#Sign Maker
4 messages in this thread
Can anyone tell me if there are PostScript Plotter/Cutters made for the
sign making industry. I know of a dedacated machine called "Sign Maker"
($10K – $20K) from Gerber Scientific that cuts letters out of 3M vinal. The
machine is fast but does not allow for use of a gereral purpose PC for
running the cutting machine. Are there cutting machines like this that are
PostScript compatible? I would like to find software to drive such a cutter
at a considerable lower cost than "Sign Maker".
PostScript is strongly oriented toward raster output devices (laser
printers, laser typesetters, CRT displays, etc.) rather than vector devices
like the Sign Maker you describe. It would take a very substantial
programming effort to adapt even a limited subset of PostScript to such a
device–though it would certainly be nice. If someone does it, don't expect
the final product to be cheaper than what's currently available. The only
device I've seen that does signage-cutting is (or was) made by Gerber
Scientific; it uses its own built-in outline fonts and is quite flexible,
and I recall it was quite reasonably priced.
Aye, that would be the "Sign Maker." They make several models and they are
FAST! They cost a pretty penny too. I know they specialize in CAD/CAM
equipment, so the sign maker makes good use of that technology. Gerber has
200 – 300 fonts that cost about $275 each. They come on circut boards (the
newest model uses cartridges) and the more expensive machines have more
slots. There's even a network so several sign makers can share the same
cutting machine.
The lowest cost sign maker runs just under $10,000, the more expensive ones
$20,000. A flatbed scaner/software package allows for entering logos and
other graphics. I hoped that someone had come up with software for a
inexpensive PC or Macintosh system that could make use of other cutting
tools, but I guess it's too specialized.
On a PC – you can use AUTOCAD and drive a laser, water-pressure, or razor
cutting device. The fonts are poor, but there are many AUTOCAD sites
producing *plot* files used by cutting equipment. Contact Autodesk for more
information. For PostScript-like stuff, Collosal Graphics of California
has a RIPS based PostScript designed to drive large format devices (36×48")
manufactured by a number of firms. Collosal is going after the sign-making
market. It's a PostScript interpreter based device.