I do believe Fred has some excellent points. Why don't you visit someone with a Gerber and see for yourself? I have 2 4B's and even though I need a larger plotter, since mine are both 15 in. I want to keep my gerber forever. It has the weights for those situation and is designed as a workhorse to cut any and everything. It was one of the first plotters out, and made with such skill and precision and durability, all I've replaced is the theta belt and the machine is 27 years old, I believe. It cuts sandblast mask, and pounce patterns, not to mention the 1/4 in. letters with seriffs, just by changing the weights.