Vehicle Wraps to MX Graphics: Which Cutter Should I Buy?

[ravegoblin]

Hello,

Been considering starting up this venture and still doing some research. I'll try to keep it concise - trying to figure out how feasible this is and with which equipment...

- Printed vehicle wraps
- MX graphics
- Stickers, banners, signs, etc... of course, but this is more straightforward

I've read the threads I can find here relating to cutting MX graphics, but still not really clear on if this works.

1. Will a Graphtec FC9000 54" or Summa S 3TC (with tables in front/behind) be suitable for cutting mx graphics with a laminate? (Ideally, would be Substance material, but perhaps could compromise and use some alternate brands.)
2. Would it be able to cut all the way through the backing, or already asking too much?

With regard to flatbed...
3. If those machines aren't suitable, I presume that the flatbed Graphtec FCX2000 would be able to do the job?
4. How limiting is a flatbed for longer jobs (regular vinyl lettering)? Is there a way to feed into that machine or what's the strategy for cutting a longer piece (say 6-10ft)?

Kind of a lot of questions, appreciate your input and experience, thanks!

 

[victor bogdanov]

With regard to flatbed...
3. If those machines aren't suitable, I presume that the flatbed Graphtec FCX2000 would be able to do the job?
4. How limiting is a flatbed for longer jobs (regular vinyl lettering)? Is there a way to feed into that machine or what's the strategy for cutting a longer piece (say 6-10ft)?

Kind of a lot of questions, appreciate your input and experience, thanks!

Flatbed with conveyor such a colex, summa f series or a chinese import if you are comfortable with that would be the most versatile / best way to go (but also much more expensive than a roll2roll cutter)


Graphtec/summa will get the job done but dialing it in to cut thick MX graphics will be harder vs a flatbed.

You can often find decent deals on used flatbeds.


You also don't need any equipment to start out, you can focus on sales and designs while outsourcing the prints. Once your demands grows enough to justify your own equipment you can consider buying equipment but you can get started risk free by outsourcing

 

[Geneva Olson]

dont know if you need to go all out with a flat bed. my husband started this with a plotter..he outsourced the graphics. when I showed up, 8 years ago, I bought an hp 315 and a bigger plotter. and a laminator. that's all you really need.

mass producing mx graphics might be your niche.

 

[cmoist]

The Graphtec FCX2000 will work fine on the thick substance MX stuff. It's slower than the Summa F Series, but far less expensive and can sometimes be had used for a good price. We have two FCX2000 and one FC9000 roll cutter. Just like anything, each is best at its intended job. You can use the FCX flatbed to cut regular vinyl - it works just fine for that. It's just much slower than a roll cutter like the FC9000. Also, the FCX flatbeds won't cut longer than the bed length. It's not like a conveyor fed flatbed which will cut and move along with the belt/bed.

 

[MarkSnelling]

I'd love the opportunity to send you pricing on a Colex. Great product and even better people. thousands of people on this board have them.