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Heat Seal - Heat Press - Whatever you want to call it! => General Heat Seal => Topic started by: MotionTextile on March 12, 2019, 10:16:59 PM

Title: Print/Cut
Post by: MotionTextile on March 12, 2019, 10:16:59 PM
Looking for recommendations on a print/cut plotter for apparel.  General use will be small piece counts, less than 12, athletic spot color style printing. 


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Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: GKitson on March 13, 2019, 09:26:41 AM
Very happy with our Roland VersaCamm print cut solutions, contact robk@mindseyeg.com for specifics.

Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: balloonguy on March 13, 2019, 12:11:23 PM
We just picked up a graphtec CELite. We had a rough start and terrible tech service from them but the machine (second unit) has been working very well. This has a max cut area of 20" wide. The next size up is a 24". I still have not decided if the larger is worth it. Anyone that is doing signs or banners will tell you 24" is the minimum.
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: Frog on March 13, 2019, 12:29:47 PM
We just picked up a graphtec CELite. We had a rough start and terrible tech service from them but the machine (second unit) has been working very well. This has a max cut area of 20" wide. The next size up is a 24". I still have not decided if the larger is worth it. Anyone that is doing signs or banners will tell you 24" is the minimum.

That doesn't print does it? Motion is specifically asking for print and cut options.
Although our cutters do have the option of chasing reg marks, and cutting contours on previously printed transfer sheets, the options of material are limited to standard transfer papers that can be printed in a standard ink jet printer.
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: dsh on March 13, 2019, 01:42:01 PM
I saw the versacamm at Minds Eye and immediately came home and ordered one.  Prints great and the vinyl holds up very well on garments.  And it's always there for a quick print of names and text on non-print vinyl.
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: GraphicDisorder on March 13, 2019, 01:51:09 PM
We have a Roland Pro 4, we do most printing and cutting on it, but we also have a stand alone GR-540 when we need to cut and print at the same time.

Keep in mind on a print/cut set up you really still need to print, then laminate, then cut for ideal results. So you need a laminator.
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: balloonguy on March 13, 2019, 01:52:55 PM

That doesn't print does it? Motion is specifically asking for print and cut options.
Although our cutters do have the option of chasing reg marks, and cutting contours on previously printed transfer sheets, the options of material are limited to standard transfer papers that can be printed in a standard ink jet printer.
[/quote]
Frog you are right. I guess I jumped the gun on my answer... The ctelite is cut only.
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: Frog on March 13, 2019, 01:54:05 PM

Keep in mind on a print/cut set up you really still need to print, then laminate, then cut for ideal results. So you need a laminator.
The OP wants this specifically for apparel. That doesn't get laminated does it? ???
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: GraphicDisorder on March 13, 2019, 02:13:45 PM

Keep in mind on a print/cut set up you really still need to print, then laminate, then cut for ideal results. So you need a laminator.
The OP wants this specifically for apparel. That doesn't get laminated does it? ???

I would assume anyone buying that machine probably will be using it for stickers as well, guess I should have been specific to that in reference to lamination.
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: Frog on March 13, 2019, 02:26:58 PM

Keep in mind on a print/cut set up you really still need to print, then laminate, then cut for ideal results. So you need a laminator.
The OP wants this specifically for apparel. That doesn't get laminated does it? ???

I would assume anyone buying that machine probably will be using it for stickers as well, guess I should have been specific to that in reference to lamination.

Yep, a big investment for use limited to apparel, but flat stock and wraps are also a whole new ballgame.
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: blue moon on March 13, 2019, 03:28:31 PM
Motion is a large contract shop. I dont see them going into wraps or banners.
Pierre
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: im_mcguire on March 13, 2019, 03:41:06 PM
My guess is they need it for team type stuff.  Ive been looking into the Roland Versa Came VS-300i.

I saw this print at ISS and it looks pretty killer.  I just have to save up a bit for one.
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: GraphicDisorder on March 14, 2019, 06:38:17 AM
Motion is a large contract shop. I dont see them going into wraps or banners.
Pierre

My machine has never printed a single banner or a single wrap either.

Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: Croft on March 14, 2019, 11:29:40 AM
timely discussion , I'm on the fence whether to get one I'm spending about $1000-$1500 monthly outsourcing it ( t-shirt vinyl only) , not really sure if thats enough to consider buying one with material and labour costs?

Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: Frog on March 14, 2019, 11:43:54 AM
timely discussion , I'm on the fence whether to get one I'm spending about $1000-$1500 monthly outsourcing it ( t-shirt vinyl only) , not really sure if thats enough to consider buying one with material and labour costs?

Any thoughts?

Are many of your jobs printed vinyl or merely cut? Though I have a low cost source for print and cut, I find it a miniscule part of my apparel vinyl business. For my needs, spending $1-$2K on a cutter was a no brainer. I have never looked back. Of course, a machine capable of printing as well costs way more than that.
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: Croft on March 14, 2019, 11:54:59 AM
timely discussion , I'm on the fence whether to get one I'm spending about $1000-$1500 monthly outsourcing it ( t-shirt vinyl only) , not really sure if thats enough to consider buying one with material and labour costs?

Any thoughts?

Are many of your jobs printed vinyl or merely cut? Though I have a low cost source for print and cut, I find it a miniscule part of my apparel vinyl business. For my needs, spending $1-$2K on a cutter was a no brainer. I have never looked back. Of course, a machine capable of printing as well costs way more than that.

The guy I use turns jobs in a couple of days on material of my choice gloss, matte, subliblock etc. its print cut that I use for odd multi colour shirt designs mostly left chest size , and multicolour designs I put on backpacks hats etc..  rarely do large designs because costs get high. I'm just wrestling with ink costs/ machine maintenance if needed and material costs. Have been looking at a new Roland
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: Frog on March 14, 2019, 12:03:50 PM
timely discussion , I'm on the fence whether to get one I'm spending about $1000-$1500 monthly outsourcing it ( t-shirt vinyl only) , not really sure if thats enough to consider buying one with material and labour costs?

Any thoughts?

Are many of your jobs printed vinyl or merely cut? Though I have a low cost source for print and cut, I find it a miniscule part of my apparel vinyl business. For my needs, spending $1-$2K on a cutter was a no brainer. I have never looked back. Of course, a machine capable of printing as well costs way more than that.

The guy I use turns jobs in a couple of days on material of my choice gloss, matte, subliblock etc. its print cut that I use for odd multi colour shirt designs mostly left chest size , and multicolour designs I put on backpacks hats etc..  rarely do large designs because costs get high. I'm just wrestling with ink costs/ machine maintenance if needed and material costs. Have been looking at a new Roland

Your needs sound a lot like those of the OP.
Yep, on apparel, I also stick with left breast small as possible designs because besides cost, even the thin print and cut vinyls still have quite a hand, and are not as supple as other decoration methods.
I would think, that for apparel exclusively, DTG is becoming the norm. Of course, contracting that out adds the step of your contractor needing the actual garments in hand, and allso they can't be applied as needed in your own shop.
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: MotionTextile on March 15, 2019, 12:13:00 PM
Thank you all for your input.  We will be using it exclusively for team store apparel.  We current utilize a standard vinyl plotter for simple designs but are having to produce small multi color jobs on the manual press to satisfy clients that also place larger orders.  We are looking into DTG but do have a serious need for it to print on polyester, specifically Adidas, since they are one of our largest vendors on the team side.  From what we have seen the Brothers and the Epson DTG printers  are not vibrant enough on dark poly.  The Kornits and Aeon are better options but also like what Dream Junction has in the works with their Oval Jet.  We are leaning towards print/cut as we wait for the technology to continue to improve on the DTG machines. 
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: blue moon on March 17, 2019, 10:25:49 PM
Thank you all for your input.  We will be using it exclusively for team store apparel.  We current utilize a standard vinyl plotter for simple designs but are having to produce small multi color jobs on the manual press to satisfy clients that also place larger orders.  We are looking into DTG but do have a serious need for it to print on polyester, specifically Adidas, since they are one of our largest vendors on the team side.  From what we have seen the Brothers and the Epson DTG printers  are not vibrant enough on dark poly.  The Kornits and Aeon are better options but also like what Dream Junction has in the works with their Oval Jet.  We are leaning towards print/cut as we wait for the technology to continue to improve on the DTG machines.

Just as an FYI, EPSON just announced the poly inks. I have not seen them, but it might be worth looking into it.

pierre
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: cbjamel on March 18, 2019, 10:41:20 AM
check out https://www.omniprintonline.com/freejet-330tx-plus-printer (https://www.omniprintonline.com/freejet-330tx-plus-printer) prints on poly with a pretreat.
Been looking at this brand for that reason.

Shane
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: GraphicDisorder on March 18, 2019, 10:44:53 AM
Thank you all for your input.  We will be using it exclusively for team store apparel.  We current utilize a standard vinyl plotter for simple designs but are having to produce small multi color jobs on the manual press to satisfy clients that also place larger orders.  We are looking into DTG but do have a serious need for it to print on polyester, specifically Adidas, since they are one of our largest vendors on the team side.  From what we have seen the Brothers and the Epson DTG printers  are not vibrant enough on dark poly.  The Kornits and Aeon are better options but also like what Dream Junction has in the works with their Oval Jet.  We are leaning towards print/cut as we wait for the technology to continue to improve on the DTG machines.

Just as an FYI, EPSON just announced the poly inks. I have not seen them, but it might be worth looking into it.

pierre

Imagine the ink waste swapping from one ink to the next, assuming that is what you mean.
Title: Re: Print/Cut
Post by: Audifox on March 18, 2019, 01:44:46 PM

Keep in mind on a print/cut set up you really still need to print, then laminate, then cut for ideal results. So you need a laminator.
The OP wants this specifically for apparel. That doesn't get laminated does it? ???

Actually it does in a sense. It has to be transferred to a carrier sheet for application.

Stuff like Stahl's cad cut solutions, express print etc. comes ready to apply.  They have already done that step.

We bought a used Roland BN20 last spring. We were doing the lamination by hand, it works, but you still end up with small bubbles.
 
Bought a laminator and it made things much easier and faster. One of the best pieces of equipment we bought in a long time.(125.00 on Ebay)

Audra