vinyl cutter???

[Captain Moroni]

I am getting ready to buy a vinyl cutter for cutting my own stencils. Is there a particular machine out there that the big boys would recommend? I don't need a huge cutter just something to cut templates and and probably window stickers.

I will also need the software for it. Does the cutter come with it or is there one I should get?

 

[Swampkat]

Re: vinyl cutter???

You will need a plotter and software. For cutting vinyl and not printing you will need to use LXi software, unless there is a specific plotter manufacturer that has their own software that goes w/ that plotter.

I would get the normal ones that are on a stand, not a desktop version. The ones w/ a stand have rollers in the rear for the vinyl roll to sit on, so the plotter can unroll it as it's cutting. The stand also give enough distance from the plotter to the floor so the vinyl doesn't get caught on something or kinked.

Check out www.signwarehouse.com for supplies and packages, or if you have a business license see if there is a www.Fellers.com near you.

My preferred choice in masking vinyl is Oracal's Oramask 813 (transparent blue) for flat surfaces, and Oracal's Oramask 810 (transparent grey) for curved surfaces.

 

[Captain Moroni]

Re: vinyl cutter???

Thanks I'll check them out

 

[heycorey]

Re: vinyl cutter???

You might try US Cutter for vinyl cutter/software packages. I had access to a small vinyl cutter from them last year and it worked pretty well ... and not terribly expensive. I'm looking at getting a vinyl cutter later next year and they're the guys I'm planning on looking at.

 

[Swampkat]

Re: vinyl cutter???

Here is a link explaining the differences b/t the versions of LXi:

http://signwarehouse.com/software/ve/main.htm

You are more than welcome to pm me w/ any questions.

 

[Captain Moroni]

Re: vinyl cutter???

Thanks JL I may need to talk with you as I know absolutely zero about these things. I'll read up and then send you a PM

 

[ksmith13]

Re: vinyl cutter???

I have a question for you guys that cut vinyl. I have been using paper plates for targets because they are cheap and they don't tear. I have used a bottle cap or other circle to trace with a sharpie and then fill in with a marker. Would it work to have some squares or circles cut in black vinyl on a sheet that I could just peel off and put on the plates?

 

[Swampkat]

Re: vinyl cutter???

Ksmith,

Yep, you would setup a bunch of circles and/or squares in a row, then copy and paste as many as you want to plot.

Once plotted you would then weed the outside of the vinyl leaving the circles and/or squares on the backing. You could cut the rows into strips and roll them up.

 

[Mister Ouchie]

Re: vinyl cutter???

If you're going to just cut squares it would be easier just to use a paper cutter or scissors. Contour cutting vinyl is always fun though. : )

To OP - my Roland cutter (an old one) came with software that would take eps as input. Any vector drawing program (Illustrator, Corel) could be used with it. Worked really well.

 

[phideaux]

Re: vinyl cutter???

Signwarehouse is a pretty decent company to deal with. they're located in the town I live in. they have a great CS department and the helpdesk techs are knowledgable about their products. they have cutters/plotters in just about any price range.

 

[2guard]

Re: vinyl cutter???

Gerber and Graphtec make nice plotters. I have both and have never had problems with either. Gerber is a little spendy though. What price range are you looking at?

You can also find some nice software on ebay, used and sometimes at really good prices.I use flexisign and gerber omega. It is easy to spend as much on the software as a plotter. Some of the bundled plotters have programs that work with corel if you already have corel (I am not a corel fan, but some people like it). Buy the best program you can afford and make sure your plotter drivers will work with that program. some of the cheaper programs do not let you do much. even an older version of a nice program is better than one of the low end packages.