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Advice on a Small solvent printer?
Hey folks, I currently offer vinyl graphics which have been cut, and multi layered if needs be, but Im possibly looking at printing smaller graphics with quite a bit of detail in full colour.
Not looking for a large format printer as most stickers will be under 300mm wide
anyone aware of anything available? Most of what ive found is large format at large costs
thanks
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9 Replies
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Neil
At those sizes you be best going for an Gerber edge. Although it will do what you want now, when that larger job comes in you may be kicking yourself.
Steve
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ok thanks
Just found out my epson 7800 takes adhesive vinyl with the standard inks I have, trying to see if I can order some to trial and see how it comes out before I purchase a full on solvent printer
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Not well up on the spec of that machine, but I bet its not for outdoor use inks or the media. Check before you produce.
Steve
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well if it does work the products SHOULD not last very long externally, the solvent based printer uses heaters under the material to warm the sheets and also to evaporate the solvent and leave the ink. A UV Printer uses UV light to cure ink that doesn’t dry with the air. The other method is with a dryer on the print head to cure the ink.
I seen some amazing claims by HP and Epson with life of ink, but when you get down to small print, that changes everything.
To get durability, you need to use a printer that will have lasting prints, the Edge however uses a different print method, a transfer method but it is expensive for 4col process printing when we last looked at it.
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Again, I agree with what’s been said already. (Man, you guys are quick!!) The immediate answer to your question would be to scour eBay for a Gerber Edge. The problem with that is the cartridges are expensive and you are limited to the width of the printer which I think is not more than about 500mm. You will than be very frustrated if somebody asks you for a 600mm print and you have to turn them away.
The Epson 7600 is a fantastic machine, I still really rate them. The problem is the durability. Yes you can get a matte adhesive vinyl the runs through them but you will need to laminate/encapsulate everything before it recieves even a sniff of outdoors.
Best thing to do in my opinion is look out for a cheap second hand solvent printer. I know you can get Mimaki and Roland printers in about 600-700mm wide.
Best of luck
Stafford
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dont buy a gerber, unless you need to print gold, silver, chrome and white…..
very good machines for small decals
but expensive and poor quality for cymk prints, compared to solvent printers.
300mm is max width, btw.
Peter -
Digi printing aint cheap in any form I guess, but if you got the work/can get more, its well worth it.
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Take a look at the 24 Inch Elements Atom.
Very fast printer, excellent print quality, prints onto a wide variety of media including rigid. No need for digital media stock as it prints onto regular cut vinyl, no need for fans and extraction units. no smell! very safe and environmentally friendly, at £5995 it is certainly worth considering…http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.p … 816#373816
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quote Dave Rowland:well if it does work the products SHOULD not last very long externally, the solvent based printer uses heaters under the material to warm the sheets and also to evaporate the solvent and leave the ink. A UV Printer uses UV light to cure ink that doesn’t dry with the air. The other method is with a dryer on the print head to cure the ink.I seen some amazing claims by HP and Epson with life of ink, but when you get down to small print, that changes everything.
To get durability, you need to use a printer that will have lasting prints, the Edge however uses a different print method, a transfer method but it is expensive for 4col process printing when we last looked at it.
75 years in a dark room with no signs of life? lol
Get a Roland SP-300V. Good machine. Two heads so cheap compared to 4 or 6 head machines to replace the heads.
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