Summa DC2 Printer

[Bob Gilliland]

Real world working “knowledge” or just knowledge of the machine? I can handle the latter more so then the former. Anything in particular you are after or just general information?

[Robert Lambie]

Just general information bob…
I saw it in this months sign craft. 50″ and 30″ wide. It says it has up to 5 years unlamenated life. Is this really true?
Or just another one of these factory test that lasts five year long. But infact on a vehicle with the day-to-day abuse and cleaning chemicals, it’s gone in a year…
It says it is print & cut… is the cutting fast! & Not like the pc-60 cutting speed. I know the pc600 is much faster but thought the dc2 maybe slow…
Print head life! Is there a setback were the head is involved. Does it burn out fast & is it expensive to replace…
Is the printing faster or slower than say the edge or an inkjet?
Are the general running costs of the machine high?

any of these questions answered would be appreciated. Thanks for the time taken to reply.

[Bob Gilliland]

Rob,

Give me a day or two to get someone who knows much more then most on the topic to post. If I’m not successful in getting him to post in a few days, I’ll let on with everything I have.

[jimbo]

Hi Rob:

Jim, from Summa, here. At Bob’s behest, I’m jumping in with some info on the 50″ Summa DC2 … with this caveat: I’m not entirely sure if everything I say applies in the UK. Check with our <a href=”mailto:info@summadirect.co.uk”>UK folks</a> for more info.

DC2 uses a 4-inch (sorry for the English measurements) thermal transfer printhead that can automatically lay down up to 8 four-inch strips of color, then advance the material and continue the process. It prints up to 50 inches wide and 215 inches long, unpaneled.

The inks we use are thermal transfer resins, which have nearly 20 years of realworld testing behind them (In this order: SummaChrome, Gerber EDGE, Fargo Pictura, Roland ColorCAMM, Summa DuraChrome, Matan Sprinter, Summa DC2, Summa DC3).

In the US, images are guaranteed for up to 5 years without lamination, provided Summa Certified media and ribbons are used. The gurantee does have the usual disclaimers for arid climates and harsh abrasives and/or solvents. Example: if you have a commercial vehicle that’s going to be exposed to acid washes or road grit, laminate it. If it’s a sign at the side of a road, don’t. Either way, it’s guranteed up to 5 years.

Also, it’s an entirely automated print process, which can print any combination of process and spot colors (up to 8 ribbons, automatically … any number with manual ribbon changing). So printing large areas of one color can be done very cost effectively. Also, we can print with white and metallic colors.

In the US, the DC2 is sold with a 53 inch DuraSign cutter for a combined price of $35,000 US. That may be less than the UK price … I can’t say. We also include all software.

Complete information can be found at <a href=”http://dc2.summadirect.com”>dc2.summadirect.com</a>. The site also showcases client examples, with links to the clients’ sites. Contacting those individuals should provide you with some good objective opinions.

Best Regards,

[Robert Lambie]

Hi Jim
Thank you very much for taking the time to stop by & thank you bob for pointing jim in our direction. 😀

I asked the questions simply on the basis of curiosity.
Our company has been looking to purchase a wide format machine but always have been reluctant to, due to print life.
From what I have read I take it that the life is based on somthing the same as the edge. Am I right?
If so then that does give me a good idea of the “real” life expectancy.

I did know the prices of the machine and some others on the range. Compared with some printers on the market I found this to be reasonable.
However I was also looking for some info on any of the following:
cost per print head?
Life expectancy of print head?
What kind of cutting speed can we expect?

I thank you for any reply you may have & I welcome you back any time to discuss & advise
Members of this site on your products.