rrc62

Can you describe the contour cut feature and how it works? Does it automatically sense registration marks like the Roland GX24? When is the software expected to be available?

Those optical sensors are more for automatic sizing in software to make sure you don't cut where there is no vinyl. I would want to see the Graphtec do what you want it to do before buying. The skewing you speak of would have to be done in software. What software package are they providing with the machine? Flexi is one of the best and most expensive on the market and it will not do what you're talking about. If it could be done reliably on a plotter, I'd be doing it. I subcontract printed decals because I don't have and can't afford the equipment it takes to get professional results. What are you using for software? The Signcut program that comes with the Refine is OK for getting you up and running, but hardly adequate for a business. If you're not using a decent software package, you should budget that in as well. That can easily cost more than the plotter.

I've cut more than 50 of the same decal on the Refine using Flexi. Never had a problem. Note: I'm not cutting around a printed graphic. Just cutting out 50+ copies of the same shape.

That's right. The Roland will be no better at cutting out graphics. You can't calibrate one to the other. The best you can do is try to align the vinyl in the plotter as straight as you can. If you're cutting one graphic, you may get decent results. It you are cutting a sheet of vinyl with many graphics on it, the only way to get the last one exactly the same as the first one is if the vinyl is aligned in the plotter perfectly. The reason they make printer/plotters is for exactly this purpose. If you're looking for professional results, you need the proper equipment. Fortunately for most of us, the Refine cutter does just as good a job at what it is designed for as a plotter ten times it's price. UN-fortunately, sometimes there is not an inexpensive alternative. IE: Printer/plotters. Plotters, even the Roland, are designed to cut through the vinyl and not the backing material. If you can get the paper tacked to a carrier, you'll need t use very sharp blades. A dull blade will tend to tear, not cut. Again, the machine is not designed for cutting paper.

I tried cutting around a graphic and could not get satisfactory results. Manual registration just does not work. You might get lucky and nail a few. The registration in the plotter has to exactly match the registration in the printer and you can only assume the registration in the printer is perfect. You'll see what we're talking about when you try it. The only real way to get profession results here is to use a printer/plotter. These machines print and cut from the same file and same machine without losing registration between processes. If her problem is the registration issue for cutting graphics and that's why you're going the Roland route, you might as well go with a Versacamm. Wish I could afford one. A Roland plotter will have the same registration issues that the US Cutter plotter has. Only a Printer/Plotter will solve that problem. Depends on how much you want to spend. A Roland Versacamm is around $12,000 give or take. If you're thinking about an 8.5" plotter, I'd reconsider. That will be very limiting. I couldn't get through one day with a plotter that small. I almost have enough large format work to justify a 60" plotter. As far as connection, use a serial connection and make sure everything is set up correctly in software. Even a $12,000 Roland won't work properly if it's not set up correctly. I don't like using two programs for design and cut either. I'm using Flexisign which designs and cuts from the same program. I think Signcut is fine for a hobbyist, but it didn't deliver consistent professional results....for me anyway. I don't know what the Roland comes with for software, if any. You may be looking at buying software even after buying a high dollar Roland plotter, so I'd budget for that. A decent software package can run upwards of $3000. Other alternatives are Winsign and Corel X3 with the cutter plugin. Ross

The blade offset should be .01. That's the Roland recommendation and the 721 uses Roland blades. Looks like an offset issue to me. Ross

I use a good quality calendered vinyl on vehicles, but general rule of thumb is...If it rolls, flies or floats, use cast. Ross

I agree with Tater 100%.... What ink are you using to screen print vinyl? Sounds interesting. If it were me, I'd just lay it out and cut it with a straight edge and razor knife. Ross

I wouldn't count on anything working well on Vista. Some XP software will load and work with small issues here and there and some will not even install. Vista has lots of issues in itself. I think you'll be ahead of the game if you go back to XP Pro...or find a used PC with XP already installed. Ross

Wrap a roller with foil and hook a grond strap loosely over the foil covered roller. Ross

I would use serial. I cut a job today that took just over ten minutes of solid plotter run time with no pausing. That's on a serial connection. It was a very detailed graphic. It took two hours to weed it. Ross

You should use the registration tool to make registration boxes. When you cut multiple colors and lets say your text is red and the outline or shadow is black. You add two rectangles for registration. What color are they? If they are black they will only show up when you select the black layer. If red they will only show up on the red layer. Registration marks made using the tool in flexi will show up regardless of the color that is selected. It's really the only way to accurate registration. Ross

If you do this, the plotter will cut all colors, not just the ones you choose. Uncheck send all colors and now you can make a multi color design and select the color to cut from the right side of the cut/plot window. The only time you would want to cut the whole thing is if it were all one color. It that's the case, having send all colors unchecked wouldn't matter anyway seeing as how you're only dealing with one color anyway. Frankly, I can't see a use for having send all colors checked. Ross

Just bend the prongs on the plug (wall side) out a little. Mine didn't make contact. I bent the prongs a little and all is well. I think the chinese plug prongs are a little narrower than our outlets. Ross

Vinyl is WAY easier to find in 15" rolls. Also, once you get going, you WILL need more than 12". For the price difference, it's well worth getting the 24" cutter. The MH721 is a good machine. The Copam is better, but more money. Ross