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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Scobey Peterman on April 15, 2023, 09:48:00 AM

Title: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Scobey Peterman on April 15, 2023, 09:48:00 AM
Many years ago I bought a single arm attachment for my manual press.  It was an air driven.  I had a V shaped flood/squeegee bar.  Then I bought a 6/8 auto and that was that.   

Move home and now everything I do is on a manual.  No room for a auto and was wondering if anyone knew where I might be able to get this One arm bandit.

Thanks for you help.
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Sbrem on April 15, 2023, 11:14:17 AM
Many years ago I bought a single arm attachment for my manual press.  It was an air driven.  I had a V shaped flood/squeegee bar.  Then I bought a 6/8 auto and that was that.   

Move home and now everything I do is on a manual.  No room for a auto and was wondering if anyone knew where I might be able to get this One arm bandit.

Thanks for you help.

You could only do one color with that, so perhaps finding a small flatbed like an old Advance Cameo 18, and putting a t-shirt plate on it (after removing the vacuum base, very easy) might work for you. We had one for years and printed thousands of shirts on it. Wooden frames even...

Steve
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Scobey Peterman on April 15, 2023, 11:22:39 AM
Do think it would work on a 4X4 manual??

I need to do P/F/P
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Frog on April 15, 2023, 11:58:10 AM
Do think it would work on a 4X4 manual??

I need to do P/F/P

If you did as Steve suggested and swapped out the bulky vacuum table base for a T-Shirt board, you would swing the flash over it like we always used to do on single station manual presses.
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Sbrem on April 15, 2023, 01:08:49 PM
No, it's not an accessory, it's an actual press.
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Scobey Peterman on April 15, 2023, 03:32:39 PM
I do not think this is going to work for what I am looking for.

I need to be able to put it on my 4X4 and be able to spin the boards.

While one flashes, the other station is printing.

Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Scobey Peterman on April 18, 2023, 10:14:02 AM
Well, just like everyone else, I have the right to change my mind.
I got to thinking about this machine. If I turned it around and let my boards go under the printing area it might just work.

So, who has a used one that I might be able to look at and maybe ever buy??

Thanks for you time.
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: zanegun08 on April 20, 2023, 01:43:56 AM
Lawson makes or made something similar to what you are looking for.

https://aaprintsupplyco.com/products/lawson-mini-max-semi-automatic?variant=39557202444372 (https://aaprintsupplyco.com/products/lawson-mini-max-semi-automatic?variant=39557202444372)

You move the pallets and it has two pneumatic print heads.

You could make the other style work, and if you just got a foot pedal to activate it could work ok but would take a lot of modification and finding one that has an open area to make it work with the press.

https://aaprintsupplyco.com/products/lawson-mini-printer-asi?variant=39556133290068 (https://aaprintsupplyco.com/products/lawson-mini-printer-asi?variant=39556133290068)

A pneumatic heat press and subcontracting the rest could be a good middle ground.  Seems like a lot of work, risk, and money to just not have to pull a squeegee.

I haven't seen what you are describing but if you find it share it as I'm interested just for novelty.
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Sbrem on April 21, 2023, 11:03:40 AM
Well, just like everyone else, I have the right to change my mind.
I got to thinking about this machine. If I turned it around and let my boards go under the printing area it might just work.

So, who has a used one that I might be able to look at and maybe ever buy??

Thanks for you time.

Some of Advances earliest autos were a series of these around an indexer, look up Arrow Multiprint, at least I think that's what it was called... check out this youtube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9FM8tE--oo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9FM8tE--oo)

Steve
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Scobey Peterman on April 21, 2023, 11:25:29 AM
I think for now I want to look for a Lawson Mini-Printer. (USED)

I want to set it up so I can rotate my manual board under it to print.

Suggestions are welcome. It must be small to get it into my basement.

Thanks
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: ebscreen on April 21, 2023, 12:43:17 PM
Won't work out of the box as depicted, you'll have to cobble a way to index your pallets to the machine within a thousandth or two.
Not a small task. Unless you are only printing single hits of course.

I think the Lawson Apollo machines are pretty small?

Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Scobey Peterman on April 21, 2023, 01:11:10 PM
I will be indexing the pallets manualy.  Same spot every time.
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Sbrem on April 21, 2023, 01:12:04 PM
So why is it that you want to rotate your manual table under it? Print/Flash/Print?

Steve
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Frog on April 21, 2023, 02:22:59 PM
I'm going to go out on a limb, and guess that Scobey needs a little help clearing the screen of thicker opaque inks.
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Scobey Peterman on April 21, 2023, 04:06:50 PM
As most of you know , I relocated my shop to my basement about a year ago. Things are going very well.
I had to sell off my 6X8 automatic and am now doing all printing manually. Big orders I farm out.
I have been in the business for over 30 years now.  Pulling a squeeze for several hours is really wearing on my arms.
So it is time to get some help.  A one station, one color printer would make my little world work better.  And save my arms for clapping at one of my Granddaughters softball games
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Scobey Peterman on April 22, 2023, 09:23:47 AM
Yes, Steve.

Most of my printing is P/F/P.
Title: Re: Single arm auto for manual press
Post by: Scobey Peterman on April 25, 2023, 10:46:05 AM
Do anyone know where I might be able to find one of these machines????