Vinyl signs creation

[Neville Bastian]

Hi everyone.
I may be thought of as a twit here but I have been thinking of making my own signs with a Roland Plotter.
The down side is the cost of the plotter and the infrequent use it may get. The sign writers do charge a lot for signs so I would only need to do 10 or so and its paid for plus have the ability to make a sign at short notice.
I have been thinking that the Thermwood is really just a big plotter. What's stopping me using the Thermwood to cut out the vinyl? It would vacuum down to the table fairly well. If it moved I could contact glue the backing foil to some 3mm mdf?
The vinyl plotters use knives but a 22.5 degree V cutter could be the go.
So the question is, has anyone actually done it and did it work successfully?

Regards

Neville

[Nick M Singer]

No reason why it should not work Neville!! i would try a few test cuts if you intend to use a router cutter because i have found on plastics there is a tendency for the edges to melt. Why not use blades like a plotter? Just work out a way to put it in a holder and specify a 0 rotational speed for that cutter.

[DanEpps]

...I have been thinking that the Thermwood is really just a big plotter. What's stopping me using the Thermwood to cut out the vinyl...

Wouldn't that be awfully expensive machine time for adhesive vinyl signs?

...Why not use blades like a plotter? Just work out a way to put it in a holder and specify a 0 rotational speed for that cutter.

How would the blade turn to follow curves, corners, etc?

[Will Williamson]

Gerber Scientific sells a tool with a 1/2 inch shank and a replaceable knife. Made just for that purpose they also sell a pen so that you can turn your machine into a giant plotter. Hyatt's is the name of thier distributor 800 222 7446