I've been looking for an budget plotter, but are the cheap plotters crap? they all seem to have the same specs??
Just need to do some basic vinyl cutting.
Teddy
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
There is a reason they are cheap... I think there may be people somewhere who sometimes convince themselves they like them, but I'm not aware of any signwriters who've bought them and who do like them.
Try using the 'search' function here-this question has been asked 100s of times before, and thr answers are almost always the same- a recommendation to stay with the known good brands like Roland, Mimaki, etc etc
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
I havs a Gerber Envision and Graphtec FC 5100. Both are bulletproof and trouble free. Neither one was "cheap" We purchased them both from Advantage Sign Supply.
I would recommend both of the plotters and the supplier in a heartbeat. Since you are overseas, I am not sure what is most feasable for you. Do a search on Letterville and you'll see that both brands of plotter are highly recommended work horses. Just my .02
Check out the Classified section of this website. There are usually good used plotters here. I'd rather have a decent used plotter than a new "bargain plotter" anyday!
[ February 06, 2011, 07:22 AM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
You know if you're just starting out, and don't have over 10 grand to spend on a plotter, like the envision, which I have and love, Roland puts out good reliable ones for about $2500.00 But check out the classifieds, like Rick said, you could get a great deal.
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
Rick & Neil are right. You are much better off with a used or refurb brand name plotter than a bargain basement plotter.
Posted by Debra Carr (Member # 6986) on :
Teddy, I would like to add - you may want to consider sprocket fed plotters verses friction fed. We plott mostly sandblast stencil, thus the need for sprocket fed.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
I've been using my Ioline 24" plotter since 1996 for sandblast stencil and vinyl. Still works like new.
Posted by Jerry Starpoli (Member # 1559) on :
I am on my second Vinyl Express from GBC Sign Warehouse. The first one ran nonstop for 7 years. This one is a refurb that I paid $850 for. It is a great machine.
Posted by Teddy Carlsen (Member # 13012) on :
I know I know, you get what you pay for ;-)
But one thing I don't get is why there is such a gap in prices, the no name plotters are roughly 1/3 of the brand plotters?
I can't see why some of the cheaper plotter manufactures couldn't make an ok product?
I know an Hyundai will never be an Mercedes, but I would still get around ;-)
Teddy
Posted by Russ Wood (Member # 14058) on :
This is my first post here and I'm only posting now becuase there is finally something I might add to the great knowledge pool here. The biggest difference between the no-names and the names is support! The no-names use inferior software and have virtually no support. The brand names have great software and very knowledgeble support staff. I have both a piece of #$%@ no-name and a very good Roland. If you do buy used or refurbed find out what software comes with it and is it still supported. Russ
Posted by Jamie Harju (Member # 191) on :
I had a Graphtec 2100 that i bought in 1984, and it only lasted a little over 25 years.. so I replaced it with a larger model.. sweet.. I also have an Envesion 375 that I bought in 1994 and it finally needs to go in for a refurbish because the slides on the cutterhead need a drop of misty oil before using...great machine and needed it to work with the Gerber Edge. IN short I agree with Rick, neither are cheep but either are a great investment.
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
Amen Russ, support is many times, more important than purchase. Those cheapo plotters don't offer it. I looked at one, one time, that a friend was trying to sell me, and even the legs it was built on, were cheaper (chintsy-er) than the name plotters. The knife holder, everything about it was junky. Had to go online to try to download a driver for it. Too many hoops, trying to navigate Chinese websites; I just told him to forget it.
I bought mine from SignWarehouse,their Vinyl Express brand. It is made by Graphtec, and they offer good support.
[ February 07, 2011, 02:28 PM: Message edited by: Dale Feicke ]
Posted by Brian Stoddard (Member # 39) on :
When I had my commercial shop we did a ton of vinyl and had a Mimaki as well as a Graphtec but now I do so little vinyl work I decided to get cheaper machine - the Roland CE5000. I know Roland makes higher end machines but this one a true "you get what you pay for" machine. It wont track for crap and is temperamental but it works fine for what I do.
So you have to ask yourself, what do you expect it to do for you? I used to run rolls of 48" vinyl through my Mimaki and it would track for 30 yards easy. Thats no longer important to me so I dont need the hardware.
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so I replaced it with a larger model.. sweet.. I also have an Envesion 375 that I bought in 1994 and it finally needs to go in for a refurbish because the slides on the cutterhead need a drop of misty oil before using...great machine and needed it to work with the Gerber Edge. IN short