Flatbed printer and cutter recommendation.

[fine point]

We are finally buying our first flatbed printer and cutter. We would appreciate any tips and recommendations.

We would probably go with mid-range price. Big enough to handle 4x8 sheets.

We have 3 roll-to-roll printers from Roland.
I would consider Mimaki or Epson but had a terrible experience with Epson.
I don't know much about Flatbed cutter.


TIA!
FP

 

[MarkSnelling]

I know I'll be a bit biased as I sell flatbed printers and routers. www.FluidColor.com is a great company in Cincinnati that customizes flatbed printers. You can pick the bed size (3x5, 4x8, 5x10, 6.5x10), the type of print head (Ricoh Gen 6 or Kyrocera), and how many rows of print heads you want (1-3). You can add white or varnish as well. The Ricoh Gen 6 heads are outstanding for good speed and great quality while also being easy to maintain. The Kyrocera heads are high production heads for blazing fast speed...but I like to say they are a bit like an Australian Shepherd dog...if you aren't running them hard they can be a pain in the ass. One cool aspect is you can get a machine with just one or two rows of print heads and if your production demands grow, you can simply order more print heads and add another row or two of print heads to nearly double or triple your output. The machine can grow with your business. No service contracts and you can (should you want to) do a lot of the fixes yourself. I'd be happy to have a conversation and quote a unit for you. As an entry point, a 4x8 CMYK+W single row unit will set you back around $120K - that includes delivery, assembly, training, and Onyx (if you need it...if you don't then take $4K off). A triple row with white unit will be very fast and set you back around $153K all-in.

The really easy part is Colex routers which are made right in New Jersey. Great price point of around $130K for a unit with a conveyor and much less if you just want a static unit. Amazingly talented people there as well. I really enjoy representing their products.

 

[dannyd1962]

Vutek

2020 EFI-VUTEk GS3250x Pro​

for the printer and Zund for the cutter https://www.zund.com/en

 

[Adam Vreeke]

I have been running the Mimaki JFX200-2513 and 2513EX for about 7 years now. And a Colex Sharpcut for about 15 years. Both are very reliable work horses in my opinion at the mid range, I highly recommend looking into those. Even older used ones are still good (although a bit more maintenance).

 

[chrisphilipps]

My name is Dave Philipps from Graphic Resource Systems, and we are located in Wharton, NJ, about 50 minutes from your location in Jersey City. We sell Keundo hybrid flatbeds, full-size Keundo flatbeds (4' x 8' and 6' x 10'), as well as Summa F Series flatbed cutters.
Graphic Resource Systems has been in business for over 30 years, and we have extensive experience helping customers choose and implement the right equipment for their applications.
You are welcome to visit our showroom to see the equipment in action and discuss your needs in person.
If you would like more information, please feel free to contact me.

Dave Philipps
Graphic Resource Systems
Phone: 973-808-8600 ext. 116

dphilipps@thegrs.com
Website: www.thegrs.com

 

[Ldireprophil]

My R530 has been a joy the past 8 months, flawless mostly. Superb quality and easy to operate and maintain. I’m down with HP, my 365’s have been bulletproof short a belt and the usual maintenance interval stuff. You owe it to yourself to go demo it‘s in the budget. Also, my Summa F1612 have been fantastic the past 7+ years, I’d have no problem ever leasing another Summa.

 

[CustomThunder6]

Have anybody on magnetic levitation too here ?

Have similar like this for 100k then about 10 years, but if you buy at Alibaba - "place your logo here" sticker is applied everywhere

KingJet KJ-3240UV Industrial Large Format Flatbed UV Printer with Maglev Technology

The industrial large format flatbed UV printer uses innovative magnetic levitation technology, which has unparalleled printing accuracy and amazing stability compared to traditional printers, bringing strong competitiveness to the mass production of stone, ceramics, background walls, cabinet...

kingjetprinter.com

Still outputs hell of a quality and can print out even smallest text (new Roland uv standing near printed out 1mm letters way harder to read ) on up to 10cm thick material on bed, but if it's starts to live own life it will be catastrophic before U will find where is common issue
What can I say - common issue always is cable hub with hundreds of mile long thin like hair cables and look after neodymium magnet rail and motor which flies like train switching electrical poles or it will be dead end

Second one is similar but on belts and half smaller
If comparing output quality to magnetic one - was like 25% on all settings @ maximum limits, so need always think what to print on it
Most time it's just turned off, waiting for another parts if u can find them without need of reading old board chips and flashing to similar ones functions that needs to be executed by printer

 

[fine point]

Thanks everyone!
This is very helpful to narrow down our choices. I have never heard of some of them (Mag-Lav Printhead?)!

 

[TEN]

I second what Mark said. We are running a Fluid Color flatbed and a Colex router which also uses cutters for foamboards and corrugated plastics. Talk to the guys at Fluid Color, there are many flatbeds and printers out there that will do a good job. The problem we have had in the past was service and support, we have been totally happy with Fluid Color.

 

[MelloImagingTechnologies]

We are a local servicing dealer for the NY tristate area in wide format printers.
For flatbeds we have Vanguard-Durst and Fluid Color printers.
We have demo units here on Long Island and New Jersey.
Since some of our customers are getting so busy they upgrade to the fastest versions, so we have refurbished flatbeds occasionally available with a full one year warranty.
On these, everything that wears has been replaced and it's really just the framework that is original.

Have sold a few flatbeds from links on Signs101 and these are extremely happy customers.

All the best,
Bruce
bruce@melloimaging.com
631-520-3074

 

[CustomThunder6]

Thanks everyone!
This is very helpful to narrow down our choices. I have never heard of some of them (Mag-Lav Printhead?)!

You misunderstood
MAGLEV is short abbreviation of magnetic levitation phrase, these printers doesn't have any belts, it moves print carriage using rails with magnets like trains

Printheads are Ricoh gen5

 

[fine point]

My R530 has been a joy the past 8 months, flawless mostly. Superb quality and easy to operate and maintain. I’m down with HP, my 365’s have been bulletproof short a belt and the usual maintenance interval stuff. You owe it to yourself to go demo it‘s in the budget. Also, my Summa F1612 have been fantastic the past 7+ years, I’d have no problem ever leasing another Summa.

R530 is a hybrid, right? Do you have any difficulty printing on smaller substrates? Also, how well does it printer smaller letters, like less than 1/4" high?
I was told hybrid has some difficulty printing on smaller sheet (not full 4x8'). Or at least a pain to set it up. Thanks in advance!

 

[balstestrat]

R530 is a hybrid, right? Do you have any difficulty printing on smaller substrates? Also, how well does it printer smaller letters, like less than 1/4" high?
I was told hybrid has some difficulty printing on smaller sheet (not full 4x8'). Or at least a pain to set it up. Thanks in advance!

Meh I don't think any of that is a problem. Yes, if you go really small like 10x10" and add a challenging substrate to that you likely have issues.
But the usual stuff that people print it's fine.

 

[Ldireprophil]

R530 is a hybrid, right? Do you have any difficulty printing on smaller substrates? Also, how well does it printer smaller letters, like less than 1/4" high?
I was told hybrid has some difficulty printing on smaller sheet (not full 4x8'). Or at least a pain to set it up. Thanks in advance!

Hybrid yes, I hardly use my roll-to-roll machines anymore, actually thinking of selling them, and got rid of my true flatbed. I have a small 24x36 Polaroid micro uv flatbed for really small stuff i want stationary as I’m printing. But the 530 has handled anything I’ve thrown at it. The white is super easy to use and SUPER white. I’m just saying that for someone looking for a flatbed and the versatility of running roll material through it as well, I’ve been more than happy And can’t see any reason why others wouldn’t.

 

[ecilop]

We got an HP R530 last month and have had no issues at all. We haven't used it much using roll material but have run a ton of yard signs, some acrylic, as well as some 4x8 sheets of cabinet grade plywood. We also have used a Summa F1612 for several years with very few issues, most of which have been solved by software updates.

 

[ss5520]

Hybrid yes, I hardly use my roll-to-roll machines anymore, actually thinking of selling them, and got rid of my true flatbed. I have a small 24x36 Polaroid micro uv flatbed for really small stuff i want stationary as I’m printing. But the 530 has handled anything I’ve thrown at it. The white is super easy to use and SUPER white. I’m just saying that for someone looking for a flatbed and the versatility of running roll material through it as well, I’ve been more than happy And can’t see any reason why others wouldn’t.

You indicate you have had problems with items smaller than 10x10", how about running multiple-up small pieces with a jig, or running small acrylic trophies? Have you been able to do this?