In the market for a new printer/plotter combo.. HELP!

[SublettSigns]

Hey everyone,

at our sign shop we are looking to add a printer/plotter combo to compliment our HP Z6100 Aqueous based printer. The HP printer works great for indoor signs, banners, and posters etc. But we need a printer/cutter combo that will really help add to our services that we don't have to out source. We are MAINLY going to be doing printed wall signs, banners, etc. but we want to be able to do die-cut graphics like custom magnets, stickers, decals and wall graphics.

Should we go latex, UV, solvent? What brand, HP, Roland, Epson? Any suggestions or feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Bly]

Gee this question has never been asked before.

HP360/Summa.

 

[Solventinkjet]

Any roll to roll printer with a name brand on it is going to work for you. Everyone here on signs101 will have their 2 cents on which ones are better and it's usually the one they already own. People have had great and bad experiences with all of them. You want to get one with solvent or latex ink. UV is best used for flatbeds but you can find some roll to roll ones. Just stick with solvent or latex for now if you want outdoor durability. I prefer the Mutoh brand personally as a tech and it's what I would run in my shop if I had one. For printer cutter combos I prefer Mimaki but Roland does just as well.

The only way you will be able to cut custom magnet shapes is with a flatbed cutter (expensive) or freehand/die cut (time consuming). For everything else, any name brand cutter will do just fine. I prefer the Mimaki cutters or Graphtec as well.

 

[greysquirrel]

The 360 has a great prom right now

 

[rjssigns]

Best advice you will get today: Buy from the dealer that has the best tech/service and is closest to your shop. If they sell eco-sol get that. If they sell latex printers get one of those.

Equipment breaks and you want a tech there same day. Downtime is the fastest way to lose customers.

Speaking from experience thinking I could save a ton of money buying long distance. Cost me horrid amounts of money and many clients.

 

[Brink]

Print/Plot combo printers sound great. I have one (CJV30-160). The plot time is really going to slow down your production time once your shop gets busy. I should have listened to a friend who told me to get a printer for prints and use a dedicated plotter for your contour cuts. I have a 24" dedicated plotter for cut vinyl only. The plotter cuts way faster than the printer does.

 

[luisgborunda]

Entry Level Gently Used Roland Printer/Cuter SC-545EX

Hey everyone,

at our sign shop we are looking to add a printer/plotter combo to compliment our HP Z6100 Aqueous based printer. The HP printer works great for indoor signs, banners, and posters etc. But we need a printer/cutter combo that will really help add to our services that we don't have to out source. We are MAINLY going to be doing printed wall signs, banners, etc. but we want to be able to do die-cut graphics like custom magnets, stickers, decals and wall graphics.

Should we go latex, UV, solvent? What brand, HP, Roland, Epson? Any suggestions or feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

If you want to test the waters, this is an affordable way to do it. I am selling my Roland. It is in very good condition. I am in Baltimore. You pick up. $8,500. It has the the auxiliary heater and take up reel. 443-413-5653 Luis