Best Computerized Matte Cutter

J

JamesConner

Guest
We have an old Wizard and I mean old it still runs Windows 95 for all you fans of the new Windows 10 releasing this week. It gets the job done but we are paying a lot for old stuff. I am looking for suggestions on new Automatic Matte Cutters. If anyone can give us advice that would be great. The one we have currently runs on compressed air. I would like maybe three different options to choose from. Any and all suggestions would help but I would like to get some suggestions from people who cut Vinyl and Mattes or other mutli-purpose things. Hope you can help.
 
If you are familiar with the Wizard, you might want to look into their lease program. I have been leasing from them for 14 years or more and they are very reasonably priced. The thing I like about leasing is that if anything goes wrong they fix it at no cost to you, and when you want to upgrade you just turn in your old one for a newer model. I know that Valiani and Gunner have good machines as well because I have several customers who have given good reports on them, but the Wizard is the only machine I have ever had so it is the only one I can speak for. I will say this though, in todays market not having a CMC is a bad move for anyone in the business. No matter how small your shop is you will not be able to compete without one. This is the statement that I made about CMC's and I think it applies here as well:

For years now, I have had the opportunity to council new framers. The one thing I always tell them is that for the cost of leasing a Wizard CMC they can't afford not to have one. Most of their competition will have a CMC and if they want to compete in today's market, it will be the most important piece of equipment they will ever have.

The first time I realized how valuable my Wizard was to my business, was the day a school called and ordered 250 of the same sized mats for an art show that was just two days away! Attach-EZ hadn't even been born yet and I was still a one person operation with only one day to complete the order. If not for my Wizard, I would have had to turn the job down. My cost for materials was around $300 and the school paid $8.50 a mat. That one job almost paid for my rental payments for the next year. It also showed me how foolish I was to worry about the cost of getting into a CMC in the first place.

Even now, with so little time to do framing, I wouldn't be without my Wizard. And if you have ever seen me at a show, you also know how much I depend on it to teach innovative ways to mount all sorts of 3D art.


Right now Wizard has refurbished 8000's for $7995. I loved my 8000 and would highly recommend it.
 
You will get so many different answers, based upon what each and everyone of us uses.

I bought my Valiani 6 years ago and would do so again in a heartbeat. I don't have experience with Wizard. I know of at least 2 framers who switched from Wizard to Valiani. I have not heard of any framer switching from Valiani to Wizard. (which means nothing, it's just not something I personally am aware of)

Valiani at the time offered lease programs as well.
 
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I have also heard of framers going from Wizard to Valiani.
I have had a Valiani for 6 years so far and love it. Could not think of switching. Check them out.
 
Our next CMC will be a Gunnar. (Our 14-year-old Eclipse is still chugging along though.) I'm not a fan of the Wizard units. If I were offered a brand new one to trade our Eclipse, I'd say "no way."

Andrew
 
I've had the Gunnar F1 Hybrid for 2 1/2 years. I love it. It's easy to operate and totally reliable!
 
I like my American built...Wizard 9000
 
I'm curious Andrew, if your Eclipse is 14 years old and still running well, why would you say that you have never been a fan of the Wizard unit? It doesn't sound like you have ever had one or did I miss something? I've heard that Gunner is a very good CMC and those who have them like them. I have also heard the same about Valiani. But I can't speak directly about either machine because I have only had a Wizard and any advice I would give about the aforementioned is 3rd party.

No matter which CMC you own or rent there will always be a few who don't like them for one reason or another. The only point that I have been trying to make is that if you are in the framing business you can't afford not to have one. Which unit you should buy or lease is a a toss up. They all do the same things more or less, depending on the model. The Wizard is my choice because it is what I am familiar with. The 8000 was a wonderful machine. I traded up to a 9000, which has so many bells and whistles that if the day ever comes when I have the time to sit in on one of their classes I would find out that I have only scratched the surface on the machine's capabilities. There has been a learning curve and since time doesn't allow me to do much framing anymore, it's always going to be a work in progress for me. But Wizard's help desk has been great to deal with on that front. Since I have a love hate relationship with all my computers, the CS people have all been very helpful and patient with my computer ineptness when training me to use the 9000. Many kudo's to them.

And.....................".Made In America" is a very good point Gumby.
 
I don't want to bad mouth a manufacturer too much so I didn't go into detail on the Wizard. I've done a lot of research on CMCs—talking to those who repair them, those who work for and used to work for various CMC companies. I don't need to drive a Ford Escort to know that I'd prefer a Porsche. An Escort will, no doubt, be perfectly serviceable and pleasing to many people, but there is a quality difference in parts, design, and performance. We're a very picky shop—a former moulding rep brings her personal framing to us—so we couldn't get by with anything less than a very, very good CMC and we are willing to pay the higher price to get just that.

That said, aside from being inefficient, the Wizard software is very flexible and capable. I can't speak much to Wizard's service, but they've been helpful in the times when I've needed support for for the rare times that we use their software for running our Eclipse. (Wizard took over service of Eclipse when it closed its doors and also reconfigured their software to operate the Eclipse CMCs.)

Would I buy a Wizard to start off my shop if I couldn't afford another CMC? Maybe, but I'd probably be inclined to buy a used CMC of a different brand than a new Wizard. But each shop is different and most are not as picky as we are.

Andrew
 
As always this question comes down to if you like GM, Ford, or Toyota. The answer depend so much on what you really need, what you want, and how much you want to spend. I forgot Porshe, Volvo, Range Rover and Mercedes
 
I would say that the best CMC is the one you can afford as long as it works. We bought a used Eclipse because we couldn't afford anything better/pricier. We just don't have the dollars. Been well worth the money though. No question.
 
Anything but wizard-there is no "technial service".
Made in america? Is wizard sourcing their PC or monitor from an American manufacturer? Really?
I'd suggest contacting the CMC Doctor and ask him (Mark Eaton) which CMC's in servive (out of warranty) create work for him.
Valiani or Gunnar will be my next CMC.
I just hope Valiani isn't built by Fiat(the folks that own Chrysler)
 
i think the which is best question is a real waste of time. its better to ask what features do you like and dislike about your machine. as most people will have only owned one brand of machine

when i chose my gunnar, i had demos from the main 4 machine makers. all of them cut generally fine. all seemed built well. the main thing i chose the f1hybrid for was the software. having done quite a bit of graphic design in the past using dtp apps etc, i liked the feel of the gunnar software.
 
I purchased a new Wizard CMC 8500 abut 7 years ago. It is "okay". The reason i say "okay" is because it is cheaply made and if anything breaks they charge a fortune for the part.
 
I'm primarily in the IT world and get asked what is the best ____ all the time.
My usual response is that it comes down to best for the money.
What are you getting for that money and what options / qualities are worth it to you to pay more for?
The car example is a great one that I use a lot. Best car out there - Lambo., Ferrari, Bentley, etc, but most people are asking about best car in their price range or for their specific use.
Won't go into it, but there are a few companies that I adore their products for the cost, phenomenal support, etc but I buy other because I need higher quality / pro grade, etc and that is not their market.
 
I purchased a new Wizard CMC 8500 abut 7 years ago. It is "okay". The reason i say "okay" is because it is cheaply made and if anything breaks they charge a fortune for the part.
This hits the nail squarely on the head - I have both a Wizard 8500 and an Eclipse - and Wizard tech service is limited to to three solutions:
1. you need a rebuilt / new driver box (in my case it was a less than $300.00 for the X axis driver card within the "you cannot take that box apart" driver box - you have to buy a new box for $3000.00)
2 you need a rebuilt / new cutter heard
3. you need a rebuilt or new Wizard CMC

Thank you Mark - the CMC Doctor for the replacement card!!
I do give Wizard great credit for great"how to's" in the mat design dept and Mr. Wolfe is a great classroom instructor.

The two CMC's side by side are like comparing apples to oranges (or in Andrew's case a Porsche to a Dodge(Fiat) Dart).

The CMC demos were great yesterday. The Swiss are known for superb quality and craftsmanship.
The Valiani is more of a Ferrari but is much more competitively priced than the Gunnar.
 
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The Viliani comes in a size that cuts 48x96 mats. That's incredible. However they go from around 20k to 32k I think. That premium is ridiculous in my opinion.
 
The Viliani comes in a size that cuts 48x96 mats. That's incredible. However they go from around 20k to 32k I think. That premium is ridiculous in my opinion.

I think it's probably a realistic cost reflection. Think about how much more robust a frame needs to be when you go from 48 x 60 to 48 x 96. You can't simply expand the dimensions. Beyond the engineering, even the materials may suddenly escalate in cost.

Then factor in that they probably sell the big ones 1:100, and all that additional cost has to be amortized over a much smaller base. Is there a "well if you need it you're going to pay for it" profit margin? Maybe, but I wouldn't assume so.
 
David, after reading your comment I agree with you. Maybe you should have manned their booth. It wasn't explained to me that way. The guy just shrugged when I questioned the difference.
 
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