Experience with Xante Speedsetter 300?

[robbg439]

Does anyone have any insight on the performance of this machine? I run a tiny publishing company that puts out art books, stationery, and the like. I've been using an old vertical camera to make plates (too time consuming) or I've been outsourcing plates from a service bureau (too expensive, too much lag time). So I've been looking into upgrading to an affordable in-house ctp system.

Xante's platemaker machines can be had on Ebay for around $1000 or so, but I'm not that impressed with the lpi. The general consensus seems to be that its ok for linework, not so hot for halftones. A lot of my work is one or two color photography or illustrations that look best with a fairly high lpi.

The Speedsetter seems like a good middle ground between the platemaker and a higher-end ctp system. But I haven't seen any of these systems on any second-hand or auction sites. I also have no idea how much a system like it would cost. I don't have a fortune and like I said, I'm a tiny shop funded by book sales and arts grants, rather than printing jobs.

P.S.- As a designer, I am in lust stochastic screening, and I wonder how xante's "perfectblend" screening compares, and how much this "extra feature" costs.

[Pressman's Pride]

I worked for Ripit, I know it inside out. the perfect blend is great, very high line screen and easy to print. If you want impeccable image quality, tight registration and fast reliable output for pennies on the dollar Ripit CtP with then Exxtra Cor,p Speedsetter and Open Rip symphony is very well worth the investment. Ask me any question you like, I have been buying and reselling bank repo's and can install, train and support now and in the future

[Copycat]

I'm in the UK (Surrey) - is this only a US site? just found it!

These imagesetters are fab yet know one seems to have heard of them here when I have rung around the dealers!!!. Mine is branded Exxtrasetter 300 and looks the same as the one on the Xante web site. Comes with Harlequin rip on a PC.

we bought it some years ago but did not get the work. It has run about 3 rolls of film. Looks new, cost a fortune. If anyone interested email me.

Cheers

Rob

[VladCanada]

Exxtrasetter... with a "virtual drum"?!

[Copycat]

Yes it's "virtual" as the marketing went.... - I am in IT now, at the time I was looking for an imagesetter, I looked around a was not impressed with the capstan setters and couldn't afford a drum but came across this patented technology. I was impressed. With the accuracy of a drum for the price of an ecrm capstan. It was better than the large floor mounted Linotronic I already had but was tiny, light weight and table top producing SRA3 film. Now they use them for making plates!

It has what they call 2 x clamshells. One at each end. The film is brought around and over these to form a cylinder (drum) - then a clamshell with a thin slot images from one end to the other passing along this tube of film.

Simple and very effective

[BLUNTBRAD]

Yes, i am interested, how much do you want?

bowersandkelly@yahoo.com

[Copycat]

Hi, At the end of last year I called around the dealers hoping for £2000 but they had never heard of it.

I may as well except £900 or close to now. I can demo it and have some supplies for it somewhere! Come and have a look.

Cheers Rob