Got an option on a Roland Color CAMM PNC-5000. Wanted to know, having never worked with one, I assume I can print a picture, photoshop work or otherwise on vinyl. Question: 1) do I use special viny that cost expressly morel 2) do the inks cost greatly or where do I find out 3) Is colorcamm a decent machine I've had other Roland products, one of which is one of my current cutters now 14 years old and going strong 4)what problems do I face using it for outdoor graphics (like will frog juice work, etc) 5) can I use this machine for simple vinyl cutting which I do a lot of 6) Is $725 + $60 shipping a fair price for a used model
Thanks all, always wanted to print my stuff, but don't want to over do it given my market, or get rooked.
Ed
Posted by Ed Harris (Member # 586) on :
Oh, another question: How does the process this printer goes through stack up to a gerber edge?
thanks again folks
Ed
Posted by Ed Harris (Member # 586) on :
another thought, (sorry) is there any one out there that would allow me to ask questions on the phone, pretty strickly on the startup. I promise not to go long term!!! Of course this in based on whether or not I actually pull the trigger.
Thanks again
Ed
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I think 95% of the response that I have seen is "forget it!"
It was never a great machine, always too expensive to run, & these facts have only become more true as new technology has made their always inferior quality into generally unacceptable quality.
The process is similar to an edge... except with a print head transfering 1/4" of resin per pass... instead of 11.8" per pass, leading to slower printing with more banding & much much higher print cost per square foot.
If it was free... it would still be considered a bad idea to run it in my opinion... just too expensive & inferior to so many other prints available.
Posted by Mike O'Neill (Member # 470) on :
I agree wholeheartedly with Doug. Even if the machine weere free you wouldn't be competitive with it.
Entry level for a 30" Versacamm is around 15k (I'd opt for the 54") which is a Print & Cut solution, and these are the machines you'll compete against. You won't need a seperate RIP the bundled Versaworks is great. Roland hit a home run with their inkjets, but the colorcamm was less successful.
I know Doug is delighted with his Mimaki and there are other ecosol printers out there. This is the technology that you will be up against. The print quality and speed is ahead by far, print costs are a fraction of thermal, and the print life is arguably on par with thermal.
Edit: Ooops - 30" is 12,995 (SRP ) $295/mo 54" is 19,995
As far as startup support, that's what dealers are paid for...
[ December 08, 2006, 06:43 AM: Message edited by: Mike O'Neill ]
Posted by Patrick Whatley (Member # 2008) on :
$725 is way too much. Boat anchors usually only cost about $60.
Posted by Ed Harris (Member # 586) on :
EEEWWWWW. Zounds bad. I just wanted a backup cutter with an occasional print, usually small. Would an old Gerber suck as bad?
Posted by Peter Koriath (Member # 5410) on :
Don't recommend it. I've had a ColorCam for the last 8 years and it has cost me alot of money.
Expensive to maintain.
Ribbons are expensive. Hard to get. Don't recommend after-market ribbons.
Banding a problem.
Unless you do alot of gold or silver printing or plan to print to heat transfer material for fabrics, I would not get this machine.
The only reason I have kept this machine is because we do alot of printing of small gold labels for a "select" market.
Nothing against Roland, as all my machines are from Roland. This is just not one of thier better ideas.
It was cheaper than getting into an "Edge" but I have spent more than the difference in maintenace and downtime.
They might have improved the cutter part in the newer ones, but the cutter also is not great and I would not depend on it as a back-up.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
on the other hand... regarding the Gerber Edge...
no it wouldn't suck as bad. Never did, & is still viable today. I have the Mimaki 63" printer as Mike mentioned... but I also have an Edge 2. It gets used at least 4 days a week for the last 7 years, even though I have an inkjet as well.
I won't run process prints on it anymore, but for spot colors, white on clear, or gold & chrome foils... it sees a lot of action, never dissapoints... & it has paid for itself again this year... just like every other year.
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Nobody ever ditched his Edge for a ColorCAMM, although the reverse has happened countless times.
Posted by Dave Draper (Member # 102) on :
YOU Should have bought my Edge when the whole kit and kaboodle with 37 foils sold fr $1000.00 (signmakervb included)
That was a deal!
Ed, remember that the Edge just prints, and it needs a compatible cutter. And Software.
That's why you should bite the bullet and go with a print/cut unit at least 30" wide. The stickers you will be able to make at $1 per sticker will easily make the payments. The banners you can print and t-shirt transfers you can print and car graphics you can do will keep you busy everyday of the month!
Its an investment with very profitable returns if you just get out there and sell it! Its NOT an extra payment every month! Its an INCOME STREAM generator!
Posted by Brent Logan (Member # 6587) on :
Does anyone have an opinion on the Summa DC4 thermal printers versus the Roland versacamms?
Posted by Mike O'Neill (Member # 470) on :
Unless you have a niche market that demands thermal print the versacamm or other ecosol printer will print faster, better and at less cost.
I guess that's an opinion...
Posted by Brent Logan (Member # 6587) on :
Thanks Mike. I've been reading the ads for the Summa Thermals and they're priced competitivly to the Versacamms. They say the prints are good for 5 yrs without lamination. That seemed like a plus.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
One of Summa's thermal drawbacks used to be limited acceptable print media. I don't know if that's still true, but if so... that could be a cost to be aware of.
Also, while the machine may be priced competitively... I'll bet the foils (and the media) will make your print costs higher, but if that is already factored in with reference to the claims their ads make... then maybe this is no longer true.
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