Running 3 jf1631 mimakis, but looking ay CET Xpress 1000

[jdwilliams1]

Hi I have 3 mimaki jf 1631 units. I have bought them all used and they are all great workhorses but being that they were used and are now almost 7 years old I am thinking about a newer or new machine, Right now I am eyeing the CET Xpress 1000. Either a 2012 or 2013. Would love to here thoughts from those of you that might have a more modern machine like this.

We are really getting killed with maintenance time and expenses on the 1631's and I was wondering if this CET would be better. I have heard about electric issues, has that been resolved by CET?

It this machine fast? Print quality good, do heads last? Would love to hear thoughts from others.

Thanks
Jay

 

[jdwilliams1]

any thoughts would be appreciated

 

[Plopez210]

DONT go CET take from a CET xpress 1000 daily user.

its just not there yet would be awesome with out the issues but theyre there, too many kinks still

Go Hp Scitex for your money you can switch the white ink off instead of running it wasting it to protect the heads

 

[2B]

there are SEVERAL threads about CET not meeting expectations and/or being easy to use.

there are better options

 

[jdwilliams1]

there are SEVERAL threads about CET not meeting expectations and/or being easy to use.

there are better options

SB, thanks for the response. Have you personally received or experienced good performance out of comparable priced machines?

 

[Robert Gruner]

JD,

You are positioning yourself to invest $125K - $200K on a UV flatbed printer. I would incourage you to ask as many questions as you can. What size graphics and type of media will be the bulk of your business plan? If your answer is various cut sheet sizes then I would lean towards a "hybrid" UV flatbed. My preference is HP FB series; however, you should look closely at the Agfa Anapurna as well. If your business plan calls for printing mostly 4'x8' sheets then maybe you should lean towards a conventional flatbed with a 4x8 or 5x10 table. Oce and/or Fuji might be your best choices. In less than two months, SGIA EXPO for wideformat printing will be held in Orlando, FL (Oct 22-25).
Again, my best advice would be to attend that show with my choices narrowed down. Look at all the printers. Watch them print and let the salesmen blabber on and on about the virtues of their product.

I did not mention CET as I have had little experience with their products. When the smoke clears, CET might have the best solution; however, if you truly perform due diligence, then you will feel comfortable making that decision.

Bob Gruner


Then make a decision...and if you can, be prepared to listen to their offer and be prepared to deal for a "Show Special".

 

[artbot]

+1 i've run a true flatbed for a year. just recently i've got a belt feed instead. i'm amazed at how much faster small to medium sheets can be set up compared to the true flatbed. but then if i have to face a 3/8" to 1/2" 5x10 piece of acrylic, i will be worried wherein a true flatbed would handle that just fine. think of a flatbed as a cnc machine with a print head. you are always jogging it back home. and it's much easier to "push" a sheet into it's start point position (a registration bar like on a belt feed) rather than lay down a sheet, then pull it down-and-to-the-right "into" its registration start point. doing this repeatedly with a belt feed for cut sheets gives the belt feed an advantage for daily shift work that is less aggravating.

 

[growler]

I run a hybrid Dilli (Agfa anapurna before Agfa paints them red)

Great machine, great quality, great prints. I have been running mine for 6-7 years and I could honestly say that the down time from issues has been under a month in that whole time. It just works.

Ive been through 1 set of heads over that time, 1 belt (learning to take them off and blast them increases their life 10 fold!!) Don't know how sets of bulbs but I buy them from TCS technologies at a fraction of the price anyway.

It's a tank of a machine, but it is getting a little long in the tooth now and looking to replace it.

Deciding between a FB 700 or a Océ440/460/480/550. Leaning more towards the Océ due to the print quality, but that is something I need and you may not.

 

[LarryB]

I just bought a HP FB500 and have had it in my shop for 3 weeks and love it. Coming from a lemon Gerber Ion this machine is so much better. I like being able to feed pre cut sign blanks