looking for a new printer

[gabone]

I was thinking to buy a second hand cutter and solvent printer (all in one) to speed up the process for printing and cutting the designs for t shirts.

We are a small family business, that started almost a year ago, and we are trying to sell all kinds of personalized gifts, not just t shirts. At the moment we are printing on 3G Jet Opaque and SS using pigment ink and we are cutting the designs using a Silhouette Cameo. As I said before it's a small business, trying to get a little bigger .

Lately, our sales increased a little, and I think they are about to increase more in the near future, and I found myself needing to be a little faster to prepare the opaque, or fit a piece o vinyl on the mat for the Cameo, but I came to the conclusion that I will get faster only by changing the hardware we are working on.

So, I started searching the web, and found a second hand Mimaki CJV-30 100 for about 4800 euros. As I noticed, this one prints and cuts the opaque or just cuts the vinyl on the same machine, using rolls of vinyl. I was thinking to myself, that this could speed up the process. The seller says the machine is in perfect working condition, and he/she printed on the machine around 10000 square meters. The printer is using triangle inks at the moment. So I have three questions in my mind:

1. 10000 sqm is too much for such a printer, or not? I really do not know if this printer is too worn, as I have no experience with solvent printers.

2. 4800 euros is the right price or not? I really do not want to invest too much in a second hand printer and find out later that it's garbage.

3. What should I expect in the next year from the maintenance point of view?

Thanks,
Gabriel

 

[bilge]

1. 10000 sqm is too much for such a printer, or not? I really do not know if this printer is too worn, as I have no experience with solvent printers.

2. 4800 euros is the right price or not? I really do not want to invest too much in a second hand printer and find out later that it's garbage.

3. What should I expect in the next year from the maintenance point of view?

Thanks,
Gabriel[/QUOTE]

1. Mimaki tech once told me that their printers capable to print up to 100,000 sqm. But by 10000 sqm the printer definitely paid itself maybe multiple times depending on where it is. (in which country)

2. It also depends where it is. If import tax and VAT is very high, then initial price of equipment would be high so it depreciate accordingly.

3. You'd expect 2000 euros for printhead, 150 euros for captop, over 100 euros for dampers right now. You said you have no experience so you will need service tech visit. In Russia 250 euros per visit plus his travel expense. I assume you're in Romania, so it is closest example.

Frankly saying a second hand equipment is not for novice. It is exact opposite to buying a car. If you novice then buy a used car, when you more experienced buy brand new car (maybe also good used car).
Most people buy a used printer as a back-up printer for not interrupting their workflow or as a donor.
New printer comes with at least 1 year warranty. Also it is better to make an insurance when you bought a new equipment.