MichaelScott

damn.. really starting to get cold feet here. I'm kinda hooked on the Sawgrass 400, but I'm still undecided on a press. What I've gleaned, from this thread, and several others on here.. I need a swing press, not a clamshell, because I'm hoping to get right into metal and tile sub as opposed to garment stuff. Folks like Goose, are warning against the 5-in-1 presses, and I'm seeing several warnings against them throughout the forum.. I liked the price of the bundle which included the SW800 and a heat press 5-in-1.. I thought I was avoiding the "low end press" issues of uneven heating by choosing the "Perfect Press" (15"x15") option in that bundle and figured the add-ons would help open up options for me, even if they were substandard extras.. My assumption (incorrectly) was that I was being warned away from the add-ons themselves, and was still going to head this route because of the Perfect Press description directly regarding dealing with uneven heating issues. I figured the cactus wraps would be a good investment too.. sort of try-out the mug attachment thing, but if it wasn't any good, I'd be ready to switch over to the wrap. So.. that was kinda' the plan, and I was getting nearer to a trigger pull.. but tonight I was re-reading through the forums, looking for info on the Perfect Press. Turns out, people here say the word "perfect" an awful lot ( ) and "press" even more.. but I went through about 20 pages, and the only references I found were one that was dead-on-arrival, another that was dead after like 4 days, accompanied by discussions warning folks away from them, and one that states that he hates his, it heats unevenly, and the temps are way off. When I looked at the reviews for it, there was three good reviews, and 2 machine failure reviews. 2 of the good reviews were apparently new set-ups, one by a beginner, and either of them could have had the 4 month failure that one of the other 2 faced. The third good review was using it as a backup.. Next step is the JP14 Geo Knight?

great numbers, and much appreciated! I tend to overlook caps as I have an oversized melon myself, and would need a handmade version to stop it from getting stretch marks across the graphic, even with the back straps all the way open! But yeah, I always have to stop thinking in terms of" Me me, would I want this?" or everything would have a skull on it, and I'd be my best customer. I was considering that press because of the main press size itself being a good match for the Sawgrass800, the bundling with the printer, and the description saying special attention was paid to ensure even heating. The other plug-ins were just to sort of keep options open, rather than a desire to immediately hop into using all 5.. That being said.. Mugs and hats make a lot of sense. My hope with the dye-sub is to focus on doing it onto stainless steel metal parts I cut.. so yeah, I've been looking at brush-on, and spray-on, clear and white, polyester coatings, and expect a lot of experimentation to get there. I can switch gears a bit, and focus more on aluminum, as it seems easier to sub, and the metal is closer to white, it just costs more (long term) to cut, and when I switch to plasma cutting, it may become an issue.

Wow, thank you! much more thorough than I'd hoped for! I knew the band mascot wasn't going to go well, I just figured it was a good comparison to what I'm generally working with, and I'd already been tinkering with it in VM. The sample you picked was great though.. long arcs, and then details at varying degrees of being obscured through anti-aliasing. I hadn't considered a direct comparison against Inkscape, but that was a great idea! Thanks for taking the extra effort! The ability to auto-vectorize and get to dxf, (through defaults at least), goes to inkscape. Not by much at all, but it picked up nuances that were obscured by the anti-aliasing, (like the trailing leg against the body was treated as a bump by VM, but inkscape put in the notch for it).. Without going through and fixing it up, I think I'll try and run each on the laser on Monday.. can't see why the filesize would be bigger, but that may be an issue.. It often is, when I use inkscape, but as a simple silhouette, I'm thinking it should be alright. Frustratingly enough, Radan doesn't tell you how much is too much, it just fails to load, eventually.. I've let a file load for 20 minutes, gave up, walked away, and it suddenly succeeds.. then go through all the processing, and find that the laser can't handle it, due to size, AFTER it starts cutting.. You'd think the load time would be an adequate warning, but there's very little correlation, works after 10 minutes load, fails for the same reasons after a 5 minute load... I any event, either would get me close enough to fix up in AutoCAD, VM gives me a bit closer to truer form, despite missing some finer details.. Like the neck spikes are curved bumps, but it would take seconds to adapt one side to an arc to get it into a curved spike shape.. the Inkscape just gave me a triangle on one of the spikes, which would require me to start-over on that spike entirely. So it terms of good for me, VM is the slight winner. Thanks again!

Thanks, yeah, that's where I saw that DXF wasn't mentioned until you get to the DSR level, but the way it was mentioned, led me to believe that perhaps lower versions might still have it. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic abut it, but I really should call them.

Thanks, for clarification on the limitations on the cutter. Yeah, budget is a bit of a concern, or at least I have a concern about overbuying, and finding that it's just not for me. I appreciate the heads up on sublimation.. I have more research to do on it.. and I would definitely want to be in the "stiff object" arena, maybe almost exclusively. This is the model I was considering going for: https://www.uscutter.com/USCutter-Perfect-Press-Digital-5-in-1-Heat-Press Do you think that would be adequate? The sales arena seems similar to the laser/plasma cutting sales situation I'm already in. Maybe I'm overconfident, and quite possibly full of pipe dreams, but I feel like many of the folks I reach with my stuff now, would be interested, especially when it can be combined with my laser stuff. Nice thing is, my blanks would basically be free on the small stuff (not including prep work).

I haven't figured-out my workflow, but export would be the important part.. Judging by the demo, it does a pretty smart job with auto-vectorization from raster, and that's where my beginning interest is, as otherwise, I'd need to provide you with a vector. The DSR version is the first one in that great big comparison list, that indicated a DXF export, but the way it was worded, I wasn't sure if it was actually non-supported by the lower versions. Here's a file.. a buddy's band mascot he wanted me do in stainless a year back. Kinda "iffy" about what to ask for here, because I don't want to make it too much effort, and I don't know the jargon, but end goal, for me, would be to capture the linework, and the very dark shading in a vector, saved as a dxf, and see how it handles it.. The focus is the mascot itself, and I'm happy to accept whatever that does to the rest of the image.. hell, I'll be happy with a functioning DXF. If this is too much, and you'd rather just grab any old image, and share the before in raster, and after in DXF, I'm guessing it'll be enough to at least see how it does. You don't have to go further with this.. but if you wanted to tweak some settings: I'm unfamiliar with the fine tuning, but I'm shooting for anti-alias correction, and somewhat simplified linework, with minimal artifacting (weird jagged jumps and stuff at seemingly random positions in the linework). I don't expect perfection, but what I'd like is an outline on all the visible lines and dark shading, as welded blobs, rather than a series of overlapping loops, basically outlining the black and very dark areas (or just outlining the white spaces, I guess either would work). The question isn't... "Can it give me all that, and do the dishes too, while it's doing it." but rather "Can it get me into a ballpark that I can work with in DXF format." --- Usually, my workflow would be to use "threshold" on the raster to turn it black and white, and removing the lighter elements.. using my trusty old "PaintShop Pro"... problem with this is that it becomes all stair-stepped black squares. So then I import the image into Autocad, and trace polylines or splines (CAD continuous line-plus arc vector types) by hand, over the blurred zoomed-in image (which actually moves around as you zoom in and out), finally copy my resultant linework to an empty area of the workspace, repair some of the nonsense, and then save as a DXF. (You mentioned inkscape earlier, and yes, I can achieve that auto-vectorizing thing there with threshold settings, and save as DXF, but the quality just isn't there, and so I end-up redoing a good chunk of it in CAD). Then load it into Radan (for programming the Laser), it has a complete fit, and I go back and reduce the nodes in CAD until it will finally work. Then I have to adjust the design if it isn't "watertight" (the laser cuts in closed loops, rather than lines, which I'm assuming is the same on Vinyl, as I see it seems to be a standard thing in creating vectors of this kind).. Oddly, the Laser doesn't need the loops.. Radan does.. so I can make a design with open-ended linework, and force Radan to generate the Gcode (cutfile) despite all the alerts, errors, and failures, it's just a hell of a lot easier to play the loop game, because the autonesting, among a host of other things, just won't work. (I can make stuff really really small that way though, as I can cut lines at .008" wide).

So, been tinkering with the VM Demo, and I'm liking the features.. The DXF export has been blocked on the demo, so I need to call and see if they can let me do an export somehow, to test it and see if it's going to work for me. Also need to call because the way the demo has it blocked, you can't tell which versions even PERMIT the DXF export. Plus, I want to confirm that I can upgrade from an OEM version (I've run into a wall on that before). Everything hinges on those items. If the DXF is good, I'm buying... just my tinkering around with it has clearly shown me some great potential there, even though I really don't get some of it. Working with vectors of that type has never been something I did except where I had to make something happen, but I'm sensing it's something I can learn to do properly. Honestly, though..? I was almost out of the market on the Vinyl cutter. I was evaluating price, and realizing I didn't truly have much need beyond the basic SC system, and aside from resolution, and sound level, there was nothing pushing me to go for anything beefier (yet!).. I'm not really a sign company, it's more like I get asked to do signs from time to time, but that's mainly because they're stainless. In my area, outdoor signage is heavily regulated, so it tends to be replacements, or indoor signage; they're just buying from me because they like shiny metal, the dancing visions of seeing their custom-made name/product/favorite saying/logo that they can show off to their friends/co-workers/ and family.. That aspect is a bit hollow; feeding the desire for material goods, ego, and pride, but it's still rewarding to see them get excited about an idea. With smaller stuff, for like cars, toolboxes, etc, it's arguable that I could increase my market with vinyl, (more so, with a dye-sub system to back it up) but I've got a significant learning curve to go through, and I hate offering early attempts which could be so much better if I just knew what I was doing. It's nothing I'm really prepared to dive-in on and start producing with. Getting VM going, would actually be a much higher priority at the moment. An OEM version of VM that I can upgrade later, would work-out pretty well for me, in-conjunction with the demo for the upgraded portions of the program. For now, it would seem that I'm really getting sucked-in by the dye-sub and press though. I'm swimming in ideas for it, and youtube has done nothing but fueled that fire. THOSE costs, I can fully justify at this point. Also.. raster-based? Thank goodness! Youtube step-by-step videos for marketable products that could work with my existing offerings and abilities? I'm sold.. Then, in theory, as noted by others, I could make the Dye-sub system (and the little cutter) buy me a better cutter, and if I can't.. well, then it's good thing I didn't spend all my money. I still want to get to a Titan 3 one day, and I'll be pretty pleased when I can justify it by the directions the cheaper cutter takes me, but for now? I need to watch what I pile on my plate all at once. Thanks for everyone's help, patience, and forgiving me my side-trip there with the sister thing.. Everything that's been said has been useful and appreciated.

Thanks Yeah, kinda weird.. A lot more to handle than expected. It's a bit like you're losing several people, all wrapped up in one person.. not to list them all, but there's your first friend, your childhood confidant, etc, I am going to keep it.. or rather, my elderly parents will, until they go. Then, of course, it'll be mine, but I'll be wishing it wasn't. Odd how that works. Thanks, and LOL! You're right, of course.. it IS a terrible idea, and I really appreciate the wake-up call. I hadn't honestly thought that through far enough. It hit home today though, while going over the bills. three surprises in the past few days, totaling $600, which I had no idea was coming. like for example, by putting my girlfriend on my income tax as a dependent, it jacked my filing charge to $385, from it's normal $48. The tax preparer suggested I do it, saying I'd get at least $300, possibly $500 back. Yeah.. I basically got $100, once you cancel out the rest due to the increase in preparation cost, but $100 is $100.. Anyway, yeah, I need to build-up a buffer first.. I'm just getting impatient; the possibilities have me excited!

Sawgrass SG400 Dye-Sub Printer & 5-in-1 Heat Press Dye Sublimation Kit, Really looking hard at this one.. The more I look at dye-sub, the more interested I'm becoming. I had previously done some research on photo-printing onto metal, and had to walk away when I got to the expenses, but since I'm wandering THIS close, I'm seriously considering taking that plunge at the same time. My finances aren't unlimited though.. so I'm looking at this aspect from a hobby level for the moment. I'm toying with the concept of just letting go of all my savings, and getting into an approximately $3000 set-up to start with: the mid-to high level cutter (Titan 28" version 2 or 16" version 3), the above-mentioned kit, with a lower-end press with plug-ins, and what really appears to be a decent and acceptable dye-sub printer, and basic software (assuming the OEM VM version will upgrade like the normal versions of VM do, still want to call them first). Then see what sort of advertising packages, signage, shirts, and suchlike, that I can tailor for clients from these items, and the stainless cutting. Keep going with my artwork, try and get a feel for where my personal interests best overlap the clientele interests, and then refocus and upgrade accordingly, over time. Oh.. and pray like crazy that my car transmission will last another year or so! Both perspectives are completely true. The less detail, the more iconic a design can become, AND the more rapidly digested by the ADHD culture we're in.. I just wish my own art interests fell in line with that a little better. I'm the guy who designs art that I suddenly find I have to break into 4 pieces before the 1.5 million dollar laser is overwhelmed with the amount of detail involved. Now, ok, granted, that example is excessive, and not representative of the norm... I was doing a dragonfly for my little sister, and she had a lot of input regarding how she doesn't like this or that aspect of everyone else capturing the dragonfly in art. She wanted this and that represented faithfully. I went ahead and manually traced a dragonfly, and a set of dragonfly wings, complete with every webbed-opening in there, over a period of several months. The laser had a fit, so I had to do each wing separately, and then stud and bolt them together. She had breast cancer, but was in remission for a year before it came back in the form of a brain tumor, went away for another year and came back again. I went over to the house to see her, a year to the week that she'd had that brain surgery. I saw she was starting to get somewhat disoriented easily, and so I was doing the final push on getting the dragonfly done, so that she'd know what she was looking at before it claimed her mind, and/or put her back into a hospital bed where I couldn't give it to her. . I worked on it all through the day and night that weekend, and sacrificed some of the body details to get it done quicker.. She never got to see it.. I was running the programs for it, an hour at a time, a wing a day. I was literally about to run the final wing through the laser on Wednesday (with the bosses permission, a second wing for that day) when I got a text message from mom, saying she'd died in her arms at the hospital about 3 hours prior. We knew she was terminal but we thought there was at least a year left. I rushed to my parents house with the partially completed dragonfly, a day late and a dollar short. ah crap.. sorry, didn't realize I was going to unload. but.. while I'm "here" here's a picture of that dragonfly, and it's 4-foot wingspan. true to form, it impressed folks, and I've been offered money for it several times from friends of my parents who have seen it, to the tune of $400, which is about half of what it would have cost me just for running the laser that long, if my boss hadn't decided to let me do it for free. Material costs, time, and well, emotional baggage would have pushed the price much higher than any market was going to bear.

My original stuff is the stuff that I can't seem to sell.. the band wagon stuff flies out of here. It's somewhat depressing.. like right now, I'm just about sick to death of the current tattered flag craze, but the orders keep coming in from my sales guy (a friend basically making commission off my stuff). I think the problem with my original stuff is the attention to detail.. Instead of being much of an artist, I'm a perfectionist, with the slightest hint of OCD-like behavior, which means I can't seem to be able to leave stuff well alone, and just keep going back to add something I felt was missing in comparison to the original material. For example, I spent a month doing a skull from photos of a real skull owned by a friend of mine.. It's anatomically accurate, and has a lot of information on it, but I suspect that's all lost on most folks. There's a few that appreciate that level of attention, and have mentioned as such, but still no buyers. Then, I made a keychain version of it.. just deleted details that weren't going to come out on the small 1.5" diameter keyring version, (dimension including an added loop around the skull). That was given away for exposure, but seemed to be at least a little popular. The other day, as a joke, I took that reduced file, and blew it up to 16" diameter (taking out the keychain hole).. I just did that like 3 days ago, and I've already got 5 orders from a picture my sales guy took of it and shared on his facebook page. That version drives me nuts.. it's missing all of the stuff I wanted to see on it. cool.. so I'm hoping for as maintenance-free as possible. The clams don't heat evenly? or the temp range wasn't accurate to the built-in readings?

For the record, I'm now starting to look at the small Titan 3, as the size I need initially, actually makes it a better price than the Titan 2. I liked the expand-ability of having a bed larger than I need, but at the same time, those are some nice additional features, and I'm somewhat limited in my space options right now. Now,.. what about a Tshirt press.. Clam shell, or slide arm? Are the low-end ones worth the effort?

Hey, I appreciate you giving it a shot for me! Not sure how it would become text, unless the actual import failed, maybe? The DXF file is an ASCII text file, so it can be opened as text in "Notepad".. perhaps the extension was dxf.txt or something? Otherwise, it sounds like the importer didn't recognize that version of DXF for some reason. I use the other companies as a reference point, because my overhead is currently really really small. In the metal cutting industry, for the most part, we're all cutting out what is essentially, the same kind of things, and there really isn't much difference between my "skull with a flag in it," and the next guy's.. the only discernable difference is the price. As such, I create a piece, run a cost analysis as though I had the usual amounts of overhead, and determine a base price of what I'd need to get for it to break even on it, as if I were an actual business. I usually end-up with a price that's about about 40% less than what my competitors are selling something similar for as their lesser material version, and something around 75% less than their Stainless version. The idea was that I'd put the prices at what the market should "easily bear", near theirs, even though it's considerably inflated over my actual costs. That income difference is intended to represent my business building funds. It seems like a morally correct way to go too, so that I'm not drastically undercutting people in similar markets. So, I figure that if I boost the price to somewhere around their low-end price, with photographic evidence of the quality, I should be in a decent spot, but it hasn't worked-out that way. My stuff ends-up selling at what WOULD be a loss, if it were my business. Clearly, not only is it delaying my attempts to go out on my own, it's scaring me away from the business entirely.. however, this is actually my dream job, and I really enjoy doing it.. Thanks, I'll take a look at that BricsCAD, and see what it offers. I normally don't make 20 of something.. I made that mistake based on the amount of people clamoring to buy that skull before it was finished. I thought I'd have to rush to make another 50, but thought 20 was a good starting point. I definitely stick to the make one, take pictures, make more as they sell, philosophy now. My commission pieces are my bread and butter, I guess. I had hoped to focus more on original art work, but they only seem to be good for drawing in commissions, rather than sales in their own right. I like your growth approach, and aside from my initial plunge, that's what I hope to be doing with the vinyl, while at the same time, expanding upon my stainless finishing options. It is starting to feel like this is a way to essentially do the same thing in different mediums.

It's weird, I'm sort of in a unique position, where I can offer the exact same products as my competitors, but only in a medium that they offer as "high end", and yet I can't seem to sell stuff at even half the price of their low end versions. My overhead will never be this low when I go out on my own, but I'm only able to make pocket change. Part of that has to be attributed to lack of advertising and no online store, but even still, it's sort of strange. I had a skull I did, and put it into some skull forums, asking how much I should be charging for it. I hadn't refinished the skull, it was raw, and so I wasn't going to start selling until I could do the refinishing. Out of all the replies, the average worked to be about $45, which was probably a good discount price. I was set over 60 messages specifically stating they wanted to buy it for that price when it was ready. I refinished the 20 I had, and then I offered it for sale at $35. but got no response at all. A month later, I repriced at $20, but still crickets. I dropped to $15, including shipping, just to recoup some of what I'd spent on the ones I'd made, so I could move onto other designs. Nothing at all. I never sold a single one. You're right about raising the price to attract a different dynamic; I've seen it happen, but I just don't seem to be able to pull that off. I recently upgraded my finishing abilities, and with that, I'm going to advertise, and try to get something going. I was hoping to add the etching as part of the actual launch.

Thanks, very logical. My budget may push me there, we'll see. good to know it's bearably loud at least.

yeah, thanks, I saw that. I'll be checking it out this weekend.