Best office printers & plotters according to redditors

If you're insane

http://www.amazon.com/HP-Designjet-42-inch-Printer-C7770B/dp/B000067TR8/ref=zg_bs_3012933011_1

Wish I could say I hand cut it, but I basically have mini sausages for fingers...

I put it together via software and cut it out on our mini desktop vinyl cutter.

Transferring each part over to the Quest was a bit tedious, but it was the perfect activity for someone having trouble sleeping haha.


You can find these cutting machines (paper, vinyl, etc) on eBay or Craigslist for $100.

Silhouette SILHOUETTE CAMEO 3, Cutting Machine

Thank you so much!

I've only been at it for just over a month now, so I'm no expert by any means, but here's what I found works best for me:

this paper
UV spray
For Cutting
[I use this printer] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0798D6XBM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_taa_.neCDbCF0XZKP)

I started out using regular sticker paper with a cold-press laminate(it was the cheapest route), and they looked and felt really nice...at first. they didn't hold up against weather and water for very long. The laminated part was water proof, but it would get wet under the sticker, and eventually break the sticker apart. They were also hard to make without them getting all scratched up before you even cut them.

I like that vinyl paper a lot. There are a lot of options for it, but that is the most cost effective, and so far, it's been really fantastic. The paper is water resistant, so water doesn't get underneath the sticker and break it apart like the other ones. After I print a page, I spray it with that UV spray. It just gives a nice texture that I like, and keeps them from fading in the sun. I ran a sticker through the dishwasher before I sprayed it. The sticker part held on phenominally well, the ink ran tho. I haven't tried it with the coat, but I don't see myself washing many stickers.

After the spray dries (a couple of minutes), a run it through the Cameo 3. I started out with a Cricut. I actually like the Cricut machine better. It's designed to just work. However, the software is garbage. It's web based, and even worse, it automaticaly arranges your artwork on the page to be printed and cut. That sounds nice, but 99% of the time, it wasted more than half the page. I was throwing out so much paper. There are some workarounds I found online, but they were tedious, innacurate, and not worth the effort. I do not reccommend the cricut until they get their software in line. The Cameo takes a little more fiddling with, but it's more custumizable, and I arrange stickers on the page how I want.

My printer is just that low-end Epson. It works great actually. The only thing I would suggest is getting a printer that you can side-load. I feel like the the paper getting bent through the printer isn't good for the paper, and makes the printing inconsistent (also, it probably has to do with being a cheap printer too). I plan on upgrading, but I already bought a bunch of ink, and I want to get through that first.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, have fun!

Sorry about the novel!

I was reffering to something like this when I mentioned a cnc machine. Compared to the industrial counterparts, these vinyl cutters have become a lot cheaper, much like 3d printers have.

You could be your own stencil guy if you ask santa for one of these

Cuts complex art perfectly in minutes. And if you screw up, just plot it again..

I was thinking of the Cameo 3 which goes for $230, but the first version goes for $130 if you just want something a little cheaper and more entry point level. I've thought about getting one for some art projects I want to try out.

Does anyone know where I can get myself a die cutting machine? Something like this:

Silhouette SILHOUETTE-CAMEO-3-4T Wireless Cutting Machine - AutoBlade - Dual Carriage - Studio Software https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I51ME1S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SDEJDbCA5NBP2?

I'm also looking for an affordable laminator if anyone has any recommendations!

Hi there! I wanted to let you know that I purchased a Silhouette Cameo 3 and I used it yesterday with great results. The art I cut came out beautifully. Happy to provide more in-depth information if you'd like!

Do you want to spend an arm? If so, I’ve seen this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HKM26XS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Pa90CbRB6K010 no idea if it works because I’m poor.

If you’re using ABS you might be able to fuse them with acetone

For PLA maybe a heat gun or soldering iron and carefulness.

I’ve never tried to join filaments, just throwing some ideas out

If you're serious about printing photos then Epson isn't a bad company. The Epson Stylus R3000 has really good reviews. It's costs a good bit but your only going to get what you pay for. You can probably find a better deal but this is a good place to start, I think.

http://www.amazon.com/Epson-Wireless-Wide-Format-Printer-C11CA86201/dp/B004IZN3RK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I cut them out yesterday via this handy desktop vinyl cutter.

Silhouette Cameo 3: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I51ME1S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8iKiDb15TDW94

But there are a ton of ppl selling them pre-made.
1 on amz, the rest are on various online stores (Etsy, etc):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9TOFR7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.kKiDbS490SEB

I call bullshit. $50 says this was cut using a cricut or silhouette.

https://www.amazon.com/Cricut-Explore-Wireless-Cutting-Machine/dp/B00TTESL18

https://www.amazon.com/Silhouette-SILHOUETTE-CAMEO-3-4T-CAMEO-3/dp/B01I51ME1S

I used this it comes in really handy.

I guess I wasn't thinking small-scale enough. Thinking about cutting multiple layers at once.

So basically 300$ and off you go. I guess.