hi donna,
sorry for the delay. while using the craft robo, i have these observations:
advantages:
i got my CraftRobo from BigPix last Feb of this year and it still is working like new. I have 1,500 shirts back to back print, 2 color vinyl order along the way (excluding the ones i have as per piece orders, hehe) and i'm only using the same cutter/plotter. so i don't see any problems with it's durability. the optical eye is definitely a breakthrough! not only it can be used with registration marks or whatever, it even stops if there is no sheet to be cut.
disadvantages:
it may not be suitable for rush jobs. it took at least 10 mins for it to finish cutting an A4 sheet design. good thing is that i was able to ask for extension for the project (lesson learned!) another thing is that it will prompt you to turn off the plotter at every 30 mins of it being used for at least 10-15 mins (if im not mistaken). you also add the time in peeling off the excess sheet for the design before you press it (or unless you have enough man power to do that).
hope this helps. and by the way, im still using my 2 year old china made heatpress, and im thinking of replacing it for a lot of reason.... by the time the budget permits

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