posted
I'm runnin' into this problem more and more, and I'm lookin' for new solutions. I've run into a few projects here in the past two months where I've need extremely small copy cut out of vinyl. I'm talkin' 1/8" or less. My plotter (a Gerber FasTrack 650) just can't do it without totally reconfiguring the settings and blade (I do more "big" projects, so it's just not worth losin' the settings I already have).
I tried usin' one of the local shops on one of the projects, and it just turned into a hassle (8 days turned into 3 weeks, and they weren't ready when they said, after I made the 20 mile trek).
What I'm askin' I guess, what do ya'll do? Does anybody know of a good plotter capable of this type of production?
By the way, if any of ya wanna tackle a strip of 1/8" letters @ 6" long, real thin copy, let me know. It's for a glass clock I'm restoring (originally screenprinted back in the 60's), and this is the only thing I'm lackin'....
posted
Would you think there might be limits as to how small of a letter a plotter can cut? Just because you can type in .125 doesn't mean that it can be done. There are practical limits to cutting vinyl. At that size, what is going to hold the letter down while it is being cut? And, then...even if you can cut the letters...do you really want to try to weed them. I'm not saying this can't be done...only that it is approaching the limits of what these machines were designed to do. We will do 1/4" at our shop, but then only for select customers.
------------------ Louis A. Lazarus Milt's Sign Service, Inc. 20 So. Linden Ave. #5B 650-588-0490 fontking1a@aol.com
Posts: 560 | From: El Granada, CA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
it does sound pretty small the only thing i can suggest is: have you tried using 225 scotchcal vinyl with the clear backing? it does seem to hold onto your vinyl a bit better.
but other then that, no idea.
good luck man
wayne zawacki
------------------ wayne Zawacki
Posts: 15 | From: Victoria B.C. Canada | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
At the risk of seeming offensive... You can cut 1/16" (0.065) no serif, perfectly weedable, or 1/10" with serifs in ordinary vinyl. I'd be glad to send you a sample or, perhaps, catch us at a show for a demo. Call to discuss if you're interested. 707 746 7172. hk
------------------ Howard Keiper Sales Mgr., Graphtec Benicia, Ca. keip@pacbell.net
Posts: 409 | From: Benicia, Ca., USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Ugh.... one piece of advice: Don't do them! I will cut as little as 3/8" in hp cast vinyl only, and only very small quantities for people I like. Our prices go up dramatically as letters drop below 3/4".
posted
Try having them edge printed on clear vinyl, maybe you can apply the vinyl to the entire clock face that way you won't see the vinyl and this way you can decorate it with some flourishes. Neil
------------------ "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF
Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Personally I would get them printed that small.
We do down to 1/4" in cast on our graphtec but the price is according to time taken.
Tricks are: 1. stay clear of square serifs and fonts with thin strokes, connecters etc. Garamond with a rounded serif is ok, so is Brush Script.
2. Increase the kerning between the letters ... it makes them easier to weed and more readable anyway.
3. Weed AFTER you apply! Or at least leave the centres of the "A"s "e"s etc and weed them with a pin later.
Mind you, my wife does the weeding I don't have the patience hahahaha
------------------ Bushie aka Jon Butterworth Jonsigns old signwriters never retire ... they just fade into the background! Toowoomba,Queensland Australia.
Posts: 4014 | From: Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
posted
I appreciate everybody's replies. Just so everyone understands what I am tryin' to do, I'll explain.
This piece of glass is being painted to look like an authentic one produced in 1960 for Int'l Harvester. The whole thing was screenprinted, in mass quantities I'm sure. What I am doin' is duplicatin' the letter styles and logos in order to reproduce it to look like the original. The bigger stuff, I will cut a mask and airbrush. This little copy (date and location of manufacturer, trademark symbol) I am goin' to do outta vinyl cause 1) mask is a lil' thicker and won't cut as well, 2) that small a letter tends to get a lil' bleed-thru and on glass 3) when the mask is removed, it is VERY likely it will pull parts of the letters.
I knew these size letters could be cut, cause I've done them before, cleanly. However, to make my plotter do it, it requires changin' alot of settings, tools, etc. things I have in place to do what we do everyday. It's just more efficient to send it to someone who does more of it.
Thanks again for all the help. and thanks Jim Chatham for bein' so helpful...
posted
-----> HERE"S A TIP! IF your cutter will cut it and then you are stuck with the task of weeding, just apply the whole piece to the substrate, then weed it, the adhesive is more agrssive once it is on the surface and holds the letters down for you as you weed, and if ou peel the excess off right away it doesn't leave any glue and comes off pretty easy,although corrigated plastic and some soft stuff aren't good for this but on glass, metal, and sintra works great!
------------------ -------------------------------------------------- "A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?"
I don't have the patience hahahaha 
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