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There is a reason they are cheap... I think there may be people somewhere who sometimes convince themselves they like them, but I'm not aware of any signwriters who've bought them and who do like them.
Try using the 'search' function here-this question has been asked 100s of times before, and thr answers are almost always the same- a recommendation to stay with the known good brands like Roland, Mimaki, etc etc
-------------------- "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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I havs a Gerber Envision and Graphtec FC 5100. Both are bulletproof and trouble free. Neither one was "cheap" We purchased them both from Advantage Sign Supply.
I would recommend both of the plotters and the supplier in a heartbeat. Since you are overseas, I am not sure what is most feasable for you. Do a search on Letterville and you'll see that both brands of plotter are highly recommended work horses. Just my .02
Check out the Classified section of this website. There are usually good used plotters here. I'd rather have a decent used plotter than a new "bargain plotter" anyday!
[ February 06, 2011, 07:22 AM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3485 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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You know if you're just starting out, and don't have over 10 grand to spend on a plotter, like the envision, which I have and love, Roland puts out good reliable ones for about $2500.00 But check out the classifieds, like Rick said, you could get a great deal.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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Teddy, I would like to add - you may want to consider sprocket fed plotters verses friction fed. We plott mostly sandblast stencil, thus the need for sprocket fed.
-------------------- Debra Carr Sign Crafters 502 S. Main Street Hendersonville, NC 28791 Posts: 82 | From: Hendersonville, NC | Registered: Nov 2006
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I am on my second Vinyl Express from GBC Sign Warehouse. The first one ran nonstop for 7 years. This one is a refurb that I paid $850 for. It is a great machine.
-------------------- Jerry Starpoli Starpoli Signs... since 1952
845-795-2438 Posts: 446 | From: Milton, NY US | Registered: Jun 2000
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This is my first post here and I'm only posting now becuase there is finally something I might add to the great knowledge pool here. The biggest difference between the no-names and the names is support! The no-names use inferior software and have virtually no support. The brand names have great software and very knowledgeble support staff. I have both a piece of #$%@ no-name and a very good Roland. If you do buy used or refurbed find out what software comes with it and is it still supported. Russ
-------------------- Russ Wood Hobby-Tronics Chiloquin, OR Posts: 13 | From: Chiloquin Oregon | Registered: Dec 2010
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I had a Graphtec 2100 that i bought in 1984, and it only lasted a little over 25 years.. so I replaced it with a larger model.. sweet.. I also have an Envesion 375 that I bought in 1994 and it finally needs to go in for a refurbish because the slides on the cutterhead need a drop of misty oil before using...great machine and needed it to work with the Gerber Edge. IN short I agree with Rick, neither are cheep but either are a great investment.
-------------------- Jamie Harju ( Fontzy ) Jamie's Signs LaConner, Wa Posts: 28 | From: LaConner, Wa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Amen Russ, support is many times, more important than purchase. Those cheapo plotters don't offer it. I looked at one, one time, that a friend was trying to sell me, and even the legs it was built on, were cheaper (chintsy-er) than the name plotters. The knife holder, everything about it was junky. Had to go online to try to download a driver for it. Too many hoops, trying to navigate Chinese websites; I just told him to forget it.
I bought mine from SignWarehouse,their Vinyl Express brand. It is made by Graphtec, and they offer good support.
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When I had my commercial shop we did a ton of vinyl and had a Mimaki as well as a Graphtec but now I do so little vinyl work I decided to get cheaper machine - the Roland CE5000. I know Roland makes higher end machines but this one a true "you get what you pay for" machine. It wont track for crap and is temperamental but it works fine for what I do.
So you have to ask yourself, what do you expect it to do for you? I used to run rolls of 48" vinyl through my Mimaki and it would track for 30 yards easy. Thats no longer important to me so I dont need the hardware.
-------------------- Brian Stoddard Northwest Wholesale Signs
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so I replaced it with a larger model.. sweet.. I also have an Envesion 375 that I bought in 1994 and it finally needs to go in for a refurbish because the slides on the cutterhead need a drop of misty oil before using...great machine and needed it to work with the Gerber Edge. IN short 
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