how to choose a print & cut machine?

[gazza]

I decided to go with signmaster.
I liked the look of there web site better, good to speak to on the phone. Got the roland versacam 300spv
Was delivered by the engineer who refurbs them, brand new set of heads and a few other new bits n bobs fitted to it last week.Every part of it looks as good/better than you would expect,no grubby bits or ink stains.Prints fantastic, Not the cheapest I could find but I haven't had any sleepless nights worrying I have bought a pile of crap. Set it up and spent a few hours going through it all with me.

[froggy]

I decided to go with signmaster.
I liked the look of there web site better, good to speak to on the phone. Got the roland versacam 300spv
Was delivered by the engineer who refurbs them, brand new set of heads and a few other new bits n bobs fitted to it last week.Every part of it looks as good/better than you would expect,no grubby bits or ink stains.Prints fantastic, Not the cheapest I could find but I haven't had any sleepless nights worrying I have bought a pile of crap. Set it up and spent a few hours going through it all with me.

Thats the way to do it, get a machine which has got some warranty and qualified back up. I see so many people trying to buy at bottom prices (which is natural) but your job is to sell product which goes through a printer (or whatever it is you do) your time should be spent selling not fixing machinery, trying to figure out all the settings etc. Pay to get it set up so that it works and produces quality saleable print. IMO if you cant afford to get an engineer out to sort stuff then you arent ready to buy solvent/eco solvent machines.

Good luck with your new machine.

[logobear]

So my showroom SP-399i has arrived, re-headded and inked by Roland with 12m warranty.
We had agreed Ecosol 2 inks, - but it comes with original ecosol max ESL3 inks instead of ESL4....... not as agreed.
Machine specuifically re-furbished for garment vinyl.
What is the difference, - and does it matter?
Machine in single CMYK configuration.
thanks
phil

[mr-gobby]

ESL3 inks are the original 1st ink not version 2 or 3, so better (in my opinion) though perhaps not as environmentally friendly on the VOC's

[logobear]

thanks Gobby, that is really reasuring .... do we need to worry about the VOL's? - new retail space of about 1000 square foot - door opening a lot (I hope)

Also, - what about a laminator? - need for what ?
Do you do many posters, pop up banners, canvas etc?
While getting some starter media, I notice that there is much less choice in 30inch ....
where are the best sales? - Don't worry, I only do local, - online is far too competitive!

Stickers - is it a good market ? - how do you price? - by the m2 ? - media and inks not too costly, but getting the sale is ....

Chuffed about getting the best inks - so thanks
P

[mr-gobby]

I've a bn20 so smaller machine but do loads of labels, stickers, occasional banners as well as clothing our main thing. I think the later inks dry faster but the originals seem fast enough and it's the media which determines how quickly you can use it. The opinion on inks is my own and others may think differently. I dont laminate that's more for vehicle graphics and so on, you can still do them without lamination and they are okay just not as hard wearing. Pricing is up to you really but look around and see what you are up against as locality will affect that. No worries on voc's really with eco solvent inks.

[socialgiraffe]

Also, - what about a laminator? - need for what ?

I have owned Versacams for years and never once thought about a laminator. You only need one for things like floor graphics or hard wearing environments. I doubt you will require one with your customers. You do not even need it for posters or pop up banners as the media available now is scratch resistant and pretty hard wearing anyway. However you will not be able to do pop up banners as your machine will not print wide enough. Roll up banners are 800mm wide, an SP300 will not print that wide.

While getting some starter media, I notice that there is much less choice in 30inch ....

Almost all media is now available in 762mm/30 inch rolls. If not most companies will cut it down for you free of charge or for a small fee.


I highly recommend you visit Sign and Digital next week to get a feel for what substrates are available for your machine.

[willd]

... however you will not be able to do pop up banners as your machine will not print wide enough. Roll up banners are 800mm wide, an SP300 will not print that wide.

There are now some pop-up banners available that can be printed on a 30" printer - I have no connection with the company linked to; they were the first that popped up(!) on my search, am sure there are many other similar supliers...

There are several on their site that are sub 30":-

http://www.discountdisplays.co.uk/html/ ... tands.html

[socialgiraffe]

There are now some pop-up banners available that can be printed on a 30" printer

You are right, but I sort of ignored them LOL!!!

Only reason I ignored them is because the industry standard is 800mm wide, also, I used to buy 800mm cassettes at £7.00 each, the cheapest I have found for 600 cassettes is £14.00 which is a huge difference on something that people sell for £25.00 ish.

But in short you are correct, they are available.

[willd]

You are right, but I sort of ignored them LOL!!!

Only reason I ignored them is because the industry standard is 800mm wide, also, I used to buy 800mm cassettes at £7.00 each, the cheapest I have found for 600 cassettes is £14.00 which is a huge difference on something that people sell for £25.00 ish.

But in short you are correct, they are available.

Wasn't trying to score points - we have a 30" versacamm so I'd already researched the availability of them.

We've never printed one, but if someone really wanted one we would .