Graphtec CB15UA-K30 Super-Steel Blade 60° 1.5mm 5-Pack

The Graphtec CB15UA-K30 Super-Steel Blade (60° / 1.5mm, part number CB15UA-K30-5, 5-pack) is the genuine original Graphtec top-tier 1.5mm blade for the most demanding cutting applications — sandblast rubber resist, diamond-grade reflective sheeting, prismatic film, high-intensity reflective, and any rigid or thick media in the 0.25mm–1.5mm range. The "UA" designation indicates a hardened Super-Steel alloy with a modified tip geometry for better penetration of tough, rigid materials. The "K30" designates the 60° cutting angle — the steeper angle that delivers a longer cutting edge, enabling clean through-cuts on media too thick or too abrasive for 45° blades. Compatible with FC, FCX, and CE series cutters using the red-tip CB15 blade holders. Every CB15UA-K30 we stock at Digiprint USA is 100% genuine original Graphtec — not aftermarket, not compatible.

Product Details

Specification	Detail
Graphtec Part Number	CB15UA-K30-5 (5-pack)
Quantity per pack	5 blades
Blade material	Super-Steel — hardened "UA" alloy with modified tip geometry
Cutting angle	60° (USA measurement) / 30° (Japan measurement — hence "K30")
Blade diameter	1.5mm
Media thickness range	0.25mm – 1.5mm (also small detail on marking film up to 0.25mm)
Primary applications	Sandblast rubber resist, diamond-grade reflective, prismatic, HI-reflective sheeting
Compatible blade holders	PHP33-CB15N-HS (plastic tip) / PHP35-CB15-HS (brass tip)
Compatible series	FC, FCX, CE Series
Condition	100% genuine original Graphtec, brand new

Compatible Graphtec Models

Roll-Feed Cutting Plotters

• Graphtec CE5000 Series

• Graphtec CE6000 / CE6000 Plus Series

• Graphtec CE7000 Series

• Graphtec CE8000 Plus Series

• Graphtec FC8000 Series

• Graphtec FC8600 Series

• Graphtec FC9000 Series

Flatbed Cutters

• Graphtec FCX4000 Series

• Graphtec FCX2000 Series

• Graphtec FC2250 Series

• Graphtec FC4500 Series

Decoding "UA" and "K30" — What the Name Means

"UA" — Modified Tip, Hardened Alloy: Graphtec's "UA" designation indicates a blade with a modified tip geometry engineered for better penetration of thick and rigid materials, combined with a harder Super-Steel alloy formulation. "UA" blades outlast standard (non-UA) blades on abrasive, metalized, and rigid media by maintaining tip sharpness longer under high blade force conditions.

"K30" — The 60°/30° Angle Naming: The K30 designation reflects the blade tip angle as measured in Japan — 30° from perpendicular, which is equivalent to a 60° cutting angle as measured in the USA and the rest of the industry. Both measurements describe the same physical blade geometry. The 60° cutting angle produces a longer, more gradual cutting edge than a 45° blade — this longer edge is what enables clean penetration through media up to 1.5mm thick without the blade deflecting or tearing the material.

Graphtec 1.5mm Blade Selection Guide — Which CB15 Do You Need?

All four CB15 blades use the same 1.5mm diameter and red-tip holders. The differences are angle, alloy, and media thickness capability:

Blade	Angle	Thickness	Best For
CB15U	45°	0.25–0.5mm	General rigid media — laminates, thick vinyl, screen protection
CB15UA	45°	0.25–0.5mm	High-intensity reflective, laminates — hardened UA alloy
CB15U-K30	60°	0.25–0.5mm	Sandblast rubber, HI reflective, thick rigid media — standard alloy
CB15UA-K30 (this listing)	60°	0.25–1.5mm	Diamond grade, prismatic, HI reflective, sandblast rubber — hardened UA alloy, widest thickness range

The CB15UA-K30 is the correct choice when: (1) media is thicker than 0.5mm, (2) the material is diamond-grade or prismatic reflective sheeting, (3) sandblast rubber resist is involved, or (4) maximum blade durability on abrasive rigid media is required. For standard HI-reflective sheeting at 0.25–0.5mm, the CB15UA (45°) is also effective — choose the K30 when the media thickness or rigidity exceeds what the 45° blade handles cleanly.

45° vs 60° — Why Angle Matters for Thick Media

A 45° blade tip presents a sharper, more acute cutting point — ideal for thin media, fine detail, and kiss-cut applications where the blade barely penetrates the liner. A 60° blade tip is more oblique, presenting a longer, more gradual cutting edge. This geometry distributes the cutting force over a larger contact area, which is essential for thick or rigid materials: a 45° blade forced through 1mm of sandblast rubber will deflect laterally under the resistance, causing curved or jagged cuts. The 60° K30 geometry maintains a straight cutting path through the full media thickness. This is why the K30 is the designated blade for sandblast rubber, thick laminates, and rigid reflective sheeting — the angle is the functional requirement, not just a specification detail.

When to Replace Your CB15UA-K30 Blade

Replace when you notice:

• Tearing or crushing of sandblast rubber or thick reflective material instead of a clean slice

• Incomplete penetration through the full media thickness at normal blade force settings

• Blade force creep — needing progressively higher force settings to maintain the same cut quality

• Visible tip chipping, deformation, or micro-fracturing under magnification

• Lateral drift on straight cuts through thick media — sign of tip deflection from a worn edge

For sandblast and thick rigid media applications — which are the most demanding in the CB15 range — the 5-pack CB15UA-K30-5 is the recommended stock unit to keep production running without waiting for single-blade reorders.

Applications

• Sandblast rubber resist and vinyl stencil — thick rubber and polyester sandblast stencil up to 1.5mm for monument, glass, and stone engraving work

• Diamond-grade and prismatic reflective sheeting — the highest-grade retroreflective materials used in traffic signage and industrial safety applications

• High-intensity reflective film — traffic signs, vehicle conspicuity tape, emergency services markings, and fleet identification

• Thick laminates and overlaminate — multi-layer laminated output, heavy overlaminate, and thick protective films in the 0.5–1.5mm range

• Fine detail on marking film — small detailed characters and intricate designs on thin marking film (up to 0.25mm), where the K30 geometry produces sharper corner detail than 45° blades

Why Buy from Digiprint USA

• 100% genuine original Graphtec CB15UA-K30-5 — not aftermarket, not generic

• 5-pack for production sandblast and reflective media operations — lower cost per blade

• In stock in Doral, Miami FL — same day shipping before 2PM EST

• We stock the full CB15 family: CB15U, CB15UA, CB15U-K30, CB15UA-K30, plus PHP33 and PHP35 holders

• Ideal for Latin American sandblast, signage, and traffic marking operations using Miami freight forwarders

View our full range of genuine Graphtec blades, blade holders, and spare parts stocked by Digiprint USA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this called "K30" if the cutting angle is 60°?
The K30 designation reflects the Japanese measurement convention, where blade tip angle is measured from perpendicular (90° − 60° = 30°, hence "K30"). In the US and international market the same geometry is described as a 60° cutting angle — consistent with industry standard blade angle measurement. Both refer to the same physical blade. Graphtec's own documentation notes this: "USA 60° / Japan 30°." If you see references to this blade as a "30° blade" in some documentation or forums, it is the same CB15UA-K30.

What is the difference between CB15UA-K30 and CB15U-K30?
Both are 60° / 1.5mm blades but differ in alloy and tip design. The CB15UA-K30 (this listing) uses Graphtec's hardened "UA" alloy with a modified tip for better penetration of tough rigid materials — it covers media up to 1.5mm and is the recommended blade for the most demanding applications including diamond-grade reflective and heavy sandblast rubber. The CB15U-K30 is the standard alloy 60° variant and is rated for a narrower thickness range. For production sandblast and diamond-grade reflective work, the CB15UA-K30 is the correct choice.

Can I use CB15UA-K30 for standard vinyl cutting?
Technically yes, but it is not optimised for it. The 60° angle is designed for thick media — on thin standard vinyl (typically 0.08–0.12mm), the 60° geometry produces more drag and wider kerf than the finer 45° CB09 series blades, which can affect intricate detail and small text quality. The CB15UA-K30 is the right tool for thick and rigid media; for standard vinyl, the CB09UB or CB09 series blades will produce cleaner results.

Which blade holder does CB15UA-K30 use?
The CB15UA-K30 uses the 1.5mm red-tip holder — either PHP33-CB15N-HS (plastic tip) or PHP35-CB15-HS (brass tip, more rigid). It is not compatible with the standard 0.9mm blue/black blade holders. If using the PHP35-CB15-HS brass tip holder, remove the blade spring before installation — the spring is incompatible with the brass tip holder design.

Do you ship Graphtec CB15UA-K30 blades to Latin America?
Yes — same day shipping from our Doral, Miami FL warehouse. Our location is ideal for Latin American sandblast studios, traffic signage producers, and sign shops using freight forwarders in the Doral area.