Home Forums Vinyl Cutter Discussions General Cutter topics Graphtec 7000/8000 or Mimaki pro cutter?

  • Graphtec 7000/8000 or Mimaki pro cutter?

    Posted by John Parfit on 18 July 2011 at 10:57

    We are looking into purchasing a new or reasonable second hand cutter and favour graphtec or Mimaki each being well built and a record of reliability but each having a couple of funtions that might be more useful than the other.

    Connecting software ,- using coreldraw finecut (mimaki) is a pleasure to use but heard that cutting master (graphtec) is clumsy and slow; although cutting master 2 is out now so it might be better.

    Mimaki has half cut and die cut facility, useful for decals I expect.

    Graphtec has a whopping 600grm force so it can cut diamond grade and sandblast easily the advertising says, mimaki only has 400; is that enough for cutting diamond grade does anyone know?

    I know it depends to an extent whether your work involves more reflective cutting or label printing but, as we found when buying our first printer you immediately look to new market possibilities.

    Be nice to have both options but which do you guys think is better to go for?

    John

    David Rowland replied 14 years, 2 months ago 4 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • Jason Xuereb

    Member
    18 July 2011 at 11:22

    FC8000 can half cut and die cut too and you got 600 grams of force.

    I am biased I have two FC8000 cutters and if you see the amount of work they do you’d be surprised.

    I’ve just gone through 200 metres of half cutting and die cutting over the weekend.

    We have one machine setup to have cut and the other for die cutting. Works a treat.

  • Chris Wool

    Member
    18 July 2011 at 11:48

    can’t comment on others but i am with jason on the graphtecs my 7000 is just fine but would buy a 8000 if it came up i have to cut some stuff at 425 gms force and it handles it well. but would love a 4th roller

  • John Parfit

    Member
    18 July 2011 at 13:13

    Thanks to you both, looks like 7000/8000 is way forward.

    Chris, does the 7000 have 1/2 cut – die cut facility i.e. what is the main differences between 7000 and 8000, note you would like to have 4th roller, does having only three cause problems occasionally.

    Secondhand 130-7000 approx £2750 and new 130-8000 approx £5000, bit of a difference but we would be part-x-ing our current within warranty print and cut for a printer-plotter bundle so savings made here somewhere I guess.

    John

  • David Rowland

    Member
    18 July 2011 at 13:17

    i have the fc7000mk2 and used the mimaki cutter quite a bit in the past

    I think you have better control with the Graphtech but the mimaki is okay
    They are about equal imo

    Prefer to have the Graphtec tho

  • Chris Wool

    Member
    18 July 2011 at 15:47
    quote :

    Chris, does the 7000 have 1/2 cut – die cut facility

    yes it does but mine was apparently a pattern making version also with a soft cutting strip.
    the 8000 has a dedicated cutting strip for half cut.

    but i have to say CM2 is a nightmare for serious work in my opinion but the standard window printer driver is just fine.
    also if cutting stiff materials you may have problems with the way the material bends or don’t bend as it comes over the cutting bed.

  • David Rowland

    Member
    18 July 2011 at 16:23

    the 8000 has two strips, one for cutting and one for half-cut i think.

    The menu on the 8000 is improved

Log in to reply.