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summa printers
this post is a little out of the blue for me, i’m not really in a position yet to be buying a printer, but since my summa printer has proved so reliable in the two years i’ve owned it, and very user friendly, i thought i’d have a quick look at the website to see if they offer them,
i came across these printers,
http://www.summadirect.co.uk/uk/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=S&Category_Code=PRT
they look the part, and from reading the blurb, they sound pretty good to me, the price looks good too,
To be honest, i am happy currently subbing my print work out, but i’m finding recently, that more of my work is printed, and much more could be, so i’m thinking that maybe by this time next year (i like to plan ahead !), i’ll be heading to sign uk looking for a printer,
now i know the pro’s and con’s to owning just the one machine, ie print and cut, tying the machine up if you need to do some lettering while it’s printing etc, so would plan on keeping my existing summa plotter for the majority of cut vinyl work, but would hope to by then, be seriously considering either a new (much bigger) workshop, or a unit on the local estate,
does anyone on here run one of these printers ? i’d be interested in the pro’s and con’s you’ve found, and the running costs, the prices of the cartridges seem quite expensive, but how much work would you get at max output from them ?
are the vinyls you can use, restrictive to certain jobs in any way ? and are you forced into buying just one type of vinyl (as in manufacturers vinyl only or other brands).
are the ribbon systems limited in the work they can do ? ie banners, canvas, etc,
i do plan on having a look at these, assuming they’ll be at sign uk, but it would be nice to go fore armed with a little knowledge from current users of them,
what are the main pro’s and con’s to having ribbons vs inkjet ? Peter N has explained them too me, but having them written down, i think i could examine the answers more carefully,
thanks in advance.
Hugh -
3 Replies
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Hi
I am NOT a Summa printer owner but I am owning an other Thermal transfer printer…so maybe you can use my observations:1. Summa and my printer, Matan Sprinter, are in the same category: thermal transfer printers…in the world there are only 4-5 sign printer manufacturer using this technology which is considered old.
2. The printer are using ribbons … the print cost is high, compared with the ink-jet printers…after my in formations, the Summa cost is 8-10 euro/sqm + media cost
3. Banding – The Summa, using a few inch large print heads, when printing large surfaces, make banding’s
4. Watch the dust !! the thermal transfer printers are very dust sensitives…so it is recommended to use it in a VERY clean room
5. Media – NOT every cheap media can be printed with thermal transfer printers – they use APPROVED media – so you must check first the price of this media
6. Media – you can print only "SUPER-SMOOTH" media –
7. print speed – Summa, after my information’s, is not too speed – 2-3 sqm / hour
8. print outdoor life – 3-5 years UV resistance BUT IS NOT abrasion free – so, if you want a long lasting print protected against sun&abrasion you must laminate itI hope that you can use this info’s and if you have more questions I will do my best to answer ASAP
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As has been said these printers use ribbons, they work much the same as the Gerber Edge and the Roland PC60.
What they are good at is printing metallics, mirror silver/gold and spot colours.
The Summa print heads have a deffinate life and apparently need replacing close to it, the little A4 Alps was the same type of thing as well.
Steve
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thank you both for your replies, it seems there’s a good reason for everyone buying inkjet type printers then !
thanks again.
Hugh
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