posted
Hiya 'Heads, I'm getting ready to make a plotter purchase and I'm sort of stuck between 2 choices. I saw the Summa D60 and the Gerber P2C 600 at the A.C. Sign show and I was somewhat impressed. Both are basically the same machine. Are any of you running these plotters? Got any good, bad or ugly stories? Both have their pros and cons. The Gerber is more money, and it comes with the omega CL (basic) software. On the other hand the Summa is a few hundred dollars cheaper, plus with Summa's software, you can cut right from Corel. The major influence on this purchase is price. They are several thousand dollars cheaper than the sprocket fed plotter I would prefer to have. Is there anything else I should be looking at that's in the $2500 price range that comes with a stand & media basket? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Brian..I'll let OP give you his opinion!!!!!!
I know what I'd buy but I don't want to sound biased in any way!!!
-------------------- 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
id do the suma.....gerber is that last choice....unless absolutly necessary.....
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
Have you explored the Graphtec? I am a BIG Gerber fan, but, for everyday plotter work...with budget considerations, the Graphtec carries a 3 year bulletproof warranty. Plus, you can cut from Corel or Illustrator. Should fit into the same budget area. I bought a 5100 and am very happy with it.
I also have Gerber which I would choose hands down before Summa simply because of the superior tech support and my supplier, (Advantage Sign Supply), has maintained Gerber's good name by their commitment to customer service. As a rule,(not always), the only people who hate Gerber have never really tried Gerber.
I am not bashing Summa, just always remember: In the competitive equipment market place, there is always a reason for price differences. I paid more for Gerber, but, after five years, I know why......It's just better!
[ December 17, 2004, 07:53 AM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3489 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Checkers - I'd go with the Gerber Hands down....my buddy has two Gerbers and they're built like a brick outhouse. The D60's had issues, although it sounds like they may have been addressed. Check out this post:
posted
Ive had a Summa D-60 for two years now, and absolutely no problems at all. If I had to buy again, it would be the same machine.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I LOVE my Summa D60!! I've had it for about 2 years and no problems. Don't buy anything but factory blades tho. You can put the "training wheels" on that baby and cut a whole roll. It's exactly half the speed of my envision plotter but it's not a bottleneck at all.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
If they fix the issues with the D60 go for it Mine is around 3 years old and works fine as long as I dont use the media Sensor. We have tried to fix that problem many time but to no avail so I just leave it off. Otherwise I eally like it. This was my Second summa. Our first one was a 610 and that plotter was bullit proof. its over 10 years old and still runs great.
posted
Thanks for the input people, I decided to get the Summa. I've used Gerber for many years and I'll admit that they have great products. But, until I'm doing this full time for myself with a steady cash-flow, I have to try to keep costs down. The summa allows me to do that. I didn't consider Graphtec this time around because I really didn't get to see their products first hand while I was at Atlantic City. Their salespeople were too busy with others and by time I would have been able to get back to the booth, the show was closed. I will say that Jim Doggett did stay late and took some time to show me the features of the D60. That was a definite plus in my book.
Have a great weekend!
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Checkerz! if you need some steeler "pinstiping" on your summa. let me know. May swing up that way with 2 kayaks next summer-let's float the Juanita !
hmmmmmmm
-------------------- mark zilliox mark z signs 8425 pushaw station rd. owings md. 20736 301-855-5407 thezs@earthlink.net http://www.markzsigns.com Posts: 348 | From: maryland | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
you need to kayak OHIO-PYLE. its right across the border in pa.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic