How long can the machine sit? What I mean is my work seems to ebb & flow between signs, tees and design work so I would have the machine sitting doing nothing for long periods then I would need to use it a bunch. Any problems you folks have encountered? I am debating the versacamm and the Summa DC4. I sub out prints now but have been doing it a lot lately and Mr. IRS man was good to me this year so I can make a large deposit if not a full purchase (still need to talk with my accountant as to the best way to do it).
What are the head replacement costs and can they be done by the user or does it need to be shipped (I live in Alaska so that would hurt).
I guess I need to hear any snags you have run into with the VC.
What do you laminate and what is your method , cold laminator (brand?), liquid?
Also I'd like to hear from DC3 users too.
DC3 questions...
What do you laminate and what is your method Scratch guard ribbons, cold laminator, liquid?
What is a real world sqft output cost?
Head replacements yet?
Non-Summa materials that work?
Again, I guess I need to hear any snags you have run into with the DC3.
posted
versacammm....i haven't had any problems with it...the longest its sat idle is about a week...while i was away. the cap stations kept the heads sealed pretty well. even if you didn't have jobs to run(which i'm sure you could find something to run in a dry spand)you can always just turn it on and it does the self cleaning thing.
i always laminate...i have a seal 162ultra laminator..it does have a heated roller but its not been necessary to use it with these prints since i always use vinyl.
i have had a power failure in the middle of a run so you need to know how to manually return the carriage to the capping station...thats why i recommend rolands training course. personally i love the machine so far....i've only had it a year and i haven't noticed any fading yet...lets see what happens after 3..right?
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
If you are contemplating a large format inkjet, the Versacamm seems to get good publicity, but don't sell yourself by not looking at several. There are other machines that are as goes or better when you take your situation, & the various machines characteristics in mind. Don't let being in Alaska scare you. I've had technicians fly to set my machine up, & later to change heads. Costs could be somewhat prohibitive, but working with an excellent supplier like Advantage sign supplier has been for me, & you will suffer less if issues arise. I have seen difficulty cleaning heads if the cleaning regimen falls short of the suggested regularity. Once or twice may be fine, but I wouldn't get yourself under hopes of letting it sit idle for more then 3 days on any regular basis, & unless you are actually away from it, I think you should plan on giving any inkjet at least minimal attention every other day. If that sounds inconvenient with your intended level of printer use & your desired level of printer maintenance, then I think you will be happier with a thermal printer. Or.. if the IRS was really good to you, have you checked out the Gerber Solara?
posted
I've had my versacamm for 1.5 years and it sits idle sometimes for a week more when I'm away. Sometimes it never gets a rest, and sometimes it sits for days, depending on what I'm working on. As soon as you turn it on, it performs a head cleaning, and you are good to go. It goes dormant after not being used for a certain amount of time, but fires itself up and does a cleaning every now and then.
Suelynn
-------------------- "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot
Suelynn Sedor Sedor Signs Carnduff, SK Canada Posts: 2863 | From: Carnduff, SK Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
My Soljet has been the best investment I have ever made in all my years in this business. Rock solid and I won't post publicly what I do as far as maintenance is concerned. You sure cant go wrong with it and thats based on some hard earned experience.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
posted
You will be surprised at what you will print instead of doing the old vinyl way once you have one. I've had the 30" Versacamm for about a year and a half and use it almost daily. Seldom does it sit for more than a day. It's more versatile than you can imagine at first. Great color, great speed, accurate cutting, and all with just one machine. Others have a seperate cutter which I just didn't have the room for. It's great if you can afford the room it takes up and you have a secondary cutter when needed. After checking it out I went back to the Roland Versacamm and have had great results. You won't be sorry. It really is the next wave of technology that is changing the sign business for small shops everywhere. Good Luck on your decision.
Sign-cerely, Steve Luck
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
Doug, The main reason I am looking at the DC4 and the Versacamm is that I am a one man show (and going to keep it that way) working out of my home, so there will be quite a bit of down-time between types of jobs I produce. True solvent was not an option for two main reasons, head maintenance and odor. If I had my old shop I would definitely go that route. As to the Solara the IRS man was kind (7.5Gs) but not that generous, besides I'd need another house just to set it up (same problem with the router I'd like to have!
Head replacement on the DC4 is around 1400 and can be done by me, so I tend to lean that way, but the versatility of the inkjet is appealing --makes me scratch my head.
Any DC3 owners want to chime in here?
Suelynn, So it self cleans even when off or is it some kind of sleep mode?
Bob, What would you recommend as far as true workspace requirements to run it?
Steve, Thanks for the input.
What laminators are most folks using?
Ok folks let me explain why I really need to know what it acts like after sitting for extended periods. I go a month or two at a time just cranking out screenprinted apparel then comes a wave of sign stuff. I deal with regular repeat clients so I can almost predict what each quarter is going to look like. I only take on new stuff if they are referred to me by existing clients or through networking no ads, walk-ins, yellow pages etc. for me. -- [too many years trying to get work to keep a shop running with employees. I work less now and make more than I ever did, plus I get to spend valuable time with my (almost 4 yr old) son Nicholas.]
posted
The new range of products you can produce with either wide format machine is gonna blow your seasonal production schedule out the window. The good news is that either one works well unattended.
I live in a very remote area like you. I already have a thermal printer (matan) so I took on a versacamm. I haven't had to do a head change yet, but did go over the procedure when I attended Roland U, because of my tech background they were OKay to let me do that. I'd rate the technical difficulty level of a head change at about an 8 out of 10, not something I think the average Joe would want to do. It's something you'll have to likely have to work out with your dealer. Having said that, in the past 18 months the versacamm hasn't had a single technical issue and it a busy machine.
If you want to do vehicles or produce durable decals you will want a laminator, get a good one expect to pay 8-10k. We market the laminate as 'tuff-gard' and laminate both inkjet and thermal prints. It's a good upsell. We don't usually laminate inkjet prints unless they're going to be handled, or are expected to have an outdoor life exceeding 2 years, (ie cheap billboard on coro never gets laminated). The eco-solvent hold up very well to U/V but may be more suseptible to breaking down with airborn pollutants, being in Alaska it shouldnt be an issue. The Max inks are more scratch resistant than previous inks, but if a decal is to be handled much (ie. hard hat decal) you definately need a laminate. Drying time in my shop has been a non issue, we use a take up reel and can crank through entire rolls.
Do your homework carefully, while there is a need and a market for both thermal & inkjet prints you'll have to decide which fits best into your local market. As thermal is considerably more expensive to operate, It serves a narrower market based on price alone. Look closely at the operating (print) speed as well, Much of our work is done at the fastest speed level of the machine (114 sqft/hr), the print quality in fastest mode exceeds the best print quality of my previous inkjet (hp3500). We do use quality speed setting for posters or photos with short viewing distance.
[ April 26, 2006, 07:05 AM: Message edited by: Mike O'Neill ]
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
posted
I am a small one person home business with a Summa DC3. I am too new to it to answer most of your questions but because I do a wide variety of work from t-shirts to tiles to decals, vehicle signs, mugs, hats, jewelry and more, I sure don't have it running all the time and I am not so concerned about fast production, but more about reliability and customer support. One of the best things I did for myself was get the Summa DC3. Of all my printers it is my favorite and the customers have been very happy and actually it IS fast for me, even at the slow speed which I operate it, because it prints and cuts and then can ship immediately with no more handling or drying time... just weed the edges and transfer tape it. Another very important consideration was no fumes (whether I could smell them or not). And I can't say enough about how extremely helpful Dan and Jason have been in the support dept. with all my newbie questions, even skipping lunch hour to educate me. I needed to replace a small belt under warranty and it got here fast. I use the Scratch Guard but can't help you yet with the durability report and the real life cost since I'm still in my free ribbon and vinyl stage. I suspect I will stay with the recommended 3M vinyl at the higher price because they do advise it and I don't have a high overhead so it's one shortcut I probably won't take.
Best wishes with whatever you choose. I went with Summa for the above mentioned reasons and it was a big factor that I felt somewhat insecure about being a one person home business in a tiny shop that is not in constant vinyl production and felt most reassured that they would be there for me, and they have.
As far as snags, my media sensor appears to not be working as of Friday night... but I will call support first thing Monday and anticipate we will work that out.
I have eight printers here and when they are all working perfect, I find myself holding my breath. LOL
-------------------- Sharon O'Brien-Lykins HorseDesigns.Com PO Box 1898 Penn Valley CA 95946 horsedesigns@gmail.com Posts: 43 | From: Penn Valley, California | Registered: May 2005
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