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"middle class" vinyl plotter
Dear all,
I’m new to the board so would like to say hello in first line!
"Hello!" then 🙂I am planning to buy vinyl cutter but can’t afford (at least yet) expensive Roland, Mutoh or Summa. I would like to avoid cheap chinesse Creation Pcut as I have read it causes sooo many problems. I am willing to spend up to £700 and the more reviews and forums I check the more confused I become.
Could you kindly recomend me sth reliable I can use for next 2 years, before buying professional machine? Anything from the middle shelf?
I found Secabo cutters on Ebay. Has any of you used this device?Thank you in advance for all your responses, advices and recommendations!
Peter
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12 Replies
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Peter,
My cheapo chinese plotter is still going strong 2 years later after really heavy use on a daily basis! Isn’t the secabo just a chinese plotter rebranded?
On the other hand I’ve just noticed graphtec selling a plotter 610mm wide for £995 +vat in Sign update magazine if you can strech your budget a bit.
Hope this helps.
Gareth
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If you want a good make and are short of funds, a second hand summa might be a good option. they aren’t that bad at tracking. Roland sell cheaper new cutters, but are not good at tracking.
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You will find many use the chinese cutters with no problems, as long as you buy from eithr Alan Flynn or signwizard you will have all the support you need.
I don’t know of anyone with a secabo cutter. I came across their website long ago but like I say, I beleive it has been asked before and no-one had one.
As Gareth says though, one the other hand the graphtec for £995, may be a bit more than you want to spend but will pay dividends in the long run.
Lee
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Gareth,
many thanks for your quick response!
I am still considering buying Creation PCUT plotter (the one you have, right?) but would really like to avoid problems that can appear from the very beginning after purchase. I mean troubles I read about like difficulties even with connecting the device to the computer, exporting properly objects to cutter, tracking etc.
I have also read that those CT630 cutters do not measure length and width of tape (how important is it actually?) neither connect curves that should be joined. How do they behave when there’s plenty of object accumulated within small area?
I know you tweaked your machine so how would it work if you haven’t done it? -
quote KARL WILLIAMS:If you want a good make and are short of funds, a second hand summa might be a good option. they aren’t that bad at tracking. Roland sell cheaper new cutters, but are not good at tracking.
thanks Karl, any ideas where to buy second hand Summa then?
regarding cheaper Rolands like Stika series – I read they are useless when cutting thin flex as there’s no knife pressure adjustment available? -
Peter,
Ding! My cutter isn’t a creation pcut.
I know what you are saying about setup, measuring width etc. I had exp. of plotters for a dozen years before I bought this one so knew what to do to set up etc. The instructions are only good for a laugh nothing else and no real backup to ask the thousand or so questions you may have. So as I said in my post advice to another, prob. not a good idea if you are TOTALLY new, so don’t unless you have experience. If you have a little up top, GO FOR IT, you’ll get there in the end. Loads of people on here to help you etc.
Regards
Gareth
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hi there, bit daunting buying the machine ,my advice would be buy the best machine you can possibly afford with your budget.
i have a dingtec sc630 which is a rebadged secabo machine it does what i need it to and it did’nt cost the earth i would upgrade in the future to a roland/graphtec if the machine got used more but it only gets used on a part time basis so it suits me. i had brought the machine s/h without it doing any work! the guy apparently started it as p/t buisness then got a new job! so his loss was my gain 😛
a decent software program really does help, the software which you do get with a cheaper machine is really sh*t and very,and i mean VERY limited
the cheap machines do tend to get slagged off but there are plenty of people who produce excellent paying work with a cheaper machine.regards and good luck
mickey -
Most dealers have second hand kit, but you may pay a refurb price.
I have a d610 going for £600. It has had hammer but never let me down and is still in use now. It does need a new cutting strip and roll holder though. you might even find one on ebay. my machine is good but I can’t say it’s the best because of the work it’s done. You can operate this from coral 12 or 13 by downloading wincut for free from the summa website. This is what I use on both my summas and have no problems. -
I run Graphtec and Roland cutters. have done for years… both workhorses… both have new low prices. buy the best you can afford, your cutter is your no.1 tool in the box.
i always advise buying new, cutters are like a car, they may sparkle and tick over nicely but you don’t "really" know how many miles it has done or how fast those miles have been driven?
as has been said, the pcut ones are available and are CE approved models from flynn signs and sign wizard.
there is also an ex-demo machine available in the discount shop, for £610+vat and includes stand and software.
https://www.uksignboards.com/index.php?page=4For the record, UKSB do not sell or gain commission on sales of products within the shop area of this site.
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Hi Peter
I back Gareths comments about the plotters from china, likewise i use plotters from china and they work fine, think its a vector x or refine, i have used lots of different makes over the years some costing a few grand but i will say the plotters from china are very good quality for the money. I have never used a creation thou so cant comment on them.
You could buy a cheaper plotter that would serve you well for now while you build up some funds and move up a level to a more expensive model.
Might even save yourself some money and find the plotter from china
is working well and doing the job.. Gareth will second that comment for sure.good luck
Ade 😎 -
Comment seconded. By the way, lovely weather in Cardiff lately, eh Ade? Just done a van today that’s been waiting since October for a fine day. Tch.
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quote Gareth Lewis:Comment seconded. By the way, lovely weather in Cardiff lately, eh Ade? Just done a van today that’s been waiting since October for a fine day. Tch.
Hi Gareth..
Tropical welsh weather with a touch of wind and rain!!
Seems where doomed for another week with this rain..
Know how you feel, had to put a few off to.. awfull weather for
us sign people.
2 trucks turned over on the a470 i heard.. barmy init
Hope its better soon so we can get out there, i have a set of wellies for sale by the way… :lol1: ha
Thank god our nice priced plotters are water proof!!!!!!! lol
cheers GarethAde
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