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Some Help For a Complete Novice
Hi All
I am working on a project that I need to use some sign writing tools for. Basically I am making Bodyshells for Radio Controlled Cars. They are made out of clear lexan plastic and I need to provide customers with window masks and then detail stickers for things like lights and grills. So what I believe I need is a sign cutter to cut out the shapes of the window masks and then a printer that will allow me to print on to clear vinyl to make the detail stickers. None of it is going to be very big work and I was thinking of something like a roland stika to do the cutting. I know there are probably better machines out there but for the moment cost is a big issue and will only be low volume stuff I am doing. As for printing stickers I have no idea what kind of printer I would use. If any of you would be kind enough to point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it.
I also read something about the stika being able to cut T shirt Flock does anyone know anything about it.
Many Thanks
Matt
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21 Replies
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your best bet would be a second hand pc 60
if you do a search on the boards for pc60 it will give you more information
rich -
If I did not want to print stickers and just used a cutter to make them would these be any good.
http://www.grafityp.co.uk/bobcat.htm or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? … %3AIT&rd=1 -
The two cutters you have posted about in your links above will only cut vinyl … they will not print anything. If you want to be able to print small decals too you need a print & cut machine not just a plotter/cutter.
As Richard said …… a Roland PC60 would be an ideal starter machine for what you need, it would allow you to print small stuff and cut what you need aswell.
😀
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Thanks for your replies, here is a picture of the kind of think I want to do. Its no bigger than an A4 sheet.
There is a used PC60 on ebay for £1500 is this the going rate for one?
Is there not a smaller machine that would do the same job, its not that I don’t appreciate your advice, I am just a cheap skate 😉
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Matt Im not sure on the going rate of a pc60 at the moment … but Im sure someone else might have an idea for you?
The pc60 would be an ideal machine for what you need to do … although on saying that how many would you need to print at a time. The pc60 is ideal for small runs of print so if you only wanted to do a few at a time then great, but ifyou wanted to print lots everyday then maybe not the way to go and unfortunately you would be looking at either a different option or more expensive machine.
The ideal thing with the pc60 is that you can design your stuff in corel for example, send it to the pc60 and it will print and cut all in one go for you …. if you just buy a cutter and seperate printer you will have to go down the route of lining up the prints to cut after you have printed on a seperate printer … which Im sure the pc60 isnt capable of doing … so it would be a trial and error line up process … which wouldnt in my opinion work anyway … so just time wasting.
I dont know of any other reliable print & cut machines that I could recommend that would be cheaper. Cutters are obviously cheaper second hand …. as they will only cut … so you could not print any of the stikers you want to on them … you would only be able to cut your basic single colour stickers/graphics/flock.
We have the next model up the PC600 and its a great machine, ideal for small print work and cuts what we need.
The trouble is when buying cheap or buying models that dont really come with lots of thumbs up it could end up turning into a doorstop rather quickly.
Not very helpful I know…. but in my opinion the pc60 is a good option ….. but someone else may have an alternative?
😀
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Matt if cost of a printer is a problem why not get someone to print and cut them for you.
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Yeah I was thinking that its just weather it will be cost effective for the quantities I would need . Initial it would only be runs of 10 ish while I am prototyping the models and then probably 50-100 at a time.
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hi mate how much do you think you will beable to charge your customer for the above set of decals ??????
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well you could get a lot printed for £1500
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The sticker sets are to be included with the bodyshells so I don’t really want to be paying more than £2 for each sheet. They could actually don’t need to have as many as the one shown. All they would need is Headlights, rear lights, grill and indicators which would all fit on a sheet about A5 size I suppose. They would not even have to be cut as most manufactures leave that for you to do. The only part that needs to be cut is for the window masks. The masks are made from a low tack vinyl so they can be peeled off after the shell is sprayed, does anyone know where I could get that on a roll as the only places I know do it on A4 sheets.
This is something like what the finished products will look like, they are supplied clear so the customer can paint them up themselves.
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for get the pc 60 its very costly to run due to the use of thermal ribbons i think i would do the designs and get someone to print for me you could get some one to print full colour for less than £30 a square meter
may be the way to go -
Ok I will have to look into that then. Thanks for all your replies
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i used to do lots of these as i raced 1:8 rally cross for some time the stickers i got were all print and cut stickers on clear vinyl another thing as the stickers go on the outside you would have to check how safe the inks were regarding nitro fuel
i used to hate masking the inside of the windows and then painting there so hard to get in to
good luck anyway rich
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Sorry for sounding like a numpty but what do you need for print and cut stickers
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Matt., dont want to sound negative, but you will struggle to produce what you want at that sort of price, and quality.
Small machines are expensive to run, and the larger ones need to produce large quantities to be profitable.
Then route to go would be as suggested, but again for small quantities you will be paying top dollar.Peter
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print and cut means they are printed then cut this way you can remove the sticker from the backing
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Matt, I don’t know anything about this printer but it basically looks like a hobby version of th PC60, at an affordable price for you. Might be worth a look.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? … %3AIT&rd=1
Dave
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Matt, everyone here has given you some good advise, firstly have you purchased any prints off anybody yet?
Us sign makers need to spend lots of money (£10K-£20K) to buy a printer to make small decal to large sign boards, they need to be UV protected so they can be used in direct sunlight and to be durable to a be cleaned. Appart from the PC60/600 range of printers there is practically nothing else.
The running costs of using a sign makers printer is very low as your prints will be so small. So you are better off subbing the work out.
DaveBruce, that is an interesting printer you have posted there, never seen that b4
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The machine on ebay looks like it uses roland ribbons. Never seen one but is it a copy of a roland pc-12.The pc-12 would be a good machine for you, print and cut desktop machine
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i had a quick look… the ribbons are for life is about 10 sheets of a4.. did i read that right?
The ribbons appear to be about £10 each.. i thinkHOwever drivers are NT/ Win95/98 only
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Looked it up, these are ribbons and last for 40 to 50 pages of a4, look the same as roland cartridges, but cheaper. this is the link I found http://www.pc-ink.co.uk/cartridges/CIT1234.shtml
I might order one, might be good for the roland machine?
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