Affordable cutter with perforated cutting?

2766 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by K Chez, Jun 2, 2018

christina1004

Discussion Starter · Apr 18, 2018 (Edited)

Hi, I'm looking to purchase a new cutter with the perforated cutting feature. Currently, I'm looking at
- Roland GS-24
- Graphtec CE6000 Plus
- SummaCut D75

Some additional details:
- I'll be making 15" decals
- I'm using special materials and I'll probably need to slit from 51" - 54" rolls

From where I'm located, the Roland is the cheapest option. I'm still new at the business so I'd like to find the most affordable vinyl cutter with perforated cutting feature.

Thank you!

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Amw

· #2 · Apr 18, 2018

christina1004 said:
Hi, I'm looking to purchase a new cutter with the perforated cutting feature. Currently, I'm looking at
- Roland GS-24
- Graphtec CE6000 Plus
- SummaCut D75

Some additional details:
- I'll be making 15" decals
- I'm using special materials and I'll probably need to slit from 51" - 54" rolls

From where I'm located, the Roland is the cheapest option. I'm still new at the business so I'd like to find the most affordable vinyl cutter with perforated cutting feature.

Thank you!

I would go with the graphtec, but i would go up to the FC 8600 series. If your going to do a lot of perf cutting I think you will be happier with it.
My 2nd pick would be the summa.
I would not pick the Roland, I am not a Roland hater... we own multipal Roland printers and printer/cutters as well as engravers and have been very happy with them all. Just perf cutting IMO is not Roland's strong suite. Their plotters added perf cutting after the fact, where as the graphtec was built to do that from the start.

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christina1004

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 18, 2018

Thank you! Brand new Graphtec FC 8600 is a bit too expensive for me. I wish there was someone selling a used one around where I live...

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Amw

· #4 · Apr 18, 2018

christina1004 said:
Thank you! Brand new Graphtec FC 8600 is a bit too expensive for me. I wish there was someone selling a used one around where I live...

The CE 6000's are great too, you cant go wrong with Graphtec.

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christina1004

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 19, 2018

I heard that CE 6000 doesn't have a separate cutting groove for perforation, meaning that it'll damage the cutting strip.

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K Chez

· #6 · May 31, 2018

Yeah, perf cutting eats up the cutting strip - never heard of a machine with a separate groove for perf cutting - are you maybe mistaking the sheet cut channel for this? For it to perforate the backing there needs to be something behind the material. Also, and I know this might easier to say than do, but when buying a big/expensive piece of equipment, I've always found it better to get the best machine for the job even if it's more than you can afford. Buying the cheaper machine usually gets you a sub-par piece that either doesn't perform like you hoped or has issues and needs repair. Spending a little more on a better machine that runs properly from the start and consistently will save you money in the long run.

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Amw

· #7 · May 31, 2018

K Chez said:
Yeah, perf cutting eats up the cutting strip - never heard of a machine with a separate groove for perf cutting - are you maybe mistaking the sheet cut channel for this? For it to perforate the backing there needs to be something behind the material. Also, and I know this might easier to say than do, but when buying a big/expensive piece of equipment, I've always found it better to get the best machine for the job even if it's more than you can afford. Buying the cheaper machine usually gets you a sub-par piece that either doesn't perform like you hoped or has issues and needs repair. Spending a little more on a better machine that runs properly from the start and consistently will save you money in the long run.

Not mistaking anything. FC8000 and FC8600's have a channel for the blade to go into instead of destroying your cutting strip. The channel the sheet cut uses is also the same. You move your blade holder to the #3 position on the plotter and it places the blade holder (and obviously the blade) over the channel. It works great we do it daily and people have been doing it for 10+ years now. Graphtec is the only brand i am aware of that has this feature...and only on the FC series not the CE series. That is one of the things your paying for when you buy their higher end plotter.

If your curious here is a link that shows it.
https://youtu.be/ZC2PobV3txU?t=11m46s
watch a minute or so and you will see.

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webtrekker

· #8 · May 31, 2018

Any cutter that uses a carrier mat can do perforations, but you have to pass the job through twice - once for the perforations and once for the final cut.

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K Chez

· #9 · Jun 2, 2018

Amw said:
Not mistaking anything. FC8000 and FC8600's have a channel for the blade to go into instead of destroying your cutting strip. The channel the sheet cut uses is also the same. You move your blade holder to the #3 position on the plotter and it places the blade holder (and obviously the blade) over the channel. It works great we do it daily and people have been doing it for 10+ years now. Graphtec is the only brand i am aware of that has this feature...and only on the FC series not the CE series. That is one of the things your paying for when you buy their higher end plotter.

If your curious here is a link that shows it.
https://youtu.be/ZC2PobV3txU?t=11m46s
watch a minute or so and you will see.

Did not know that. Never having used Graphtec equipment would have a lot to do with that, but that's a good feature. Never too old to learn something new -thanks!

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