Regarding the ULTRA PRO 24" CUTTER i have been pricing, looking, testing, you know the works but i would like to hear from anyone that has put one of these machines to a few years hard work. Sign warehouse has great deals on them but would like to know abit more.
cutting sandblast mask? any trouble running through windows xp?
Thank you Simon
Posted by Darren Albertson (Member # 2936) on :
Simon,
I have been looking at the Ultra Pro 24" machine myself. I am completely new to the business and have looked at several different machines. Keep going back to the Ultra Pro though. Hope some other people will post here and let us know what they think.
Posted by Brian Snyder (Member # 41) on :
Run a search for "ultra pro" on this message board. I'm sure there are enough messages to be found that'll give you some insight. I had a 30" ultra and returned it for a full refund. Personally, at least 2-3 years ago, I thought they were junk.
Posted by Shane French (Member # 2098) on :
Spend a little more and go with a company that supports it's customers well. I like my plotter (GRC-61), but I wish I would have bought one from one of the distributors that frequent this board. These folks care about their customers, and it shows. In fact, the plotter manufacturers/distributors that frequent this board have helped me more with my plotter than the distributor (sign warehouse) has!
When I had an issue with my plotter, I had a very difficult time resolving it with Sign Warehouse (the folks who sold me the cutter), they basically just didn't care, and that was that.
Anyway, take this for what it's worth, it's just my opinion.
-shane
Posted by Dana Bowers (Member # 780) on :
I got a VE plotter (as well as the VE Master software) when I opened my shop back in 98. I had to deal with limited funds and the couple that I worked for (shop was sold - long story) had bought their computer and Flexi program from Sign Warehouse, were very pleased and recommended I contact them.
I did have some issues, heck - at the place where I worked we had a 4B and here I am with a new set-up and NO ONE to help me locally (didn't have internet yet either). I think the poor techs there were rolling their eyeballs at me every time I called... but they got me through it and were pretty good to me.
I did upgrade to the 24" when it would pounce patterns... anyone who was on the board at that time probably remembers THAT one... I felt like I won the lottery - no more hand pouncing on tagboard on the dining room table!!!
Unfortunately I have hardly had it out of the box since I moved fall of 2000. But when we get some reorganization around this house and I have some place to put it, I have reloaded the program on my computer and I want to dig it back out and set it up again.
I have always had help from Sign Warehouse. And trust me, I had bugged them pretty bad at first (I am so computer illeterate it IS funny!) I really don't have anything bad to say about them. And they are merchants here. Even if someone doesn't post anything, I'll bet they read the bullboard.
I guess if I needed anything again I would have no problem contacting them.
[ April 27, 2002, 06:33 AM: Message edited by: Dana Bowers ]
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
i have a graphtec and have never had a problem except wearing out the knife hoder. built like a tank.
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
I have an Ultra Pro "T" and I wish I didn't. I have had a lot of issues with it and the tech support is useless. I had the first one replaced within 4 months and now the second isn't much better. Spend the money and get something else. I am looking toward Summa's in the future.
[ April 27, 2002, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: Amy Brown ]
Posted by Tony McDonald (Member # 1158) on :
Hi Simon,
I have a 24" Graphtec, a 36" Roland and a 24" VE
Ultra Pro. Had the Graphtec for about 8 years
with "no" problems period. Had the Roland for
about 4 years and have replaced the blade holder
and teflon strip (I use this one by far the most
so that's normal) The VE cutter had problems out
of the box. At first I thought they were ok, but
tech support is sluggish and the sales staff I've
delt with aren't very caring. I know they are a
merchant here and regret having to say these
things, but these are things that matter when
you're in business. You don't have time to wait
for a company who tells a different story
everytime you call. I finally had to get a little
nasty (I hardley ever do that) and will not do
business with them again.
Roland, Graphtec, Summa ... one of these would be
my pick.
Good Luck
Posted by Darren Albertson (Member # 2936) on :
Hello everyone,
Glad to see a little info here today, I think! I had really been looking at the Ultra Pro pretty hard. Sounds like maybe I need to change my mind. The uncaring sales staff from Sign Warehouse have called me while eating dinner, working, and getting ready to mow the lawn. Told me one morning when I told HIM I was busy that he would call back around 2:00 PM which I said was fine. Called me the next day at 2:00 PM and kept telling me that he had spoke with me that morning. I told him that he had spoke with me the day before. He acted like I didn't know what I was talking about. In my mind everything is starting to fall in place here.
Darren Albertson
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
iam PRO ROLAND........all ive ever had, never have problems, cuts from corel, arts& letters express, illistrator, freehand, etc etc. i bought a PNC-1000 in 93, this one will cut only 15"-20" material only drawback. bought another roland, PNC-1100, now this one will cut from 2"-23" and it is a used machine got it on ebay. i have been cutting from other then sign programs with the rolands. love it...if i had the money today i would buy a new CX-300 OR 400. and their tech support is the best, i got old machines, they havent made a dime from sale of machines to me. but if i have a question they alway return my emails with in 48 hours.
Posted by Brian Crothers (Member # 2888) on :
I am running a 24" VE "Lynx" or in Canada it's the "Vinyl Enterprise" for about 8 months & I've no problems. It does everything it is supposed to do. The manual is easy to understand. The software LCD works fine. Lots of people are saying they have had problems so I'm really curious... What constitutes a problem... I have only seen 1 post that reffers to 2 motherboard replacements, which seems to me to be either power supply on machine or dirty electricity. There are posted references to calling tech support for help... I'm confused as to how a cutter could ever be "fixed" over the phone; doesn't it either get sent back to be fixed or not? May we have a few other clear examples of what to expect for problems?
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
I've had a small VE cutter for about four years now, with no problems at all, but it seems to me that the techline problems are worrisome in case you do have a problem. I've been looking at getting a new plotter, and right now, the summa d60 looks good to me, price wise etc. I cut sandblast stencil from time to time, and some of the cutters dont have enough downforce to do this. Summas d60 comes with the stand now, and cocut software included. Sounds like a really good deal on a very reputable plotter. Im not knocking the others though, as I am still looking right now. Summa and Graphtec and Roland are all merchants here. Maybe give them the eye first before buying somewhere else.
Posted by Simon Buckland (Member # 1029) on :
Thank you for all the good straight foward reviews I do belive i will shop around some more before i purchase a cutter.
