Plotter recommendations please

[Louise]

Well we need to get one I think, so many of the jobs we could be getting we dont because they also want this done too. Printing on to clothes would be fab, but I think expensive and I'd rather upgade or get another embroidery machine for the money. So thinking this is the next step.

Before I spend though does anyone have any recommendations, either makes or suppliers would be great. I'm thinking A3 as maybe A4 would be a little limiting? All thoughts welcome.

[Jase]

After much research and advice I went for the Graphtec CE-5000-60 from Signmaster, its a great machine from a great company, but stick with Graphtec, Summa and Roland and I guarantee you wont go far wrong, Graphtec comes with the stand which is very useful.

[bms]

Graphtec CE5000-60 is a great machine, but into the 4 figures to buy. Don't discount the baby brother for cutting - the Craft ROBO. Great little machine for under £200 (ex vat) and will take material 210mm wide by up to 1 metre from memory. If you're putting lettering onto garments then this is fine - if you want to put several lines of text you can easily cut more than one sheet. Most sheets for the ROBO come in size 210mm x 500mm. We've used one for about the past 6 years and I know of lots of people using these for garment printing. Don't discount this little cutter - takes up next to no space and does what it says on the tin (as comes with software).

[Louise]

Thanks, I did have a demo of the Roland at the print wear show and its seemed very good, but I do love Brother, all my sewing machines and embroidery machines are Brother and Ive nerver had problems or trouble with their after service I was just concerned because it seems so cheap! But recommendations fromt those who use them are the best thing. Will take a look at the Graphtec.

Thanks.

[Justin]

Had a Roland Camm1 CX24 for a few years, great machine. Got my hands on another one recently but let it go to fund another heatpress....wish I could have kept it!

GX-24 is the more up to date version, it's quicker but not quite so user friendly I'm told. Not a cheap machine (Xpres stock them) but I would think it's worth every penny if you'll be using regularly.

[Jase]

If its purely for clothing, I wouldn't hesitate and go for the craft robo, its a steal at that price, the machines I mentioned are at least £1000 more

[Louise]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I do like the Roland but wonder if the robo may be enough for what I need right now, I could always move up at a later date if needed because the robo is so cheap to buy, had it been more like half way to the Roland I would just go all out and get the roland, but this could be a good one to cut my teeth on so to speak.

If I explain what I would use it for maybe you could advise. I will be doing t shirts with a little logo on (full colour) and text on the t shirt front. will the robo still cut out a logo design too? and would I need any special printer for the printing of the logo or just the vinyl sheet in a normal printer? Xpres say I need to buy a special printer too for their Roland.

[bms]

The ROBO has an optical eye so you can print with a printer and load the printed material into the ROBO to cut (with the registration marks). If you want to print full colour for garment printing then there are choices - (1) using a cheap Epson inkjet printer with GENUINE Epson Durabrite inks you can use printable flex (this can be printed and cut and washed up to 80 degrees) or (2) you can use a laser printer with material such as the Magic Touch OBM5.6 material - you need to be careful with the laser printer as not all will work with the OBM material (current recommended model is C5750). Or you could cut the shape out of sublimation flock and use sublimation inks to put the full colour logo on to the precut shape.

There may be other suggestions from other members on how to do this, but in principle you can get a full colour logo onto a garment with the aid of the Craft ROBO.

[Kaz]

Martin

Do you have any samples of the printable colour laser vinyl?

Thanks

[bms]

printable colour laser vinyl

This is the sticky backed material for printing and putting onto car windows, bike helmets etc. This isn't for garment printing though - vinyl is only for sticking to something. Is that what you want?