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Hi everyone, I am a new sign painter and just starting out in this business. I am thinking about buying a plotter/cutter and was hoping to get some advice on the good kinds to buy from some seasoned experts in the field!! What is the best kind to get for a beginner? A friend of mine has a Roland plotter and she loves it, but tells me that it is very outdated. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.
-------------------- Anne Dudley AD Designs Middleburg, VA Posts: 2 | From: Virginia | Registered: Oct 2005
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Hi Anne I think most people will tell you to buy a name brand plotter and I have to agree I personnaly have a Summa. This topic has been done over and over so if you take about five minutes of time and use the search function you will find the answers to this question.
-------------------- Steve Eisenreich Dezine Signs PO BOX 6052 Stn Forces Cold Lake, Alberta T9M 2C5 Posts: 774 | From: Cold Lake | Registered: Mar 2000
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I strongly recommend staying with a brand name such as Roland, Summa, Mimaki and Gerber.
While price is important, be mindful of who is going to provide you with the best support.
Also, when choosing a plotter select one based on the type of cutting that you are going to do. Are you going to be just cutting vinyl or will you be cutting heat-transfer material and sandblast material too? Some brands are better at cutting some items better than others.
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Anne...Brand name is the best way to go, as Steve suggested. If you ask 10 people you'll get 10 different brands recommended since we all like to recommend the brand we use ourselves.
The "house brand" plotters that some suppliers sell are probably OK, and the initial cost is attractive, but the problems arise when you determine that you want to expand beyond using the software that was bundled with the plotter, or if you need parts a few years after the warantee has run out.
Mainstream sign programs will have drivers for all the major brands, but might not have one for the lesser known "house brands". Also, most of the major brands can offer drivers for their cutters that will allow you to cut from programs like Illustrator and CorelDraw, if you choose to do that.
Good luck with your purchase, whichever route you take.
PS...I use Roland cutters.
-------------------- 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
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Stick with a well known brand as everyone suggests and keep in mind leasing options as well as payment plans. Sometimes a better plotter ends up being cheaper.
Try to stay away from any products that you have to send away for service ( because that day WILL come ) and when you can have your equipment fixed locally the same day, you don't care about the extra money it originally cost you.... or look at it the other way, when you have to send (at your cost) that equipment across the continent for a few weeks, the smile your originally had when you saved a few grands will melt very fast.
Oh...and this will happen during peek season of course!!!
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Hi Anne. I'm sort of prejudiced, but I recommend the plotter companies that support the users of this website. We feel very comfortable in giving you a thumbs up to any of them.
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Anne, years ago I bought an older second hand reliable good-name brand plotter, as opposed to a brand new cheaper different unit.
The old one was well-built, built to last, and is still going. It just isn't 'fast'. The decision was the right one for me.
-------------------- "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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Whatever you buy, try and find one from someone already in the "sign business" that want's to sell out. No use in adding one more to an already oversaturated field.
-------------------- 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
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I should start by thanking Steve and Hugh for plugging our product. Thanks guys!
And many thanks to everyone else for giving a nod to us brand names folks. I think there's a measure of truth to the notion that our products are superior and we provide a higher level of service.
It won't get you down to the ebay.com, box-shipper price, but you may wish to consider one of our refurshished units: www.summadirect.com. We have 2 Refurbished SummaCut D60s still available.
Best Regards,
-------------------- Jim Doggett General Manager, USA Yellotools, Ltd www.yellotools.com Posts: 500 | From: Sherman, TX USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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...Watch out Anne, once you get a letter cutting machine you won't be learning how to hand letter very much any more. (Unless you already know how to twirl a brush, that is.)
...For now, why not get your friend to cut out all of your STICKY LETTERS for you? Then you could focus and "specialize" on the hand work. Trust me, there are way TOO MANY people doing stick ons, and VERY FEW who can hand letter with any proficiency.
...If you really MUST get a machine, perhaps your friend is ready to unload their unit, give you a "deal" and help you learn how to operate it.
...Choose which direction your heart really wants to follow.., or which is the most fun for you. Good luck, and we'll see ya at a meet someday soon. ?
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I disagree with Billy. Go for the situation that makes the most money and profit for you. If you want personal satisfaction, paint for yourself.
As a business make the money from the get go. If you don't now, you will have to much later on in life.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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And I don't think there are many who would doubt your design/layout abilities Bob. Nor your ability to adapt to changing markets and continiue to make money. And that is what being in a "business" is all about.
If I read Anne's original introduction correctly, she did say she was "a new sign painter and just starting out in this business"
From a "business" point of view your comments are right on Bob!
[ October 03, 2005, 06:02 PM: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]
-------------------- 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
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I'll have to plug Summa also, I have one of the D60's and it is really bulletproof. Ya can't go wrong with it or Summa as a company. STILL, see if you can buy one from someone going out of business, LOL.
-------------------- 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
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Anne, the software you buy and use is very important also. My only suggestion here is that you dont let anyone talk you into buying bootleg software. There is alot of people out there selling it and its not legitimate. Stay away from them.
-------------------- 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
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