fergus Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Hey all, New to the forum and stumbled upon it looking for some advice on engraving machines - this seems to be the best place to get good advice. I'm looking at getting an engraving machine and am wondering which machine to go for. Planning to go and see a 2nd hand Suregrave Rotation S with Rona Machines (about £5k) tomorrow but had also looked at the U-marq machines (Universal 350 and GEM-CX5, £10k and £7.5k respectively). Any thoughts on what machine is the best? We need to engraving hip flasks, tankards and quaichs (bowls). Nothing too big, but obviously taking bigger items might come in handy at some point. We're quite a techy company, so good software is important, and it's good if it runs on a modern PC with Windows 7. Would greatly appreciate anyone's advice/thoughts on how best to make the decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Get hands on with the machines you are looking at, don't rely on a demonstration by someone who knows the software inside out. I would suggest the biggest issue is perhaps more about quality of back up & parts availability should you have queries, or things go wrong. U-Marq & Gravograph are the 'big 2', and for a reason. For me, (as everybody on here knows!) it's U-Marq every time, I find their software to be the easiest to use (I have also had a gravo machine, so do have experience to compare) and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them every time. This is why I now have 4 of their machines. Get out there, speak to the companies (to see what's available new or second hand) and get to play with the machines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 I agree with Steve. I'm a Umarq Uni 300 user, machine is great and the software is really simple to use. You could struggle on here if you need advice on anything other than the "big 2". Just ask shadowster...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergus Posted September 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Great advice - thanks. I'm going to check out Rona Machines tomorrow and he has a few different ones I think, so I'll have a play around with the different options when I see them. I also heard that Suregrave went bust so maybe parts are harder to come by now. @Steven - What U-Marq machines have you got? Any tips on good second hand sellers? Figure that second hand is a good place to start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Why not pop along to the exhibition this Sunday, September 22nd and have a go? Event City, Manchester 9am til 5pm All the big players will be there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergus Posted September 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 @Keith awesome idea! Was gutted that I wouldn't be able to make Sunday but I can make Monday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 @Steven - What U-Marq machines have you got? 2 x Gem RX5 Universal 300 Quest 1824 And an old manual Mastergrave Mk5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Why not pop along to the exhibition this Sunday, September 22nd and have a go? Event City, Manchester 9am til 5pm All the big players will be there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CotswoldEngraver Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 U-marq all the way here running 2 of their machines and never questioned my decision to buy u-marq. Good advice to go to the show and check out all of the options available, you can then make your own informed decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 i have the u-marq gem cx-4, ideal for hipflasks, tankards & quaich's up to 5 inch, sits on top of the counter easily, and it also has a generous flat bed area, i have had it 2 or 3 years, realy is a great machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergus Posted September 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Just had a look at a Suregrave Rotation S and one of the nice features about it for my requirements is that you can flip the jigs (clamps) so you can have a tankard setup and a hip flask setup all the time, and just rotate the front depending on which you're engraving. Feels like this will be a lot faster than changing the jaws of the clamp every time (which is how I'm assuming it will work on other machines). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Just get to the show and assume nothing till you've had a play Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergus Posted September 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Just get to the show and assume nothing till you've had a play =D> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CotswoldEngraver Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Just had a look at a Suregrave Rotation S and one of the nice features about it for my requirements is that you can flip the jigs (clamps) so you can have a tankard setup and a hip flask setup all the time, and just rotate the front depending on which you're engraving. Feels like this will be a lot faster than changing the jaws of the clamp every time (which is how I'm assuming it will work on other machines). Don't get too bogged down in having a separate set of jigs for circular work and flat work. it takes literally seconds to change over from flat jaws for hip flasks to cup cones for tankards on our machines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibsjo(SCO) Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 in that case you want to buy the GRAVOGRAPH 400 VOLUME the real engravers machine! carry on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobblers&keys Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Honestly don't touch the rotation if your not familiar with computer engraving. I had a nightmare with mine It had a mind of its own. I have heard others have had problems with it too. imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Gardner Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 i have 6 engraving machine and 3 are umarq and i couldn't live without them umarq all the way for me as well. craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergus Posted September 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2013 Honestly don't touch the rotation if your not familiar with computer engraving. I had a nightmare with mine It had a mind of its own. I have heard others have had problems with it too. imo Interesting. What kind of problems did you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted September 18, 2013 Report Share Posted September 18, 2013 is200tx has a mind of its engraver, we are one with the machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobblers&keys Posted September 18, 2013 Report Share Posted September 18, 2013 When it was set to do a cylindrical job, the needle would come across to the flat bed home position causing it to put a big scratch across the cylindrical item. I know this was a fault of the machine and not me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergus Posted October 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 Thanks for all the advice guys. Ended up going for a Mastergrave Universal. An older machine, but should work OK and has the latest version of U-Marq software so feel it's a good starter machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 Good move Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CotswoldEngraver Posted October 14, 2013 Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 Good choice. New member of The Vistool Owners Club on the way I feel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Gardner Posted October 14, 2013 Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 Thanks for all the advice guys. Ended up going for a Mastergrave Universal. An older machine, but should work OK and has the latest version of U-Marq software so feel it's a good starter machine. good choice any probs post in the vistool owners club craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowster Posted October 14, 2013 Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 Honestly don't touch the rotation if your not familiar with computer engraving. I had a nightmare with mine It had a mind of its own. I have heard others have had problems with it too. imo ive had a nightmare with mine , but if you get a good one there great if you get a bad one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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