Roland GX-24 Vinyl Sign Plotter/Cutter Review

The Roland GX series 24 inch cutter is considered to be the workhorse of the vinyl graphics industry. This has been true for a couple of decades. There are several reasons for the machines popularity.

First, it is a rugged simple machine. My Roland 24″ cutter has been running for over 10 years now and all I have ever had to do is replace the blade. Shops that need dependability often choose a Roland plotter.

Second, it is easy to use. It only takes about thirty minutes for a new sign maker to get up to speed and be making signs with this machine. The controls are on the front of the machine and easy to work with. Aligning your media is also quick and easy.

Lastly, the price is very affordable. The Roland GX-24 is priced at around $1,700 for the table top model and $2,000 for the cutter and a stand. This price includes a basic sign cutting software package. At this price, the GX-24 is well within the reach of most sign businesses. If you already have a computer then all you would need to add is vinyl and some sign substrates and you are ready to begin making signs.

Specifications on the Roland Model GX-24 are as follows:

Width: Accepts material from two to 27.5 inches wide
Mechanical Resolution: 0.0005”
Speed: Cutting speeds up to 20 inches per second
Power: Max down force of 250 grams
Optical Registration: Recognizes crop marks produced by a variety of print-only devices and automatically aligns media so that printed graphics can be accurately contour cut.
Materials: Vinyl, paint mask, reflective vinyls, twill, heat transfer, and sandblast
Roland CutStudio™ Software included

Note: Although the software that comes with the Roland GX 24 is adequate for cutting letters, numbers and basic graphics, you may want to consider upgrading to a more powerful package. When you purchase a machine, that would be the best time to upgrade. The seller will be motivated to give you a better price at the time of purchase. We have an article on sign cutting programs in our “Sign Business Startup Articles” section.

The video below shows the machine being used to cut heat transfer material for shirts. This is one of the many materials that the Roland GX 24 machine can cut.