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Looking to pick up my 1st Vinyl cutter. Im brand new to vinyl but not to graphics/design
Im a Graphic Design student and i thought it would be a good idea to sell stickers/signs/car graphics/business lettering and logos on ebay to make some extra money.
What would be the best Vinyl cutter for under 2,500.00?
I found 2 that looked decent from a good e-bay seller.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ksid=p3907.m29
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ksid=p3907.m29
Are those 2 good or should i look at another in the 2,500.00 range?
Do cutters/plotters in that range only cut 1 color graphics?
Can plotters/cutters do anything other than cut graphics?
How long do they typically last before needing new parts?
Thanks!
I have been using roland decal cutters for over 15 years. The first one never quit, it just got upgraded to a wider one. They can cut from the latest corel drawing software or even old dos cad software with the right command set.
The one i use now is the pro 30" model and I paid right at 2599 for it...maybe a touch more. Roland is some good stuff.
Swain
Do yourself a favor and start with a cheap chinese cutter. A artsign cutter from ebay that cuts 34"s is a good place to start. This will get you familiar with the process and get you rolling. Beware of the cheap vinyl on ebay though.
I have 3 plotters, a Graphtec, which is basically bulletproof made for high volume, running all day long, an older Gerber that's now backup with some issues, and a Copam (Chinese) that I have been trying out. The Copam is under $1,000 and should work for for your application, allowing you more money to spend on buying vinyl.
You can make signs or stickers with 2-100 or more colors, but each color is loaded into the plotter and cut individually. For stickers there are tricks to getting the colors to line up correctly, but keep the designs simple.
There are machines (like a Roland) that will print and cut but you are looking at $10,000 or more.
Plotters can use a ball point or felt tipped pen to draw vector files onto paper. They will not fill it in though, just draw outlines.
My Graphtec has been running all day for over 5 years, and I have replaced blades and cutting strips only. (knocking on wood). My Gerber lasted about 4 years before having some expensive wearout. The Copam I have had a while but is not used as much, and so far no breaking.
Look at the CP2500:
http://www.uscutterdirect.com/index.html
I just bought a PCUT 25" from USCutter off ebay... Awesome machine!!!! Very nice!
taus
Thanks,
tauseef
www.cuttingedgecnc.com
Taus
I haven't looked at the zone in months, way too many work hours
Good to see your post in vinyl.
Anything new with the K2 machine?
I bought one of the Desay Master 380 off ebay a year ago from dcsign, its a good machine, excellent + with a price factor.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-36-Vinyl-sig...QQcmdZViewItem
These will do paint and sandblast mask also.
Learning curve stuff, the cheap cutters are probably good enough for your initial needs. The software and material selection make or break the project.
Any plotter will cut sandblast mask and airbrish mask or vinyl. You have to adjust the pressure for what you are cutting but that all depends on what shape your blade is in and the thickness of the material. I have a 30" Roland Plotter (3 years) and a 54" Roland Versacam inkjet printer/cutter (2.5 Years). Both work great. the biggest thing is the software you use to run them. plotters are only a machine like a CNC or Mill. they only run the information you send to it. I use Sign Lab Print/Cut program along with photoshop for the digital printing. I had a large client though we were charging to much to letter his fleet of semi's so he bought a Linx cutter and used the free program it came with. to say the least his trucks looked like junk and he could not even do a simple arched text for his logo with that system. it is not the plotters fault it was the software but he got everything he needed for about $3,000 and ended up selling it on e-bay for $1200, 6 months later. I letter all his truck again. and he does not say anything about the price anymore after he realized that anyone can buy equipement but only a few can run equipement with good results.
you may want to buy directly from a supplier that way they will support you better and also find a local supplier so you don't have to stock so much vinyl.
What media do you use for masking? My vinyl is just too sticky
Originally Posted by carbidecraters
not sure what you mean? are you talking transfer tape? or what media do you use when cutting airbrush mask?
when you say masking I thing masking tape that is the stuff by R-Tape that transfers the cut parts to your surface.
if you mean what to use when airbrushing, you have to use Airbrush mask NOT VINYL. vinyl works in a pinch I have done it but do NOT suggest it. vinyl have too much tack it will tear off your fresh paint and leave glue behind. I use FDC Paintmask 2901/2951 Series. it cuts just like vinyl but has the tackiness of 3M time line tape. you still should not apply to wet paint or leave on for over 24HRs.
Gerber also makes a paint mask
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