Uniform Cadet Solvent Ink Printer

[Robert Lambie]

cheers for the feedback mate.. if like i think it is a baby grenedeir. (&yes these are modified roland machines) then i think you have a winner.
ill elaborate later tonight. but i think other than its a true solvent printer (smell) it will knock the spots off the versacamm. having said that. if you have a small workshop and not intending on vehicle images or wraps (unlaminated) the versacamm is just as good.
at least now for the same money we have the choice. thats what i think its about. knowing what one is capable of what at the same price, & knowing each of the machines draw-backs. (because both do have their own) 😉

[Rod Gray]

So near, yet still so far for me.

30″ just ain`t wide enough.

I have 4 jobs currently contracted out for digital printing as the smallest one is 34″ in diameter.

Frustrating however it`s good to see the competition and technology opening up.

Rod

[signworks.se]

Yes Rob your right, it is basically a baby grenadier. They had both a grenadier and a cadet running in a very small room, smaller than your average workshop space and I have to say the smell was no where near as strong as I would have thought.

Any way I have two weeks wait until delivery, so i’ll let you know more when its received.

Cheers
Danny 😕

[popcornpro]

Hi,

Just wondering if your cadet arrived yet and how you have found it.

Rich

[Pryam Carter]

This ones in response to Robs post.
I have a versacamm in a small workshop (solvents too smelly!!) and do vehicles but obviously have to laminate, would you put a solvent print onto a vehicle unlaminated.
The samples of solvent prints that l have been given would still not last the distance on vehicles.
I will be watching this as l have hummed and rrrrrrrrrrrrr’ed about the conversion.

[Robert Lambie]

hi billy

quote :

would you put a solvent print onto a vehicle unlaminated.

NOP, i would not.
so why bother with the modification if lamination is needed anyway, i guess you may say? 🙄
when purchasing a machine i think you have to look at the majority of the work you will be using the machine for, & how the print should cope for that purpose..
i want to be able to offer high grade/durable health and safety signage. (unlaminate)
vehicle graphics/wraps (laminated)
shop front facia signage etc etc (unlaminated)
i wont be laminating anything other than the wraps. (hopefuly) & also work that the customer asks for the lamination.
if the wrap is a short life promotion like bus adverts and that kinda thing i wont laminate.
we also do all the work for a large fair ground near us that require huge mesh banners digital printed at short notice, these banners cannot be laminated.
we have been doing there work now for years and this is the only thing we couldnt offer that we manufacture ourself. soon we will!
there is so many things that can be done without the need for lamination. all that is needed is decent durabilty from the printer. like i said the versacamm is a great machine, print output is better than the solvent version but the abrasion side of things lets it down. (just my opinion of course)
the reason i see machines like the edge being so successful is because
the prints stand-up well. they are not perfect in various ways, but they are the best of the bunch. i think it beats the likes of the pc600 because of faster printig, lower running costs & of course duability. this seems to have outweighed the fact of its very narrow printing capabilites & the changing of ribbons/machine.
i think with regards to inkjet machines the solvent printer is in the same position. it does have its inconveniences like most machines, but now prints much faster than the edge, 4 times the width or more depending on model & costs far less too.
(ok i feel im off on the wrong direction with this post, starting to rabble on 😆 )
in a nutshell, i would just like to purchase a machine and feel comfortable with every job i put out. im not wanting to be passing it every other day wondering if the print is fading.
there is a solvent smell & very light maintenance is needed on a true sol printer, i know.
but a simple two way extractor fan fitted near the machine is all that is needed. oh yeh an ANTHRAX SUIT & MASK… just kidding 😆 😆

i think its back to what your own opinion is mate.
i was just speaking to phil fenton on this subject. if you buy a versacamm and want to put images on a vahicles from time to time it is very cheap & easy just to cover the print in clear vinyl. if a wrap, then you would probably need a lamination machine. you may do a lots of exhibiion work, interior signage etc etc were the versacamm would be perfect.
at the end of the day, if your comfortable with the prints resistance then thats that.

how do you veiw your machine now that you have one?
do you think you are limited in anyways?
do you feel you are laminating more than you hoped you would because of the worry it may fade?
do you think the whole kick-up on this site has eather made you more aware of the problem or just made you worry more about your prints life.. 🙄

[fluidedge]

Go on then I’ll butt in,

quote :

how do you veiw your machine now that you have one?
do you think you are limited in anyways?
do you feel you are laminating more than you hoped you would because of the worry it may fade?
do you think the whole kick-up on this site has eather made you more aware of the problem or just made you worry more about your prints life..

Delighted…

Only by the width of 700mm…

Will laminate only for abrasion resistance, and then just with clear vinyl…

Some great points that have helped with the learning curve. Get the rip settings correct with the media type, leave it to cure rather than slapping it on within 10 minutes, and don’t let the operator stand too close to it after a chippy lunch!

[signworks.se]

Have had the Cadet for three or four weeks now, and I am absolutly over the moon with it! 😀 .

We are now able to tout for the small digital work with a greater degree of confindence as it is in our hands from start to finish.
This must be noticeable to potential clients as we have been winning more and more work of this kind without reducing previous quotes that were sub-contracted.

As Rob and Fluid say the Lamination issue is only a concern on 10% of the work our machine churns out. The Cadet really is value for money, we sold our Summa D60 the day we recieved our Cadet so we are using the cutter alone just as much as for digital use so the machine pays for itself every single day.

All the best
Cheers
Danny 😀

[Rod Gray]

Hi Guys,

Was wondering if any of you Cadet/Versacamm owners could confirm that the maximum print and cut width is only 700mm?

I was under the impression that the Versacamm/Cadet (same chassis) was capable of printing and cutting at a maximum width of 30″ (762mm)

Rod

[druiddesigns]

hi

The Versa Camm and Cadet can take material up to 30inches wide , print up to 29 but 700 a fair bet…

I have the versa camm and it is going sweetly, versatility is excellent…

Good luck

RIchie

[Rod Gray]

Thanks for the reply Richie,

Have you actually tried just a normal cut at it`s maximum width yet?.

The reason i`m asking is that i have a repeat customer who has a 30″ diameter logo. Would be great if the versacamm was able to cut it at 30″ in one pass.

Rod

[druiddesigns]

Hi Rod

As far as i know the max is 29 inches print and cut… i have only gone to 720 max so far ,

The machine is very good , nice to use and no smell from inks. for outdoor use on vehicles laminate with some sort of barrier…. like all therest of the machines……

Hope it is some help

Richie

[Rod Gray]

Thanks again Richie.

Rod