: none beyond the strip itself and rubbing alcohol for cleanup. Pro tip: if you're not confident, the strip is the cheapest service-tech swap-out — many sign shops keep a spare on hand and replace at the same time as a blade change to combine downtime.

Yes. All cutting strips sold by Digiprint USA are 100% genuine Graphtec OEM — sourced through authorized distribution, never aftermarket clones. The aftermarket has flooded eBay and Amazon with generic "Graphtec-compatible" strips at half the price, but they use inferior PTFE or silicone formulations that wear faster, peel up at the corners, and don't hold the precise thickness Graphtec engineered the cutter to expect. A worn-fast clone strip damages the blade and the cutter holder; the math doesn't work in your favor. Every strip we ship carries the official Graphtec branding (PM-CR, 51407, or CE6-CM prefixes are all genuine Graphtec part numbers).

Sealed, unused cutting strips in original packaging are eligible for store credit only, not a refund to the original payment method. Once a strip has been installed in a cutter (adhesive backing removed and applied to the cutter platen), it cannot be returned or exchanged. Manufacturing defects (visible flaws, off-spec thickness, packaging damage on arrival) must be reported within 7 days of delivery with photo documentation. Shipping damage must be reported within 48 hours. See our full refund and return policy.