posted
What's the best value small cutter? Just cut no print. Running from a laptop out of my trunk. A stand isnt critical, though I would like the ability to add the legs later. Thanks, Jarrett
-------------------- Jarrett Towe Imaging Technologies 225 S. Academy Street Greenville, Sc 29601 864.233.5371 jarretttowe@hotmail.com Posts: 3 | From: greenville, sc | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
Since you didn't like my first suggestion, and no one else responded, I guess I would have to say....
Any cutter that falls within your stated budget of $1500!
Search E-bay and I am sure you'll find one.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
Oh, I liked your suggestion, I just am really new to any cutter in the small sizes, and I dont want to get burned. Its fine when my company buys a 30000$ printer, but not fine when I have to buy a $1500 cutter personally! I was hoping someone could say this is the absolute best bar none $1000 cutter you can buy. I may be able to go $1500, but not until after awhile, So I am weighing my $1000 and under options. Thanks guys, and I do appreciate the first suggestion.
posted
Jarrett, I purchased the 15" Graphtec c3000 after recommendations from others here. I have been really impressed with it.
The price was $1395 through Beacon.
It handles the small jobs I need it to do with ease, friction fed so I can use scraps. It has Parallel and USB connections. Being my first cutter, it was easy enough to figure out with many features that should keep me happy until the day I start getting jobs that require more than 15".
quote:Originally posted by jarrett towe: What's the best value small cutter? Just cut no print. Running from a laptop out of my trunk. A stand isnt critical, though I would like the ability to add the legs later. Thanks, Jarrett
-------------------- John Milleker Baltimore, MD Posts: 42 | From: Baltimore, MD | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I think OP has an old but reliable & working Roland Camm-1 PNC-1000A for sale for about $600. It's a 20" machine.
It all depends on specifically how YOU want to define 'value' or 'best value' !?! cost vs needs vs durability vs parts vs after sales service vs compatriot's advice vs amount of intended use vs learning curve vs scraps cuttability etc and in which order you prioritise those needs.
Then there's 'best value' software... and Dave's advice on that is excellent!
If you do a search on the word 'plotter' in this forum, (via the options above right) you might come across similar threads or questions posed by others, and all the suggestions to them, and similarly for software. What you're asking is a question that seems to crop up almost monthly at times, and has been answered 100s of times.
"Running from a lap-top" - I can't see where this affects the plotter. Do you mean you want the plotter to be as portable as the lap-top? Otherwise a plotter is seen as a printer, usually, and requires setting up through the L-port, just like a printer, and requires drivers, like a printer, or you can reconfigure the plotter through a com-port if required.
As long as your lap-top runs on something more modern than Windows 3.1, you shouldn't have too many hitches. Vector files to plot aren't memory intensive at all.
good hunting!
P.S. Some years ago I had a similar decision to make- a brand-new little plotter for about $699, or a second-hand bigger older one for $1490. The salesman convinced me the older dearer one was the better value in spite of its age, and he was right. In hindsight, I would not have been happy with the cheaper new one for any more than a month or so, for what we do. BUT, you may be different. Skimping on money on what will be a tool of the trade is not usually considered 'getting value'. You can get lots of paint brushes for that price though...
[ April 29, 2004, 10:29 AM: Message edited by: Ian Stewart-Koster ]
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Very detailed and excellent answer Ian. Seems to me that young Jarrett wants to do some moonlighting and is at a loss to what his needs really are. Last year I needed a vehicle for highway driving and thought about comfort on the road. Salesman suggested a newer vehicle which would be around eight grand, I settled for an 80 Mercedes at five hundred and so far put about ten thousand trouble-free miles on it.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
go for the biggest cutter you can if at all possible.
Like dave says... OP's may be a good choice as it will cut from corel draw. And at $600 bux u cant lose.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5273 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Robert - - you haven't had any "error on X axis" errors? A few years back I bought the D60 and I kept getting this error...no matter what type vinyl, how big or little the roll, etc....I went through 2 of these with the same problem, and then Summa was nice enough to put me into the D750 at a reduced price.
It works well...I think the dual motors is a big help pulling vinyl around....although I absolutely hate the digital interface.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Its been very good to me so far. although once I did make the mistake of leaning over it to get something while it was cutting. sucked my shirt right in...I suddenly had flashbacks to a freak childhood escalator accident..:-)
-------------------- Robert Talesky Pocono Signworks RR#3 Box 2246-A Effort, PA 18330 newjerseyrobert@aol.com Posts: 17 | From: Effort, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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-------------------- Bill & Barbara Biggs Art's Sign Service, Inc. Clute, Texas, USA Home of The Great Texas Mosquito Festival Proud 10 year Supporter of the Letterheads Website www.artssigns.com "MrBill-" on the chat page MailTo:biggsbb@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1020 | From: Lake Jackson,Tx | Registered: Nov 1998
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