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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Rockers on October 23, 2012, 01:00:12 AM

Title: ink scale 0.1g or 0.01g readability
Post by: Rockers on October 23, 2012, 01:00:12 AM
Hunting for a good ink scale but what do I have to look out for. We are going with the Wilflex Epic PC system which means we can use their software which in return means it would be good if the scale can be connected to our computer. But how about the readability of the scale is 0.1 gram enough or rather 0.01 gram. Unfortunately everything that can read 0.01 gram is fairly expensive. Will 0.1 gram be sufficient?
Title: Re: ink scale 0.1g or 0.01g readability
Post by: brandon on October 23, 2012, 01:06:00 AM
Hunting for a good ink scale but what do I have to look out for. We are going with the Wilflex Epic PC system which means we can use their software which in return means it would be good if the scale can be connected to our computer. But how about the readability of the scale is 0.1 gram enough or rather 0.01 gram. Unfortunately everything that can read 0.01 gram is fairly expensive. Will 0.1 gram be sufficient?

Hey, I swear I remember someone else posting something similar to this a few months ago. I would do a search if I was you. I can let you know who we used last time we upgraded our scale tomorrow when I get in. But for 0.01 gram we only paid a couple or few hundred if memory serves me. Shouldn't be too bad. Just like an auto get more than you think you need!
Title: Re: ink scale 0.1g or 0.01g readability
Post by: Frog on October 23, 2012, 01:16:33 AM
I mix tiny amounts of ink sometimes and though I usually use a complete ink system, I often wish I had .01 capability. Now, granted, you may not want to only mix 200 grams of finished product. but even with larger quantities, pigment concentrates can be needed in very small amounts of some ingredient colors!
Title: Re: ink scale 0.1g or 0.01g readability
Post by: Binkspot on October 23, 2012, 05:30:08 AM
We use the Wilflex mixing system and use .1 gram scale with no issues. Batches of 500-2000 grams. I used a 1 gram scale for a while and no one could see the differences between the two. 
Title: Re: ink scale 0.1g or 0.01g readability
Post by: Rockers on October 23, 2012, 06:25:04 AM
We use the Wilflex mixing system and use .1 gram scale with no issues. Batches of 500-2000 grams. I used a 1 gram scale for a while and no one could see the differences between the two.
Nice one. Have you connected the scale to your computer so it can communicate with the Wilflex software?
Title: Re: ink scale 0.1g or 0.01g readability
Post by: tonypep on October 23, 2012, 06:28:18 AM
For finished ink mixing systems most can get by with .1. For PC systems .01 is preferable.
Title: Re: ink scale 0.1g or 0.01g readability
Post by: Binkspot on October 23, 2012, 06:52:24 AM
No its free standing but I do recomend a printer so you can print the lables right off the mixing program. I use the Zebra thermal printer that UPS gave us.
Title: Re: ink scale 0.1g or 0.01g readability
Post by: cbjamel on October 23, 2012, 11:09:54 AM
I use for 1 qt mixing Aculab Vicon does  0.1 Found it new on web for 200-300 cheaper then anybody else wanted. Now if mixing more then hang on. Computer back in forth same way. 1000 or 1500 grams.

Shane
Title: Re: ink scale 0.1g or 0.01g readability
Post by: ebscreen on October 23, 2012, 12:51:07 PM
Depends on how much you are mixing?


Binkspot!

How in the heck did you get Wilflex IMS to work with your label printer? I swear the old version
had the option to make it work but I can't for the life of me get the new version printing.
Title: Re: ink scale 0.1g or 0.01g readability
Post by: ZooCity on October 23, 2012, 01:30:36 PM
Sartorious PMA 7500 here.  It only goes to 0.1 g put it's been no problem so far. 

If you are mixing pints and half quarts a lot with a PC system get a smaller scale that goes to 0.01.  The large, gallon size, scales that go to hundreths are freaking expensive and not really necessary.

I used a small scale called the X-Res for years that doesn't go to 0.01 but reads 0.10 - 0.15 - 0.20, showing you where the scale is hitting the rounding point on the hundredths, worked well for small mixes.

Then again, like binkspot I've used an office store postal scale in a pinch that reads in full grams and mixes came out spot on, but that was with an RFU system, not PC. 

I have the RJ-whateverthehell to usb cable for our 7500 scale but haven't hooked up the IMS yet as we don't have an "inkroom computer" at the moment.  My hope was to get it going with the scale and print out to thermal labels too. 
Title: ink scale 0.1g or 0.01g readability
Post by: BorisB on October 23, 2012, 02:22:54 PM
We use PMA 7500 as well. Bought on Ebay for slightly over 100€.
For connecting it to IMS special cable (90€ from Wilflex dealer) is needed. They have it rewired so regular  serial RS232 will not work, I lost two to three hours to find out what the reason is.
We hooked IMS to Brother 550 cheap label printer. Everything works very nice together.
Only thing missing in my  idea of good ink kitchen are really fully transparent ink cups.  I haven't had luck with finding good European supplier.

Boris