Graphtec Plotter Review – The Graphtec CE600, FC8600, & LITE Series

Should you get a Graphtec plotter?

 

Whether you are deciding on which Graphtec cutting machine is best for you, or, if you’re yet to decide if this is the brand for you, we’ll tell you everything you need to know.

 

Graphtec is a well known and trusted brand, manufacturing quality cutting machines, and so we’re happy to review these machines today.

 

The Best Graphtec Plotter

 

graphtec ce6000 review

Graphtec Bundles: Available Here

 

Graphtec plotters are made of high quality components which enable it to accomplish tasks that the cheaper cutting machines cannot.

 

These cutting machines also tend to be larger; making them able to take wider and longer media, making them perfect for high volume business use.

 

Common applications for these machines include:

  • t-shirt business
  • sublimation print and cut
  • graphic artists
  • sign-writing
  • vehicle signage and decals

 

Personally, I first used Graphtec cutting machines while working in thriving a sign-writing company. They are easy to use (once you’ve familiarized yourself with the software), particularly good for doing intricate cuts, long production runs, and the machines will last for years.

 

Take a look at the full range in the following table, then scroll down for all the features, specifications, and technical information.

 

Graphtec CE-Lite Plotter

  • Good for advanced home business
  • 20 inches wide
  • NEW Graphtecs ARM 7.0
View On Heat Press NationView On Swing Design

Graphtec CE6000 Series

  • Good for commercial business use
  • 15, 24, & 48 inch widths available
  • Can be purchased with or without a stand
View On Heat Press NationView On Swing Design

Graphtec FC8600 Series

  • Good for commercial & industrial business
  • 24, 30, 42, 54, & 64 inch widths available
  • Highest quality professional cutting machine
View On Heat Press NationView On Swing Design

Graphtec Blades, Accessories, & Parts

  • Graphtec blades & blade holders
  • Graphtec replacement parts
  • Graphtec pens
View On AmazonView On Swing Design

Graphtec CE LITE-50 Cutting Plotter

graphtec ce5000-60

 

 

Best For Small Home Business & Advanced Crafts

The CE LITE-50 is Graphtec’s entry level plotter for home business or advanced crafting! It  has a 20 inch wide cutting area, allowing you to cut a greater volume and work with larger rolls of vinyl.

 

Take a look at the range of features of the CE LITE-50 in the following video:

 

 

The CE LITE-50 has the following features and specifications:

  • takes media up to 20 inches wide
  • takes media up to 118 inches long
  • applies up to 210 grams downward force
  • has a 4.3 inch touch screen display (supporting 10 major languages)
  • includes the software Graphtec Pro Studio (Windows) or Graphtec Studio (Mac)
  • plugins available for Adobe & CoralDraw (Cutting Master 4)

 

Graphtec CE6000

 

graphtec ce 6000 review

 

Best For Commercial Business Use

The CE6000 Series is the next step up in Graphtec’s range. These are good for commercial business use (as well as home business and craft use).

 

There are 4 cutting machines in this range, with the main difference being the size:

  • The CE6000-40 is 15 inches wide
  • The CE6000-60 is 24 inches wide
  • The CE6000-120 is 48 inches wide
  • The CE6000-AKZ is 48 inches wide & designed especially for automotive decals, etc.

 

Here is a comparison between the CE6000-60 with the Silhouette Cameo:

 

 

Features of the CE6000-60 include:

  • precision cutting
  • 450 gram max cutting force
  • pre-set 8 different cut settings
  • large 3.7 inch LCD screen
  • rear vinyl roll holder (takes up to 24 inch wide rolls)
  • accomplish easy test cuts at multiple force levels at the same time
  • durable blades
  • Graphtec ARMS 5.0*
  • fast & accurate servo motor*
  • 4 point, dual-axis skew correction*
  • Tangential control*
  • Graphtec Studio Software*

 

Graphtec FC8600 Series

 

graphtec fc8600-60

 

Best For Commericial & Industrial Use

The FC8600 Series is the best Graphtec cutting machine range. These cutters are for professional, industrial and commercial use.

 

There are 5 cutting machines in the FC8600 range:

  • FC8600-60 which is 24 inches wide
  • FC8600-75 which is 30 inches wide
  • FC8600-100 which is 42 inches wide
  • FC8600-130 which is 54 inches wide
  • FC8600-160 which is 64 inches wide

 

Take a look at the FC8600 in the following promo video from Graphtec:

 

 

The Graphtec FC 6000 is certainly one of the best professional cutting machines that you can buy. It has the same features as the CE 6000 series, but here is what’s better:

  • a 600 gram max cutting force (as opposed to the Graphtec CE6000 450 gram)
  • an almost twice as fast cutting speed
  • when purchased from Heat Press Nation, a 5 year warranty (as opposed to the CE6000’s 2 year warranty)
  • and of course, there are more sizes to choose from

 

Graphtec Cutting Machine Technical Terms

 

Here is an explanation of what some of the Graphtec technical terms mean.

 

Graphtec ARMS 5.0

 

ARMS stands for Advanced Registration Mark Sensor. Graphtec states that the “renowned ARMS system produces high precision print & cut results – even on challenging materials such as high gloss and high intensity reflective.”

The system uses sensors to detect registration marks and performs the Axis Alignment. It enables significantly improved productivity in Print & Cut jobs (for example, stickers or decals).

 

Graphtec Overcut Feature

 

This feature means that the blade will over cut on straight corners by however many millimeters you set it to. For example, on jobs where you need extremely sharp corners, set to over-cut by a millimeter. This can be especially necessary when cutting thicker materials, or creating Rhinestone transfers.

 

Digital Servomotor

 

These motors are used in a wide range of industrial and commercial applications, allowing for precise precision control of machinery. In the case of Graphtec cutters, you are getting a high performance motor that is also quiet and fast. It makes cutting materials such as flocked vinyl or stretch vinyl easier as well (more on Wikipedia). The Consew 206RB is an example of a sewing machine with a Servo motor.

 

Graphtec Studio Software Plugin

 

This is the editing software that comes with Graphtec cutting machines. There are tons of features, including:

  • text editing tool similar to word doc
  • changing object shapes
  • grouping features
  • resize, rotate, or mirror designs

Plugins are available for Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw.

 

4 Point, Dual-Axis Skew Correction

 

Most cutting machines have a 3 point positioning system, and so Graphtec is superior with a 4 point system. This means it precisely cuts your media in the perfect position as it monitors the placing of these four points.

 

Tangential Emulation

 

Allows for smoother corner cuts, especially when cutting intricate designs. The cutter with pick up the blade and pivot it when going around corners, rather than dragging the blade around, as with many other cutting machines. Using Tangential Emulation takes longer, but is not required for all jobs.

 

Graphtec Plotter Review

 

graphtec ce6000 graphtec ce6000-60

 

Graphtec Cutting Machines are at the high end of the price and quality spectrum in the cutter plotter market. They are for advanced and professional users, with business applications in mind.

 

Their machines are designed for high production quality in quick time, coupled with excellent precision cutting and processing. These are the best cutting machines for sign-writers, those doing large print-and-cut jobs, vehicle signage, and more.

 

There is a learning curve, as with all things, when you first get a Graptec cutting machine. However, there are plenty of online resources and  support to make this no more painful than it need to be!

 

Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below, or click through to receive live purchasing support and advice from the chat boxes.

 

 

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