Acrylic Decal Creation...

[Reitau]

...Or lettering creation.

I am looking for a machine with which to make my own lettering in sticky back plastic, fablon or whatever its called.

To give you an idea I recently used some acrylic lettering for a project at home and had to pay £15 for two words twice (left and right for a boat name)

Any ideas where to buy a machine to do this?

Freinds have seen them running from Paint Shop Pro - and the driver makes the cuts in the sticky plastic sheet.

[dutchcedar]

Sign shops everywhere use the things. They're essentially plotters with cutting heads instead of ink pens.

One of our friends runs a sign shop and has one made by Gerber. There are other manufacturers... a supply company sends me pimpin' mail for them and laminators every month or so, but I throw 'em out. Next time I'll look closer and check this thread to see if you're still lookin'.

Personally, I'd stick with having the sign shop do it... I understand the start-up costs are pretty high and the films aren't exactly cheap...

[mnpctech]

Check out the Roland Stika.. (http://www.signmaster.co.uk/rowland/) Aimed at Hobbyists

Here in the US, most entry level vinyl film plotters start around $250, but don't go cheap if you wanna try making a few bucks.

[2JSC]

I used to use one in Jr. High and High School... especially with the CAD drawings. I've got those laying around somewhere. The ones we had could do 40" wide, and I think it cost $1500, because it was a plotter where the heads could be changed to cut out shapes in paper or "sticky paper"... really helped when we wanted to make designs real in the wood and metal shops.

[Reitau]

Sign shops everywhere use the things. They're essentially plotters with cutting heads instead of ink pens.

One of our friends runs a sign shop and has one made by Gerber. There are other manufacturers... a supply company sends me pimpin' mail for them and laminators every month or so, but I throw 'em out. Next time I'll look closer and check this thread to see if you're still lookin'.

Personally, I'd stick with having the sign shop do it... I understand the start-up costs are pretty high and the films aren't exactly cheap...

Thanks man, I couldnt even find the brand name of a machine on google, didnt try 'Plotter' though...


Check out the Roland Stika.. (http://www.signmaster.co.uk/rowland/) Aimed at Hobbyists

Here in the US, most entry level vinyl film plotters start around $250, but don't go cheap if you wanna try making a few bucks.

Its mainly for personal use, can spend maybe $300, might branch out once I have it....

I used to use one in Jr. High and High School... especially with the CAD drawings. I've got those laying around somewhere. The ones we had could do 40" wide, and I think it cost $1500, because it was a plotter where the heads could be changed to cut out shapes in paper or "sticky paper"... really helped when we wanted to make designs real in the wood and metal shops.

Same here, used one at 12yrs old, cant remember the make now though, also used a vacume former, would love that now! Wouldnt need anything bigger than A4 (or American Letter Size equiv).

Sounds like I am looking for a plotter then! Thanks all of you, really helpful as always!