Which plotter is better to buy

In the drawings, as in the cutting of complex patterns, accuracy is important. These tasks will help to cope with a technique called a plotter. Such “skill” in design bureaus and printing houses is especially appreciated. The review will make it clear which devices are the best to work on when setting certain tasks.

Brief classification of devices

The invention of the plotter occurred simultaneously in the printer apparatus. The equipment modified to modern conditions today is presented in the following specific categories:

• cutting - are engaged in cutting out complex patterns and text from a film-thermal transfer and other materials;
• printing - makes it possible to print large format strips;
• cutting-printing units that perform both functions simultaneously.

For cutting units, the following division is relevant. Tablet machine is a flat table. The material is fastened on it, and a carriage with a knife will move over the table itself. Tablet plotters use mechanical or electrical sheet fixation. The printing unit will move itself to the desired point.

Tablet Cutting Plotter RJMTC-01

The laser view is similar to the previous one. The only clarification is that a laser is used instead of a knife, which is very convenient, for example, for cutting Plexiglas.

Roll model can cut large roll-up materials. Drum unit has a roller feed. The source is pressed in it by mechanical or vacuum methods. This technique allows you to receive images of large sizes.

Rolled Mimaki UJV-160 plotter

Characteristics of the cutting devices

When choosing a plotter for cutting for an advertising agency or a printing house, you should pay attention to such important characteristics.

1. Format of future cuts. To decide, you must know in advance what will be their maximum size. For example, if you plan to do only thermoapplications on things, then in this case you should not purchase an apparatus with a cut no more than 20-22 cm.The ideal option would be a cutting plotter A3 format with a cutting width of about 30 cm.
2. Cutting accuracy really regulate from the program. If in the model this characteristic has high rates, it will clearly finish everything set to the end, independently combining the lines. Important information - in cheap Chinese versions, it is very often the case of withdrawal.
   
   

   Cutting plotter in action

3. Availability optical positioning sensor - it is able to determine the edges on a printed picture by special measures with high accuracy. This will greatly help in the manufacture of applications and icons.
   
4. Knife pressure reveals the power of the cut. For expensive devices it is not less than 500 grams, which is suitable for cutting cardboard, magnetic vinyl and similar materials in density. However, to work with a conventional film, thermal transfer enough and 200-gram pressure.
   
5. It is also important how fast the materials will be cut. If the source has a large number of small parts, it is best to reduce the speed to 5-10 cm / s - so the result will be better.

Characteristics of printers

The printing plotter must meet these criteria.

1. Print speed. This indicator is determined by the number of sheets that the device is able to print per minute. Formats can be very different: A3 and A2 are more often used in the tablet form of devices, and for rolls, the sizes A0 and A1 already go.
2. Resolution Techniques are defined similarly to the printer view, in dpi (dots / inch). The higher the numbers, the better the image will be on paper.
3. In a relationship chromaticity professional plotters better and clearly draw the details. In addition, most of them work on a professional software platform with color libraries and textures.
   

4. For widescreen devices important type of paper used. Here materials such as banner, banner grid, fabric, canvas, vinyl or special universal paper will suit (everything depends on the model).
   

Which device to choose

It all depends on future uses. For home use, mini-variants are used that do not set a goal to compete with professional plotters and are suitable for some personal needs or a small office format.

Scrapbooking Machines

Plotters for scrapbooking are very popular today: many craftswomen cut out amazing things for personal use and for sale. Similar technique offers brand Silhouettewhich has a whole line of such products. Despite the "homework" use, they do an excellent job with the mission.

Fixation of the material occurs with the help of rollers. The source is usually mounted on a sticky mat. This allows you to work with this width:

• A4 format;
• letter format (21.59x27.94 cm);
• 33 cm (13 inches).

Portable Silhouette Portrait

Such, for example, is the apparatus Silhouette Portraitwhich is great for scrapbooking. This plotter can be connected to any computer or laptop and work as a printer familiar to us, but instead of printing it will cut the specified images from the presented material using a special knife. Of the other features of the model, the optical sensor stands out, the knife pressure is 200 grams and its compact dimensions are 294 cm long and 21 cm wide.

It is worth knowing: home models cannot be used in the operation mode without stopping - this threatens to break important nodal elements and completely stop the device.With serious printing ideas, it is better to choose the appropriate equipment.

Technique for business purposes

Most of the business plotters are designed for high performance and trouble free operation. The equipment is designed to operate full-time without fear of failure.

When you think about which printing plotter to buy for business, you need to remember that there are devices that work on solvent ink - Consumer, harmless to the ecosystem. Such models are recognized Mimaki and Roland. Here is an example: Mimaki JV150-160 plotter on eco-solvent inks. The device is capable of printing high quality images at speeds up to 56.2 square meters per hour. Moreover, its maximum resolution is quite impressive - 1140 dpi. The width of the working area reaches 1.6 m.

Plotter Mimaki JV150-160

Great example professional cutter serves Redsail RS 360C. This unit has the following characteristics:

• width of the material used is 36 cm;
• width of the field used for cutting 26 cm;
• cutting speed reaches 600 mm / s;
• knife pressure up to 500 grams.

The device for cutting will allow to render services in design cutting (for example, Oracal films for cars).The scope of their services can be expanded continuously. Therefore, the choice of the device should be approached with full responsibility - it is better to buy equipment only from proven manufacturers. Here stands out the Japanese Roland, Mimaki, Graphtec, the Belgians of Summa. But suspiciously cheap models should be avoided - their purchase will be a waste of money, especially in the event of a breakdown. The inability to find the parts and the absence of an authorized specialist in repairing such equipment will result in the equipment simply having to be thrown away.