Need Cutter Advice...

I would at least try and find a new / used cutter that you can later contour cut the prints from your Epsons, and make sure its listed in your RIP

 

buy a summa or Graphtec...you’ll be happier in the long run

 

Summa of graphtec might be a little overkill for 30 cuts a month! Though if you did go that route you could add to your capabilities.

as previously stated, make sure any cutter you buy is compatible with your rip

 

Get the manual for whatever software the cutter comes with and look up the contour cutting options to see how it is done.
The rip won't matter if you can set registration marks in your layout program the cutter program can work with.
I run a Graphtec using the AI plug-in to set up the reg marks and use Flexi just to run the prints.

 

We've been fortunate, when going with "more than we need" in terms of equipment capability for pretty much all our larger equipment pieces.

 

I would go with us cutter lazer point 3 . It is Fantastic for the money . Easy to use
It includes the software needed

 

Go Graphtec if you think this part of you business will grow at all. Don't be afraid to buy a used Graphtec either. I purchased a used 10 year old graphtec FC7000 from a guy that had big dreams and then realized the software end of sign making was more tan he thought. It was sitting in his closet for years. 8+ years later, I finally replaced it with a brand new, larger Graphtec when I bought my printer. Graphtec are tanks and require only minimal maintenance. I have made the mistake in the past of buying cheap Chinese plotters even though I knew Graphtecs were great. I cannot speak to the US Cutter ones but I love my Graphtec

 

Originally when I started my search for a contour machine, I did not want to go the cheapest. The machine was going to sit sometimes for 6 months with no use. I read all the reviews , good and bad. . There was a. 2000.00 difference between price of my first choice and my second choice. I took a Big Chance and. decided to go with my second choice . Although we have Graphtec and Roland machines in our main shop and they are Great. Our special event shop now has 2 US Cutter machines working in it. Maybe we have been lucky , But they have done the work needed done ( 1800 banners so far and aprox 3000 18 x 24 signs). One benefit is that we can afford to let these machines sit for several months until our special event shop opens again.

 

Make the investment and expand your capabilities.

 

You should really consider buying an plotter with optical registration. It would complement your printer very well.

Sure you don't want to spend over 2 000.00$ but you will most likely regret your decision when another client will ask you for something done on your printer that needs to be contour cut.
It will happen, i guarantee it!