Is anyone out in the world that make money with this thing? Let me know, becouse my pc-60 is a money drain-ribbons-time-no dependabilty. [/LIST]
Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
Welcome to Letterville, Bill!
Your question might or might not spark an age old debate about this printer versus that printer.
If you find that there isn't an overwhelming response to your post it might be because we're all a little tired of the debate. Searching the site will result in hours of interesting reading on the subject...
I can sum it up for you like this:
BOB BURNS makes money with his PC-60 and so do a few others. Maybe they can assist you.
Glenn Taylor (one of the most generous guys on the planet) has owned both and can give you an excellent breakdown of production costs...which demonstrates why you might want to consider "cutting your losses" and getting a Gerber EDGE.
Many other EDGE owners will tell you what a great investment it is. Some of them are Letterheads.
I'm unrepentantly pro Gerber and am totally biased toward the EDGE -- not because we sell them and not because ND GRAPHICS is owned by Gerber -- but because of the positive effect I have seen these machines have on our many, many customers' growth and profitability over the years.
Good luck!
[ August 07, 2002, 06:38 AM: Message edited by: Jon Aston ]
Posted by Michael Berry (Member # 2604) on :
We took the advice of Glenn Taylor, we have an EDGE, we are happy campers. You come to your own conclusion Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
.......(yawnnnnnn).......! Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
There's a local couple (Team Oakley Signs - also Letterheads) here with a PC-60 making money.
I guess the folks that aren't making money with theirs are the ones not charging enough.
If you want a real headache, try out an old PNC-5000 some time. Works GREAT as just a cutter! Posted by Roy Frisby (Member # 736) on :
I had one heck of a time with the PC-60 breaking ribbons. That problem was solved by changing to ZeroNine brand. Since then, it has made me money, although I don't use it on a daily basis.
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
I've used all the ColorCamms and the Edge, no doubt Gerber is a better, faster, and more reliable machine, though the software is a little too clumsy for my taste. Rick
Posted by Chris Wildy (Member # 3173) on :
Please keep in mind you should charge well for digital printing of any kind, the equipment cost is far too great not to. I run a PC-600, and the real trick is finding your niche, the colorcamms really shine on smaller and medium size runs of stickers (1-500). I read something a while ago that put the Edge against PC's, and was shocked to find they had accounted $60 per hour print time to all machines, grantid, the ColorCamms aren't going to win any speed contests, but you can WALK AWAY from them and work on another paying job. Yes, you can make money with the ColorCamms, if you run ZeroNine ribbins, you are looking at $.015 per color your cost for spot, and $.009 for process per color, per square inch, I mark it up to roughly $.02-$.035 per color, plus materials and time. I also run a wide format pigment printer (and cut with a seperate plotter), it doesn't last as long, but does well for short term or stock cars (plenty of time for one season). I'm not saying the Colorcamms are the way to go, or visa versa, only that they are very close when you really look into the cost overall. The main thing is to find the right market. As far as banding issues, any printed job you want to last should have a lamination anyway, and laminated, any banding vanishes. Keep in mind also, I paid as much for my 4' 1440 DPI printer, PC-600, and FlexiPro (all new), as most pay for thier Edge 1. Just my 2 cents
Posted by Dan Antonelli (Member # 86) on :
Loving my PC 600. There's a bunch of sample trucks on my web site that we're done with it if you're interested.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Not too much edge user commentary yet so I'll attempt to make a few points:
quote: the ColorCamms aren't going to win any speed contests, but you can WALK AWAY from them and work on another paying job.
Although some have praised the colorCamms feature of print & cut in the same machine, I can work on a third job while 2 others are running. The time spent on changing foils is minor compared to time advantages of printing up to 60 inches per minute.
quote: any printed job you want to last should have a lamination anyway
It's true that many edge users are laminating their prints on occassion, but often as just another foil run on the same machine. I have not had the need to laminate any of my edge work & have seen edge prints still looking good after 4 years here in the tropical sun. Laminating other machines output (like inkjets)to strive for a product that holds up to the edges output changes the print cost comparisons & often still does not match the longevity.
As for making money, I guess if the 25K investment doesn't result in edge owners posting about not making money, then like me, they have probably had the machine pay for itself so fast that it's difficult to view it as an expense.
Dan, I've got your excellent Logo book & I am sure you could make an impressive amount of money with a box of colored pencils! Posted by ady (Member # 491) on :
have used the pc60 for 4 years since its arrival in the UK made money but it has its limits, but this last month i put an edge in, now i am in a dream world, i am making at least three times more money, four times as quick. No banding large selection of spot colours and really quick i was worried about cutting after but it is much quicker, as you can start to output the next job when the others cutting The pc 60 is a great step on the ladder for colour work but i will never go back.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I had a PC60 in here for abouit a week. I sent it back. Took me another year or more to be sure I was ready for the expense for an Edge, but it is a great tool I wouldn't want to be without now.
I guess I can't speak as one with experience on both, so it is good to hear comments from that perspective.
Posted by J & N Signs (Member # 901) on :
I've owned a 60 for 4 years...had problems but Roland always came thru. Traded it in last sept for a CJ-500. Real happy! Got problems....fix 'em!
Posted by Shane French (Member # 2098) on :
does the edge need a special plotter? Sprocket fed?
How much can a good Edge I system be had for new? used?
What is the difference between edge I & II and which do you use?
thanks, Shane
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
been using the coliorcamm since day one....works great with any program, makes me money....thats it
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