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Hi Folks, Its been a while, good to see all of you great people out there having fun....
Here's my problem. Been working on an old Houston Instrument plotter/cutter. Got it cuttin for about a month, ( with the help of Jim Dogget from Summu and the good people from TMS ) But she lost power in a servo and I'm done puttin money in an older than dirt cutter. Time to move up in the world, So - I've been reading, looking, and finding out that theres a lot of good cutters out there and I'm wondering if you good people could give me a little input. I know I might be biteing off a little more than I might need, but this is the best resoure I got for good old fashion Q & A.
I'm an artist that will probably push it to the edge, I have been working in Corel Draw for over 8 years and I'm currently working with Corel 7 ( its working for me).
Thanks,
Karman Fairless
Karman Art & Design Godfrey, Illinois karmanart@piasanet.com
-------------------- Karman Fairless Karman Art & Design 1007 W. Delmar Ave. Godfrey, Illinois karmanart@sbcglobal.net
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Karman do a search on cutters we have had this discussion a few times so the answers should be in the archive OP uses a roland very successfully with corel. I prefer signlab and I use Roland and Graphtec both good machines
-------------------- Ian Wilson Signmaker Retired 3 Panorama Drive Toowoomba Queensland Australia may all your troubles be little ones. The man that never make a mistake never makes anything. Posts: 656 | From: Toowoomba Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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It's so hard to find a reseller who care about you !
Why don't you follow the guys which tried to help you previously?
As far as I know, Summa sells good cutters and Cocut for Corel, which seams to be the best solution in this field (it's an Illustrator fan which speaks) !
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Hey, Karman...........Jim is a great source of help around here which is one of the reasons that I chose Summa. Besides that, after researching different cutters, I found that Summa is top-rated. I have a Summa D60, design in Corel 7 and cut through CoCut Pro. I couldn't be happier..... .........
-------------------- Mike"Spud"Kelly zipperhead design Westminster, MA Posts: 367 | From: Westminster, MA | Registered: Mar 2001
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I have a Mimaki CG-6 that is 7 years old, and I haven't had a problem yet. I bought it before I found this website, and before I ever heard of Jim Dogget. I might look at things differently if I were purchasing one today. I have been fortunate in the fact that I don't know if Mimaki has good support or not, but normally support is a major factor in the purchase of this type of equipment. I would think that anyone that gave you help on someone else's old machine would surely be helpful IF you needed help with one of his.
-------------------- Don Hulsey Strokes by DON signs Utica, KY 270-275-9552 sbdsigns@aol.com
I've always been crazy... but it's kept me from going insane.
Posts: 2315 | From: Utica, KY U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 1999
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Ahhhh! Sorry to hear the HI is causing you grief ... especially after the burning hoops you've jumped through to get it going. But, thanks for starting this thread ... I'm still blushing
THANK YOU ALL! You've made my week!
Back to selling stuff ...
Karman, you may want to contact Drew, our sales manager (800.527.7778 x 105 ; drew.groshong@summadirect.com). He should be able to give you something for the HI, should you wish to trade it in.
Best Regards,
Jim
-------------------- Jim Doggett General Manager, USA Yellotools, Ltd www.yellotools.com
Posts: 500 | From: Sherman, TX USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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i found a roland pnc-1100 on ebay for $1000 to accompany my pnc-1000(paid $1600) that i bought in 92-93. the pnc-1000 resides in the mobile unit...uses 20" vinyl and cuts direct from corel 7(the best corel goin)the pnc-1100 is a 24" and will accept from 2" to 24" material and its in the office. and i also cut from corel 7 with it.so i got 2 cutters for $2600 in 9 years and they are both trouble free. ive used bridge programs...but since corel 7 ....dont even load it on computer....
-------------------- 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
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Sorry to take so long to get back, my schedule makes it rough for me get online until late at night.
I asked for feed back, and I got it, thank you...
Don, I think you reminded me of the best point of all, Jim has been much more helpful and concerned than being a salesman, and I mean that in the best of regards.
Jim, thanks again- I think I let myself get a little caught up in leasoning to my sign buddys, You have been great about helping me out. I'm just trying to learn as much as possible before dropping the change$$. I'm just sorry that I'm going to miss out on your Sept. special...
At first, I did put a lot of thought into buying a used ( but newer ) machine. I've seen a lot of information on used equipment and the life span of these things, but still, I'll be buying someone else's - used car -. Maybe for the second machine....
Thanks again for the input, you folks helped me get my head on straight...
Bless you,
-------------------- Karman Fairless Karman Art & Design 1007 W. Delmar Ave. Godfrey, Illinois karmanart@sbcglobal.net
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When I bought my cutter I had two main concerns I wanted the best that their was and I also had very little money. So after researching for over a year I decided that the very best was a Summa.
Now that money problem was still the biggest hurdle for me in deciding. So a couple month ago I found an almost new D60 Summa and trust me I am very happy that I bought a Summa. Even when I upgrade to a new bigger better Summa in a couple years I think I will keep this one as a second cutter it is just that good.
My friend has a T750 now and he loves it before that he had a Roland CM-24 and he used to say that this Roland CM-24 was built tough and would last for ever. Well it has needed the main curcuit board changed twice the first time 6 months past warranty for $800.00 and the second time 5 months later it was repaired for free. They said it was because of bad power.
So what have I learned that maybe of some help to you, first use a high quality power bar or UPS on your plotter and computer they are worth to much to not protect them. Second buy a brand of plotter that has a very good warranty Summa and Roland have good warranties. Roland even offered an extended warranty a month or too before the first one expired. My friend forgot to buy it. oops!
It looks like Roland has the largest market share and more people sell them than the Summa so that might convince you to go with them, I think you should check your local suppliers that you will be buying from and see what they support. Or you could just buy a Summa you already know Jim will help you and once you check around a bit you will find your local Summa rep.
If you have any more questions just ask I will try and give you a hand.
-------------------- 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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just to clarify some things about rolands.....the PNC-**** machines are the older rolands, and all where built to heavy duty use specifacations. to get the same quality of machine today you need to look at what roland now calls the PRO line, CM-300, 400. the CM-24 plotters are an entry level built machine, have less downforce and most have nylon bushings where the PNC or PRO lines have roller ball bearings.
-------------------- 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
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I what to thank everyone for all of your wonderful input. It's fantastic to know that you folks are out there willing to help someone like me. Even if its just to help me listen to myself.
Joe, I'm glad you shared with me your great luck in used machinery, I'm going to keep my eyes open for a good used cutter for a mobile. But for now ( with how my lucks been running ) ,I think I'm going with a new cutter, I need to know that theres someone out there that I can call if there is a problems.
After mucho, mucho brain thumpin, I have decided to go with the Summa D60. They are one of the finest cutters available for the money. Even thou most everyone I know has a Graphtec or a Roland ( all working very will and for a good deal of time ). I can not turn my back on the fact that Jim Doggett has been doing his level best at helping me out when no other Merchant gave me so much as a howdy...
Steve, Mike, I do want to thank you guys. Hearing from folks that are happy with there equipment makes a differents.
So as soon as I get up and running, I'll let you folks know how its going....
Many thanks, Karman
Oh, by the way-- my wife asked me to let you all know that she does proof All my spelling...I'm just the Artist....
-------------------- Karman Fairless Karman Art & Design 1007 W. Delmar Ave. Godfrey, Illinois karmanart@sbcglobal.net
Thanks so much for going with Summa! And for your kind words on my behalf.
Now that you're part of the family, I want you to know that there's a large and stable company standing behind your product. It's impossible to tell how many Graphtec vs. Roland vs. Summa vs. Etc. cutters are in the market, since private corporations aren't compelled to publicly divulge their sales numbers. But, it's safe to say that Gerber is the Big #1 (I'm working on that ). From there it's pretty nebulous, but Summa is definitely one of the larger of the "non-Gerbers." And the SummaCut D60 is a major component of our growth.
We've also been around a while, but I'd need a slide rule to explain for how long. Ironically, we just celebrated our 10th anniversary on Monday. However, at the party last Friday evening, we also celebrated a number of employees who've been with the company much longer (15, 20 even 25 years). Mergers and acquisitions can do that (we're now the combination of Houston Instrument, Summagraphics, WestComp, AirMark and CalComp Display Products NV).
I'm also pleased to announce that our manufacturing facility in Gistel Belgium, founded in 1972 as Houston Instrument NV by Bausch & Lomb, is being expanded for the first time in its history. It wasn't so long ago that we were scratching our heads wondering to what we'd do with all the land and buildings in Belgium, and I'm amazed at how quickly we outgrew it ... but I hope to never lose site of our small company roots, or of to whom we owe thanks.
Thank you again for you support and gracious compliments.
Best Regards,
Jim
-------------------- Jim Doggett General Manager, USA Yellotools, Ltd www.yellotools.com
Posts: 500 | From: Sherman, TX USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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