over the years this board has watched untold number of newbs come in and ask for advice on a cheapo cutter.
In that same amount of time we watched number of newbs go for cheapo cutter "just to get started".
We watched and advised many to obtain a top brand machine. We watched as way too many disregarded our advice. It was some hard lessons learned because there was so much more than just getting a cutter and going for it. Tracking, software, connections, static cling, junk motors, bad bearings, reverse notation drivers, all of which left the newb user with frustrations and stresses we would not wish on our worst enemy.
The need for tech support that the cheapo never gave was a pet peeve. Why should we have to teach or fix a new machine when the manufacturer got paid and left the buyer hanging out to dry? Hundreds of newbs came here for help in getting their machines running. Some walked away from it all because the cheapo cutters cost them more in wasted time and materials. Some stuck with it getting by day to day with way more pain and suffering than they deserved. Recutting a job at least twice was the norm.
A few finally gave in and got a great cutter and suddenly became enlightened with what the old timers knew. In fact, one old timer posting above used early model Roland cutters. Then got a great deal on a used updated version Roland from ebay and saw just how much of a different life that plenty of his peers were experiencing.
Great tracking, quiet machines, getting a job done first time every time, reliable day after day with nary a need to post about some obscure problem never before found in nature.
The lessons learned? Get a TOP name brand cutter and never look back. The money made using a great cutter will pay back very quick.
I took this advice myself when purchasing some software. That package cost over 2 grand but the extended ability returned the extra money within the very first weeks.
Do the same. Get a name brand cutter where the extended abilities will pay back in resale value alone. Forget the cheapo shortcuts through the untrodded weeds. Them weeds is full of briars, poison ivy, weasel p!ss and snakes.
