Vinyl Cutter recommendations

[ejvogie]

I'm looking at buying a vinyl plotter to assist me in dying, and need a few questions answered by any of you who may be using one.

Should I go with 8" or 12"?

How do the craft grade plotters hold up? Would it be wiser to go with a middle range model, even if I don't need 15" or even 24"?

I'm sure I'll have more questions later ;)

[mynameisdbabz]

x acto knife tell i D I E

[discgolforegon]

The craft grade plotters are just that... "Craft" grade. They work nice for scrapbooking or making fun little crafts. If you are thinking about dying alot of plastic then yes get a small plotter. If you are only gonna dye a disc every now and then forget it.

I dye about 100 discs a month, so a plotter allows me to acheive that level or production. Most guys that dye with an exacto knife maybe dye a few discs a month.

For a basic "Chinese" model plotter you will spend around 400-600$ depending on features. You also need vector editing software on your computer. (im not sure of your background here)

Personally i use a 24" Vinyl Express Q60, which is basically a re-branded Graphtec plotter. I spent over 1800 on the plotter and software. I use Adobe Illustrator to make my vector art, and Sign Lab plotter software. The good thing about having a 24 inch cutter is making signs, and graphics for your friends, relatives, or customers. :)

Any questions, drop me a line.

Nate

[ejvogie]

I am currently using an x acto knife. My hand isn't steady enough and I'm not patient enough to do intricate work this way.

I kinda figured as much about the craft grade (USPlotter) plotters, just wanted to be sure. What about the Roland 12" model, same thing?

If I buy a larger (15", 24") plotter, can I still use 12" vinyl? That seems like it would be the best size to use without getting a lot of waste.

I've read up a little bit, and know I'll need a program that will do vector graphics. Illustrator, CorelDraw, and InkScape are 3 I've seen mentioned. How well do these programs convert from .jpg to vector?

Thanks.

[hippiediscdude]

The cheaper plotters get the job done but they are kind of quirky and you will use lots of vinyl get them tuned in. From what I've heard Roland plotters are the best I've never worked with them though. You can use any width of vinyl in your plotter as long as it doesn't exceed the width of the plotter. I regularly get 24" rolls of vinyl cut in half to use dyeing. I rarely utilize the full width of my 24" plotter.

I work with photoshop, and illustrator mainly to create vectors, some cutting programs will vectorize jpegs and other images for cutting but the end result is some times questionable.

I picked up a plotter on ebay from USCutter a couple of years ago. It works but hasn't been with out its issues. It has been a great learning experience. I cant wait until I get the funds together to buy a nicer set up. My machine has more than paid for itself doing sticker and sign work, and its great for cutting dye stencils! :)

[discgolforegon]

lol when i cut patterns on 24 inch vinyl i just put them side by side and cut 2 x howmanyever

I have to bring in a buddy to help me weed and mask all the patterns... heh I am not dying any plastic right now, but will be tearin it up again real soon.

[A.Mutt]

oooohhh the weeding ...

the more detailed I've been cutting the more time consuming and patience testing the weeding has been.

[solomon.trenton]

I am currently using an x acto knife. My hand isn't steady enough and I'm not patient enough to do intricate work this way.

I kinda figured as much about the craft grade (USPlotter) plotters, just wanted to be sure. What about the Roland 12" model, same thing?

If I buy a larger (15", 24") plotter, can I still use 12" vinyl? That seems like it would be the best size to use without getting a lot of waste.

I've read up a little bit, and know I'll need a program that will do vector graphics. Illustrator, CorelDraw, and InkScape are 3 I've seen mentioned. How well do these programs convert from .jpg to vector?

Thanks.

you could use 1" vinyl on a 48" plotter if you would so like.

[ejvogie]

How about this one (http://www.specialty-graphics.com/graphtec_craft_robo_pro_ce5000-40-crp_vinyl_cutter.html)? That should answer my hardware questions for now.

If I read correctly, it comes with plugins for both Illy and Corel. Preferences?

[discgolforegon]

Good looking plotter. Graphtec is #1 in the industry. that looks like a scaled down version of my plotter. :)

[solomon.trenton]

How about this one (http://www.specialty-graphics.com/graphtec_craft_robo_pro_ce5000-40-crp_vinyl_cutter.html)? That should answer my hardware questions for now.

If I read correctly, it comes with plugins for both Illy and Corel. Preferences?

you must do a lot of dying to spend $900 on a plotter.

[ejvogie]

I plan to do more dying if I get one, plus my in-laws do heat-sealed apparel, so they can make transfers with it too.