[TheDecalMan]

Thanks to both Lorraine & Robert, After Making a Call on Friday to Print 1 , Sure Enough they had the PC600 Mirror Thermal Refills , Also they seem very Friendly and Helpful. I have added them to my Little red Book 🙂

Thanks for the Help Both of You ! – Now i can Get these Pesky little Labels Done !

[TheDecalMan]

thanks for that Info Lorraine i will give them a call in the morning, Very much appreciated.

:lol1:

ALL THE BEST !

[TheDecalMan]

I see what you are saying James – I Would Check that the Clamp on the Machine is operating Correctly as it is possible that the Knife holder is jammed in the Down Position, Hence it Drags all the Time unless you move the Blade holder up in the Clamp.

I Would think if you take out the Knife and run a test cut without the Blade & Holder fitted you should be able to see if the Holder is going Down & up as it should – I am thinking that maybe it’s stuck in the down position.

Another possibility is that the Blade Holder is the Wrong Type for your Machine EG ” Too Long ! ” but it looks identical to the one i use on my Roland PC-600.

Just some Pointers that may help ?

[TheDecalMan]

Hi Brian – Thanks for that , On one of the Demo’s he Recommends using One Shot as an alternative Paint. – I have already Tried – Cellulose in a Air Brush & Auto Spray cans – But Like you said they just don’t Bond Well and even with a Low Tack A/P they get easily damaged.

I Could patent the method as the “FLAKING PAINT EFFECT” 🙂

ALL the best !

[TheDecalMan]

Hello James

I have Just taken a Photo of a “RSK250V” Drag Knife fitted to my Roland Cutter but unable to upload picture . The Shoulder of the Knife should be Pushed down flush with the Holder. and the blade tip should be just visible to the eye looking at it from the side. If the Blade tip is out more than 0.2mm or so it will cut through the Release paper and even damage the blade & Cutting Strip.

Hope this helps you !

P.S – I Have just Checked my spare RSK250V Blades and i think they are the same as yours 0.25mm Offset / 45 Degree – Smart Knifes.

[TheDecalMan]

Thank Very Much John – It’s Exactly what i have been looking For. 10/10 – I have bookmarked the site and will try and get some ordered this week.

also Thanks for your Advice Jill – You say you have met Jay. I have about 4 of his DVD’s and it always amazes me at just what can be done with vinyl “Even after Scrunching it up”, You can make a Fantastic Effect and still get it smooth onto the Vehicle.

🙂

[TheDecalMan]

Thanks For that Shane – I can not say i have ever come across this in the U.K but I will Check it out and see what it’s availability is like to this small island 🙂

[TheDecalMan]

Hi Shane – It Seems from what i can work out Shane Krylon is really only available off the Shelf if you live in the U.S. I have tried a product called PLASICOAT but found that it would adhere well but was lacking Plasticizers and would crack during application, OK if you want a Marble type effect !

Thanks for that Shane !

[TheDecalMan]

Nice one Dage – I have added this to my Tips Book 🙂

Did you Cut at a Low or High Speed ? – I Thought it may work , are you going to PATENT your method 🙂

All the Best !

[TheDecalMan]

Hi Richard – I Use a Program called XARA 3DS for making 3D Text , Really User Friendly and Quick. When I have made the Text i Just Export it as a Raster and then Vectorise it with Coral Trace 12. I Can Send you a .ZIP File of it to get the job Done.

All the Best !

---

Attachments:

[TheDecalMan]

IF You are going to try and “DIY” Slit your own rolls , Perhaps Try Putting 2 Large HOSE PIPE CLIPS “Jubilee Clips” on the Vinyl each side of the cutting area to make it more Compressed and cut with a fine tooth metal hack saw so not to produce to much Heat.

NEVER TRIED IT – —- PROBABLY NEVER WILL 🙂

Good Luck !

[TheDecalMan]

IF It’s Helpful as a Guide I Have Just Purchased a PC-600 and I paid £1600 From Richard on the “UK SIGNBOARDS ” Buy & Sell Area.

Word of Warning – I Looked on Ebay when i was searching for my PC-600 and found that there is a Lot of CON TRADERS selling the PC-600 and willing to ship World wide – All were New Users all had the same Descriptions Letter for Letter and all were the same Photos + Buy it Now only. These were mainly from USA or GERMANY .

Hope This is Helpful !

[TheDecalMan]

Hi Chris –

You are Quite Correct Chris in your Guess – I was using “Refills” and a Refill Jig, that was present with the PC600 when it was purchased, But i have did Order some Genuine Rolland Carts from Victory along with the PC600 Cleaning Kit. I have Not Tried the New Roland Carts yet as i was just getting used to the machines Operation. Hope fully these Genuine carts will improve the Color’s Vibrancy.

I have have been working in 4 Process colors (C,M,Y,K) and have not tried spot colors yet – Will do a bit of reading upon how to go about this & give it a try.

I believe i will need to know how to use spot colors soon because i need to produce a Couple of small Signatures in white on Clear Vinyl – These are to be small so cutting in Vinyl at such thin dimensions is not practical.

I Presume the Roland PC600 / PC60 Guide has this information ?

I must make a point of Printing the manual out as i find PDF Docs a Pain – You have to keep switching between apps just to read a line then go back do as the manual says then switch back to the PDF — Etc Etc…..

Thanks for your Advice again Chris !

[TheDecalMan]

Hi John – I too like Robert can say that Graphtec is worth a good Look. I purchased a CE3000 MK2 – Price was £995 + Vermin added Tax. It has an Optical Eye for Reg Marks & runs very well (Nice and Quite Too).
Plot Width is just over 600mm.

They also chucked in the stand that normally costs £250

I have 3 Cutters & this one is now the cutter of choice for all jobs under 600mm

Hope this is helpful to you !

[TheDecalMan]

Just a Progress report Really

I have done some production work with the PC-600 using “Chris’s” Method which i am now quite happy with. Thanks for your advice on this Chris and forbie.

but as i clear one hurdle some one goes and sticks another pair of hurdles in front.

(1) – When i examine the print close up i see that where the head prints one band then comes back to print the next band, it is about 1 pixel off. Or to put it another way A Vertical Box printed on vinyl ends up with a slight Stepping Effect on the Edge where the printer comes back for the next pass. ??????????

(2) – I find the colors are lacking Brightness EG – Bright Red is Printed as a Brownish Red. Bright Blue Looks a Dull Blue. I have purchased a head cleaning kit from victory & Replaced the Cleaning Pad. I think it may be something to do with ??? ICC PROFILES ??? –

International Car Carriers ??????
Intermittent Circuit Checker ?????
Interpopulated Crystal Cleaner ?????

Yer there is too much abbreviations these days – 🙂

Look forward to your Replies or things to add to my ICC Abbreviations list

Thanks again in Advance ! or TAIA

[TheDecalMan]

Thanks for that Chris – I will Check Page Properties and see if these match the Colourchoice Properties.

From What i have seen – It’s one of those set your work up and go find something else to do while it plods on Printing type Machines 🙂

I Have 100 Promotional Sticker packs to do for a Company – so will give it a good test !

I Will Also Put a Post it Note on the Monitor “DO PREVIEW FIRST & SAVE MONEY” 😛

Thanks for all your Help Chris and Forbie ! Much Appreciated –

[TheDecalMan]

Hi All 😛

Thanks to Chris & Forbie !

Done it – I tried with Corel First and set the Custom Spot Color to “CutContour” – Imported a Raster and then Placed a Hairline Box around it – It Worked A1.

One thing – I Set a Base point at 1″ from Right at 1″ Down – The Printed Vinyl Output Ended up “Central and Spooled off 24” of Vinyl ?????? – That Seems like a Lot of Wastage. ?????

Also it Took the Printer 6 Min’s to make 1 50mm X 30mm Sticker – I Presume this is because i used a Raster Graphic and it had to Use Full (CMYK) ???

Thanks again 🙂

[TheDecalMan]

Hi Andy – I use a 24″ Cold Roll Laminator – I got it new from Ebay cost £650 – But it has no Make on it as its a made in China. It Works a Treat all Powered with Twin digital Speed controlled Rollers, Auto take up Motor, Variable Pressure & Foot Controller – The Nearest machine i could find to the spec of this China Built one was from Graphitype but that was £1000 for 27″ but seeing as i Print at 24″ it made no sense.

I use Clear Vinyl as my Laminate and never had one Problem from my Customers.

All the Best !

[TheDecalMan]

Thanks Chris

I will try your Method too – Being more a Corel Person it would be Best to try this Route.

With the Corel method will i need to assign (Reg Marks) like i had to using the epson & Graphtec ?

I am thinking not because the material will not be removed from the Machine between cutting & Printing ?

Thanks Chris

Andrew

[TheDecalMan]

Thanks for that Forbie – I will try the US site and register – I have been to the UK DG Site but found no listing for the PC600 in the support Section only the PC60.

I will Print off your Guide and go give it try tomorrow Morning !

I Normally work in Corel – Because of a Problem that happens in Ai – When i go to send print jobs to our Epson 7000 Pro i always get the message “Unable to Print Illustration” – I have been in contact with Adobe and they Blame the Epson Printer & Epson Blame Adobe software – you Know the Score “It’s Not our Problem” what i normally end up doing is exporting to a .bmp and then printing from corel Photopaint. Adobe said that it Could be an issue with too many spot colors – But it happens on Single color Docs so that does not seem to stand up.

Any Way i will try it tomorrow and Tell you the Results !

Thanks GOOP !

[TheDecalMan]

Hi Chris – Thanks for taking time to Reply !

I will load up my Old Corel Draw 7 onto the PC in my work room – and then load the PC600 drivers disk & see if any new Plug-in appears in Corel Draw File Menu.

I Presume that the following is what i need to do as a Work Flow !

(1) open Blank Page in corel (Define Page Size)

(2) Import Raster Images

(3) Draw hair line (In Defined Color) around Edges of Raster

(4) Set Base Point

(5) tell PC600 what Color is the Hairline Cut Route

(6) Start Job

This is a Guess of the Route i will need ????

Thanks Chris !

[TheDecalMan]

Why not Just buy a Standard USB Cable ?

The Wiring on these cables are “Universal” so No Problems !

If its any help I use a Graphtec and that has a USB “B” Type Socket – I got my cable from PC World No Problem.

Most Cutters i have Come across Use a “A” to “B” Type Cable.

Just Check you Have a Spare USB Socket on the PC

Hope this helps you get up and running !

[TheDecalMan]

Here is one you might like Marcella

A Friend of mine has a big Motorcycle and was pulled over on his bike for the same old Number Plate Spacing. The Police Said the spacing was too small on the plate and the plate was also too small.

He thought he would try to cheer up the copper by saying it used to have a big lens fitted in front to make it appear the legal size from behind but because the crime was so out of control in his area some body had stolen the Lens.

The copper issued a Fixed Penalty there and then.

He Came to me and asked could i make him an Extra Large Number Plate – So I did as he asked – It Measured 500mm Wide by 300mm Height – And Fitted over the small number plate.

He then went down to the police station to show his Documents & Show the Police his New Super Big Visible Number Plate.

Guess what !

Police informed him the spacing is wrong and the plate is too big and if he drove the bike off onto the public road he would be issued with a Fixed Penalty !

🙂

[TheDecalMan]

I Make stickers and use a Graphtec 3000 Mk2 with an Epson 7000 Pro Printer – The Printer does exactly what i wanted and has a good Resolution if your making small stickers. I got advice on UK Sign Boards before i took this option. I also have to use a Cold Laminator to increase the light fastness & Weathering properties of the stickers.

Pros

(1) i found it Easy to get spares & they are cheap due to it being a 2002 model ( I just had to fit a new print head only cost me £45 and found it quite easy to fit, with the help of the epson Service manual.

(2) No Messy bleeding & Priming Procedures

(3) If you are like me and don’t want solvents in a 9ft by 5ft room

(4) Cost – You can buy a good Epson 7000 Pro for around £700

(5) Print – I really can not fault the Resolution & Black is Really BLACK !

cons

(1) Must use Cool to Cold Lamination after drying print !

(2) Must Use Inks suitable for job in hand (Sometimes Expensive)

(3) It’s no Dragster – Without A RIP it does take quite a time to complete a job

(4) Hates Windows XP causes communications Errors

(5) Making the Graphtec 3000 cutting file for your print is a right Pain in the proverbial – but this is not the printers fault.

Before you go ahead try making a cutting file for the Graphtec 3000 it might change your mind about the whole thing 🙂 Wish i had !

These i my own Views & you should do as much research before committing your hand to your wallet .

Hope this of some Use 🙂

[TheDecalMan]

Thanks So Much Derek 😀 – That’s the Font O.K (-) – Now i can get this Overdue job done ! – If there is any fonts you need Please feel free to contact me so i can return the favour.

Thanks Derek !!!!!!

TheDecalMan

[TheDecalMan]

Thanks Andrew – I will go Dig Out “Corel Draw 12 & 7” Disks and Check out the Fonts on Them. There’s me Searching High & Low all over the World Web , & P2P Networks when i have Fonts 2 Foot Away from Me !

That’s Me to a Tee Andrew – I Try the Hardest Way First & Then See if i can find a way of making the Hardest way Harder 🙂

Will Let you Know if i find a Close Match !

Many Thanks !!!

[TheDecalMan]

YEP 12 Hours Later and still really enjoying looking at all the fonts that the world has to Offer – This is the Life 🙄

Happy Happy Happy – JOY JOY JOY !

Why so many Fonts that look Identical 😮

[TheDecalMan]

Thanks for that “StickerMan” – I Presume that you mean all the Ink Lines & Printing head have to have the old Dye based Ink Flushed out Before fitting the Pigment Inks.

Do i have to use a Special Cleaning Fluid for this ? 😮

Do i have to Bleed the System Some how ? 😮

Also as you run a Epson 9500 – Is there any maintenance tips i should be aware of for the 7000 – At the moment i will just print six colorized bands each week to keep ink from drying in the nozzles.

Thanks Again in Advance 😀

[TheDecalMan]

Thanks for the help with ink choice Bowber :lol1: , I had read what you are telling me on various web sites about Dye Based fades very quickly , But i always like to get the facts from those who use the product not those who are selling the product.

I will take your advice on this Barber, I just need to get a CIS or a set of refillable carts for the epson 7000 now & find some epson compatible Pigment inks.

Thanks also to Mr Sticker – I will get the inks sorted out then tell the supplier what inks & Printer i am using, Hopefully i can choose the inks, Media Type & Laminate Type right first time without a hitch. 🙄

I have been cutting vinyl now for 4 Years and the jump to Printing is a bit nerve racking dye to all the various methods available. 😮

The UK Sign boards has been invaluable to me in getting sorted , Don’t Know why i did not Join Sooner !!!!

Thanks for your Advice & All the Very Best Bowser & Mr Sticker

[TheDecalMan]

I Just had a go with the Fuel calculator that pixnixpc had listed in her post & was expecting the worst as i am one of the hated 4X4 Owners. I was pleasantly surprised my Annual Bill is under £700 😀

My next door neighbor was here as well he drives a automatic Hyundai coupe & he had a go on it, his fuel bill was over double of my Mitsubishi Pajero 4×4.

O.K i only drive 4500 Miles a year , But it does go to show its not size that matters – it’s how you use it 😀

[TheDecalMan]

I have gone for the three process of (Print,Lam,Cut) because the Decals are going to be exposed to Car Washes, Weather, Rubbing , Tcut, Polish, Petrol etc and from the advice of others who have experience of this sort of wear & tear. Also it opens more avenues for future expansion.

I have no experience of the all in one machines but if it were to go faulty on say the cut option you have effectively lost 2 machines during repair period. also i work from home in a very small room , I really don’t want full solvent inks sending me to the moon & Back while i am printing 😀 I can do that at weekends down the pub. 😀

This option may not suit most people but based upon the feedback & Advice from other Local Company’s & posts on UKSIGNBOARDS it seemed the best option for my needs. Time will tell 🙄

[TheDecalMan]

Hi Andy – It sounds good your Printer & Media Combination. Are you using the standard inks or specialist inks ? Did you find the 17″ Vinyl Inkjet Media to be alot cheaper per SQ/inch than say the 24″ or does it work out cheaper to buy 24″ per SQ Inch.

Look forward to your comments as this is my next on my list.

If it is of any help Andy – If you are struggling to find a cold Roll Laminator – it is very easy to put a switch on a Hot Roller laminator to stop the rollers heating. Most of them now have a Lamp tube in the roller and not a heating element as such. If you choose a second hand one you can test if it’s suitable by putting your item through it seconds after switching on from cold as the rollers take time to heat up, this way they are still cool. Not all have heated rollers some have a heat shoe or Heated Envelope. again these just need a switch of the correct rating putting in line with the heater. Some will not be suitable if the pressure on rollers is not adjustable. If you go down this line of modifying a Second user unit to cold use get a qualified electrical engineer to do the wiring mod for you.

Also Check the rollers very carefully for pits, Dips, or Damage. Don’t touch it if there is damage – Pressure Rollers are very expensive.

All the best !

[TheDecalMan]

Hi Andy – It does seem were heading down the same twisty road, If it is of any help i Purchased the Graphtec CE3000-60 MK2 from GRANTHAMS as it was the best deal i could find as follows (Cutter with Optical Reg + Stand £995 with free delivery) i have the web address somewhere if you want the address let me know and i will search it out for you.

I Have not tested printing to vinyl and cutting yet as i have still to acquire the cold Roll laminator & Printer yet – I am looking at the printer next as this will impact on which laminator i get. I am lucky as i used to work as an engineer for maraine laminators years gone by and hope to get a Faulty unit from moraine & Recon it at home.

Look forward to hearing your experiences & Hearing other use-full info.

Thanks for your post !

[TheDecalMan]

Hi again every body :lol1:

After working out the Price per SQ/MTR production costs of the PC rolands 🙁 & the cost of INK & CUT + LAM 😀 . and the durability of the two methods i think i am leaning towards Rodney’s idea.

Thanks to Bowber – I had spotted it already also there is a pc60 which the seller says “New Head Fitted” however i have been researching what Rodney was talking about and for the size of work i am doing it would be an ideal way for me. The down force is an issue though on the craft robo – I have spoke to couple of users who say they have had trouble with tougher materials, But none had tried a kiss cut on vinyl with lamination.

I also did find a reasonable Semi pro cutter/Plotter a “GRAPHTEC CE3000” with optical Registration mark sensor & stand for £995 NEW! which i could use in place of the craft robo as it surly would have better down force as it is a standard drag knife cutter ! like the machines i already run.

All i need to sort after this is a cold Lam (No problem here / A Pint of Carlsburg should sort it) + Printer with CIS fitted.

Many thanks to every body on this discussion & hope to report the results i am getting when i take the plunge and purchase the gear….

[TheDecalMan]

That idea i had not thought of Rodney as i have never come across ink-jet Vinyl before? – I had thought of using color Laser printing but when i tried a small bit in an old laser printer i had in the loft the results were not good enough as the fuser in the printer slightly distorted the vinyl due to fusing heat.

the ink jet would not suffer with this – but would the laminator squeeze and Bleed the CMY Key inks under heating conditions. I used to work for Moraine Plastics and i was an engineer who built and repaired Card & INDUSTRIAL Laminating / Encapsulate Machines. From the time i spent with the company i am aware that PHOTOS can really bleed under the conditions. This was back in 1985-1989 so the designs of rollers & Heater Envelopes may have changed since.

But the principle does sound ideal without huge investments in Equipment as i still have contacts to get a Second user Laminater for a pint or two.

I will have a look at the ROBOcraft Rodney

Many thanks for another avenue to research – It sounds a good idea !

[TheDecalMan]

Thanks for your help in this matter – Does anybody here use or has used one of the Roland PC60’s or 600’s – As if i buy second hand i will need to know what faults to look for EG (Print-head wear, Software etc, Known Faults )

I love the cutting program i now use called “ART-CUT” – I did try Sign-lab but found it not to be “User Friendly” + it locked both the cutting computers on a regular basis, and then i tried what came with the cutters called ART-CUT 2002 & 2005 (Cant find any difference between the two 🙂 )
It does every thing i need (BMP to Vector, Node edits, Mirror , etc)

Would a Roland work with ART-CUT or does a Roland have it’s own Driver / Program ?

THANKS IN ADVANCE – 🙂

[TheDecalMan]

Thanks (Lynn & Sign Bloke) – I will check these Machines out as i really just do not have room for a Large Machine in my workshop as i work purely from home.

Robert you asked what i will use it for ?

At Present i sell lots of different car Decals for cars, Motorcycles & Scooters (AUTOMOTIVE ONLY) – Some of the Designs i am unable to do because they may have 4-6 Colors and the size may only be around (40mm by 40mm) , So using 5 different colors of vinyl and Registering them up just is not worth my time for the small profit involved, Where as if i was able to print them & Cut them the time needed would be greatly reduced as would be the cost.

Obviously they need to withstand the pressures of weathering and the dreaded car washes !

At present i use Secabo & Dingtec cutters and to be fair to them i feel for the price they are very good Despite what others say on the net – But i did have to spend some time setting them up making fine adjustments until they could cut to very close tolerance’s.

But i feel that i could increase sales with a very small Print & Cut Machine,
I have no experience of cut & Print – so any avoids or advice is most gratefully received

Thanks Robert, Lynn & Sign Bloke )

Look forward to you comments ! 🙂

[TheDecalMan]

Thank you Alan – Your Idea Works 😀 – I tried it face down and Hey Presto they work a dream, I have done a few MG Decals and all worked fine. So i will re-wright my instruction sheet for chrome decals.

Many thanks to all who have given me ideas on how to cure the problem!

THX 😀

[TheDecalMan]

I Do Squidgy them well as i have a home built Press that i stick all the decals through , Consists of two large rubber rollers with a handle on the end (A bit like the old fashioned mangles) – This i built from parts out of 2 Citizen Printers, I also sometimes use A block of felt that came with one of the vinyl cutters when graphics are to big for the press.

I will have a go at removing the backing from the Transfer like FredTHElad suggested sounds like it could work – Why did i not think of that 😳 – I suppose you get set in your ways & Blind yourself to the simple things !

Many thanks again Everybody – Think i will have to apply for Gold Membership as this forum has been so help full

[TheDecalMan]

Thanks GEM & Gypsy 😀

I have been using a Medium Tack with both Paper & Film Transfer Sheets – So Perhaps i Should Try a High Tack GEM just for the Chrome Vinyls (I will order some in and give it a go) I never used to have problems with the chrome Vinyl until just Recently & I still buy the same make i always have !

As for Gypsy’s Suggestion of using Masking tape – It’s a real good idea but because i sell the Decals to the customer to fit them selves i feel it would look unprofessional, But again its a good idea if it works for you Gypsy – Thanks for the tip ! – It may come in useful if i have to fit any myself.

I also wondered if temperature has a roll to play in this Problem as the room i make the graphics in at present has been quite warm due to the present weather + the vinyl cutters & Computers all produce heat, and the room is quite small . Any thoughts ?

Again thank you both for your kind advice ! 😀