McCoyH

@ McCoyH

You might want to check out the 2016 Civic thread. The gap ,,, is usually an issue with plotter vs hand cut.

Dynamic made an excellent point that with a plotter cut, the gap tends to be a little more at the top because you still have to have film to tuck. This is where pattern adjustment comes into play. Just sayin.

Yeah I saw that.... Uuugghhh, I'll probably end up holding off on getting a plotter after I saw the Civic thread

Don't have tons of experience with it, hopefully some others will add their problems.  However, everyone I have talked to all have issues with doors no matter the software.

Okay, thanks for your help

Typically too short where you can't micro edge it.

Ah, other than that they usually fit ok? What software do you use? I wonder if different software would fit better

PPF will be the biggest reason to get a plotter.  When it comes to cutting tint it will be a hit or miss, but allows you to adjust to your liking so the pattern will be better for the next time.  We will be doing ours next month for PPF and will probably use it for Sun Strips (so there is no curve), Windshields, and Rear Windows...probably will stick to hand cutting the doors since they are typically the problems.

What's wrong with the door window pattern exactly? Thanks for the reply

If you're used to hand cutting and are a stickler for that top edge you probably will not be happy with it. I didn't read the whole post but unless you're doing 4+ cars a day and are planning on getting into decals or something of that nature you don't need it.

Yeah, we do 8 to 10 cars a day hand cutting now and already do decals with the small 24" plotter we have, just trying to figure out if its worth the money and if it will actually save time

 

 

I do both plotter cut, and hand cut.

Plotter is great for increasing speed. While most are on the money for fit. Some patterns will need adjustment to fit like a skilled hand cut pattern. I would say you could save 20 to 30 minutes per full car easily.

So using a plotter a 4dr car takes about 5 minutes to cut and weed roughly? Thanks for the reply C2C long time to see

I use the time it cutting to pull gaskets or panels. Double win for me, as long as the door patterns are good. Some need to be iver sized, and trim top edge on the window during installation.

 

So the plotter doesn't cut it ready to install? Seems like a waste if you have to trim half of the patterns it cuts, may as well just hand cut if that's the case... hmmm

I don't use a plotter for auto for multiple reasons.

Why pay for patterns or pay for something I already know( it is like paying twice )?? That just doesn't compute with me.

Unless you are doing the same shade of film all the time and aren't constantly switching type of vehicle, I don't see where it is really that much faster. Dealership type setup (opposite of the previous sentence), well that's different and I could see it being helpful if already programmed with the changes to your liking.

I am also a little, small time one man shop.... If I had someone running the plotter, that might be different also.

Not trying to muck up your thread McCoyH Just giving my I hope the plotter thing works out for you. Good luck

Yeah no problem at all that's why I asked thank you very much for your info. We're a little bigger than you it sounds like... 2 full time tinters booked out about 4 weeks 8 cars a day right now so I'm figuring if we can save 15 or 20 mins per car by using a plotter it would be beneficial. Thanks again!!

I do both plotter cut, and hand cut.

Plotter is great for increasing speed. While most are on the money for fit. Some patterns will need adjustment to fit like a skilled hand cut pattern. I would say you could save 20 to 30 minutes per full car easily.

So using a plotter a 4dr car takes about 5 minutes to cut and weed roughly? Thanks for the reply C2C long time to see

"And do you usually need to adjust the blade when cutting different brands of tint if the thickness is different between the two brands?"

 

 

Looks like you need to read up on plotters some more

 

Do you cut 3/4's the way through film when you hand cut or all the way through?

We have a vinyl plotter, but from what I understand to plotter cut tint the liner stays intact and then you weed the excess film, and trim the liner right? I don't see how it would work to cut all the way through...

Don't limit yourself to "tint" . Cut graphics can be very lucrative.

 

Signs101 is a great resource.

 

Our shop has Summa and Allen Plotters and HP printers.

 

Get something that will accommodate at minimum 60" film .

I'm not the guy that plays with them so I could not say this or that is "better"

I would have to agree with WTFhat. I have seen a few instances where my flat glass guy could not have done some jobs properly if he hadn't had a 60" plotter. If you can get one, I would go for 60" just to make sure you are not limited.

 

I would have to agree with WTFhat. I have seen a few instances where my flat glass guy could not have done some jobs properly if he hadn't had a 60" plotter. If you can get one, I would go for 60" just to make sure you are not limited.

We got a 72in plotter just so we could handle any job that may come to us.

 

Computer Cut has a nice DGI plotter that is designed to work with Tint, Vinyl, & PPF. The one we have is a 60" and works great with just about any film we have put in it. I am not familiar with any others. Just giving you feedback on what I have worked with.

About to pull the trigger, but I'm curious, how much time does a plotter really save you? It takes one person here an average of 20 - 30 minutes to cut out all roll-ups, 1/4s and back windshield. How long does it take you guys with a plotter (on a vehicle obviously)

And do you usually need to adjust the blade when cutting different brands of tint if the thickness is different between the two brands?

Computer Cut has a nice DGI plotter that is designed to work with Tint, Vinyl, & PPF. The one we have is a 60" and works great with just about any film we have put in it. I am not familiar with any others. Just giving you feedback on what I have worked with.

Thank you I'll check it out

We've used US Cutter before for our vinyl, and I know the US Cutter brand won't work for tint, but it looks like they carry Roland And Graphtek, does anyone have any experience with either of these two:

http://www.uscutter.com/Graphtec-8600-Series-Vinyl-Cutter

http://www.uscutter.com/Roland-Vinyl-Cutters-Roland-GX-PRO-CAMM-1

Thanks SO much for your guys opinions, it helps a lot!

Don't limit yourself to "tint" . Cut graphics can be very lucrative.

 

Signs101 is a great resource.

 

Our shop has Summa and Allen Plotters and HP printers.

 

Get something that will accommodate at minimum 60" film .

I'm not the guy that plays with them so I could not say this or that is "better"

Thanks for the reply. We do have a small vinyl plotter now and do a little bit of graphics with it. You don't think we'd be ok starting with a 40" tint plotter? We almost NEVER do flatglass anymore, and with a 40 inch you can fit the roll up windows side by side

I would have to agree with WTFhat. I have seen a few instances where my flat glass guy could not have done some jobs properly if he hadn't had a 60" plotter. If you can get one, I would go for 60" just to make sure you are not limited.

 

I would have to agree with WTFhat. I have seen a few instances where my flat glass guy could not have done some jobs properly if he hadn't had a 60" plotter. If you can get one, I would go for 60" just to make sure you are not limited.

We got a 72in plotter just so we could handle any job that may come to us.

 

I couldn't find any good threads answering all my questions so figured I'd post one.

We're finally going to need to get a tint plotter this year but don't know where to start.

Are there any "popular" tint plotters?

What kind of specs / equipment do I need to look for?

Yeah, those are the cars I turn down... those and anything else that isnt easy :p hahaha... good job!