Need a fresh perspective for this next move

[artofacks1]

Currently we own a gerber edge fx and envision set up. Works great and the projects are coming in nicely.

Need a machine to expand into the signs and more cmyk digital prints.

Here are some of the features I need.

Odorless free as the machines are kept indoors and used indoors.

Nice to haves.

print and cut.
print white
print metallics.

Need the most universal machine possible.

Thanks!!!!

 

[Gino]

I imagine you mean odorless..... or odor free, which equates to latex or thermal. Most printers are kept indoors and print indoors, also. Do you want prints to stay indoors, also ??

It's gonna be hard to get all of your needs in a piggyback setup. You might hafta settle for a machine to print, another to cut and yet another to laminate. Some serious thinking there.

Otherwise, just sub your jobs out. ​

 

[Bigdawg]

Print and cut machines are great... but... if the printer ain't printing, it's not making money. I highly suggest a separate cutter. It's nice to have that print/cut backup, but in reality if you are busy you will regret not being able to cut while the printer is printing. Just a thought.

 

[2B]

we run some of the VS-640 from Roland and this meets all of your criteria and wants.
The other brands will also meet your criteria. Mutoh, Mimaki, HP, granted HP is not able to cut.

the only time you will notice a smell is if you are running a true solvent machine or a 3rd party ink set. The printers we have are about 20ft from my desk and I can not smell anything running OEM inks.

IMO metallic is a waste, and unless you are already outsourcing jobs on a daily bases for white ink that also would be a waste.

 

[CanuckSigns]

There are only 2 machines on the market right now that can do all of what you are asking (that I know of, correct me if i'm wrong)

-Roland versacamm with the white & metallic option
-Summa DC which is a thermal printer, similar to your edge.

Most people do not get the silver ink option in the rolands because it's SUPER slow, and everything must be laminated as the metallic finish will rub right off without it, from what i've heard from people who do get it, they end up reconfiguring the printer to remove it when they realize that more metallic ink ends up in their waste bottle than on the vinyl due to cleanings.

The summa is a nice machine, but it's very expensive to run, and from what i saw at the last sign show, the CMYK prints leave a lot to be desired, although not as bad as CMYK on the edge.

 

[artofacks1]

Thanks guys, Summa is not an option. Il look at the Versacamm for sure.

 

[T_K]

I'm running a Roland VS540-i which does print & cut. It has the option for white/metallic, which we're not currently using. So cant' say anything from experience with those inks. The only smell you really notice depends on the vinyl you're using.

The alignment marks which allow you to remove the printed media, laminate it, and then run it back through works well.

The advantage is that you've got 1 machine that can print and cut.
The disadvantage is that you've got ONLY 1 machine.

This week we're running slow on a large order of product decals because you can only print OR cut at one time. Having separate print and cut machines would REALLY help right now.
Also, if you run a lot of unprinted cut vinyl, this will clog up your machine when you could be printing.

So you've got to pick what you're ok dealing with. 2 machines means more spent money, more space needed. But it could also enable you to have more productivity.

 

[Gene@mpls]

Print and cut machines are great... but... if the printer ain't printing, it's not making money. I highly suggest a separate cutter. It's nice to have that print/cut backup, but in reality if you are busy you will regret not being able to cut while the printer is printing. Just a thought.

I would add to Stacy's comments (which are right on) that the print/cut machines are not good cutters. You will not track or cut as well as a dedicated cutter. Also if you are considering a VS roland, I would mention that the RF640 is the same machine without the cutter- for a lot less money (probably almost enough less to buy a GX cutter). Gene

 

[signguy35]

I run a VS-640 too. with a 24" cutter on the side. I sit about 15 ft from my machine and I only smell anything when the machine has been running hard all day. Love the machine. I did use it as a everyday cutter for about 2 months when our old 24" when to the crapper. just my 2 cents.

 

[jfiscus]

Take a look at the Epson printers. We run two of them here and they really aren't that bad to have indoors near you unless you're running them both on dark inks for extended periods. We run a LOT of white ink through them also, beautiful prints. The ink is DRY and ready to laminate within hours - for rush quickie short-term jobs you CAN laminate immediately. They also have metallic ink option, but we don't run as much of that; only one of our printers has that option enabled, the other one has a cleaning cartridge installed in that port. Ours print beautiful colors, WAY beyond what our latex is capable of.

I would suggest pairing it with a Graphtec or Mimaki plotter. We run Mimaki and Summa plotters here and our Summa acts up WAY more often.

The attachment is white printed onto IJ680CR-10 for a really unique look without layering. (the "C" is the reflective showing through)