Roland VP300 Versacamm and Roland BN desktop

[gstk]

I have been hankering after one or other of these for a while now but I havent had the cash and am bothered I will buy one and not be able to justify the expense after purchase.

Some questions I would appreciate answering. (please only people who actually own one or other and actually use it - I can read reviews on my own)

The full format VP300 v The BN - is the only difference really the size print? Or are there a lot more differences
Can you print banners on the VP
Could you print direct to canvas on the BN?
What quality of print would it produce - could you feasibly print and frame a picture for sale?


Would anyone be willing to give up a couple of hours and let me and my partner come and see what they do using artwork we have and answer all the stupid things you never think of if you go for a demo. ideally within 100 miles of South Lincs AND more importantly we will pay you for your time. In my view I would rather spend £200 now to avoid wrongly spending a lot lot more. PM me if you would prefer to be discreet.

Cheers

[socialgiraffe]

Hi GS

I live in Wisbech (north Cambs, PE13) and own a VS300 configured for metallic and white ink. You are more than welcome to come and visit and run a few samples of the sort of thing you are looking at producing.

In answer to your questions, the BN has exactly the same technology as the larger machines it just has a smaller footprint and less printing width capability.

You can print good quality canvas prints etc on these machines, but if I were to be honest. If that is all you are intending to do there are cheaper machines out there that are just as good. I love these machines and the beauty of them is that they can print and cut in one go and also the huge range of material that is available.

PM me if you want to pop over and we can arrange a time and date, I work from home so am available pretty much anytime.

[Justin]

I've been pricing these two machines up myself this week. Really keen to get a BN-20 so reading reviews everywhere. The 300 is a cracking machine for the price I've been quoted but for what I want I think the BN-20 would be fine.

[socialgiraffe]

Justin, just like everything in life you always want bigger

[Justin]

I'm saying nothing...nothing! lol.

[Paul]

i was thinking to geting BN-20 for myself. But This after i start my business that is in the air now... I will be made redundant soon so looking to this every day...

sorry for hijacking tread but what is the cost involved of having bn-20? I know inks and media. but waste inks tank? easy to het? expensive to maintenance? printing heads?

[stuart]

We were in the market for BN-20 but everywhere we went we were told the same thing.fantastic machine but we would grow out of it very quickly,to slow and not as wide as the rolands.we went with a secondhand VP300 cost the same as a new BN but we have never looked back
all i can say to you is its your choice.
stu

[Hyraxx]

The BN is really slow, and I mean dog slow and the white ink is just not opaque enough and adds even more slowness to the machine.

[Hyraxx]

I've been pricing these two machines up myself this week. Really keen to get a BN-20 so reading reviews everywhere. The 300 is a cracking machine for the price I've been quoted but for what I want I think the BN-20 would be fine.

If your looking at new then the mimaki-cjv60 is a good option at 6k+ VAT and uses the new DX5 print head and is print and cut.

[Justin]

I think speed is my main concern. I don't personally want to do large vehicle graphics, just shirt transfers, smaller stickers etc. but if it's really that slow it'll drive me mad. I guess this is the trade off.

I've been quoted £4795+vat for the BN-20, £7600+vat for the SP300i. The latter obviosuly being a bigger machine but is that really worth the additional money?