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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: ericheartsu on January 22, 2014, 05:05:05 PM
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Ok, so i know there has been several heated debates, but what is the BEST way to inventorize my m3s and mzxs? I'd like to start keeping track of what screen has what mesh on it, and when it was tightened last. one of many similar projects i'm going to start this year.
how do you all do it? cause right now color coded duct tape/paper with tape over it, is not lasting super long
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We use colored Zip Ties for the different mesh. Then a key is printed out for the wall.
As far as logging when they were stretched and such, I am still trying to find something for that short of engraving a "serial number" into each one.
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Dymo labeler
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/23/uvevutaj.jpg)
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(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/23/y6urury3.jpg)
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I'm sure there are simpler ways but we have vinyl printer and create a 1 x 2 1/2 inch sticker with bold black numbers in mesh sizes and thread counts and stick them to every side of the frame. We would only stick them to the ends but we have two different style screen racks. They hold up amazingly well even after several dippings in the tank even with not laminating them.
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We use color coded electrical tape with packing tape over that. You can tell your screen mesh from across the shop. Then we check tension after every reclaim. If it's to low we tighten.
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How about Anodized Colored washers.. A diff color for each mesh count? Example-
http://www.hillcofasteners.com/cat/Anodized-Aluminum-Beauty-Washers.aspx
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Here is a pic of the colored zip ties I was talking about-
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e260/Twinc/214a1271-f400-456e-adca-02e8ecd1ff17_zps784d9e7b.jpg)
Yes, I know the one in the back does not have one, I just realized that after I uploaded the photo. We ended up moving them for easier retention. The pic at least gives you the idea. You can get a container with like 5 different color zip ties from Harbor freight for maybe $7.
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We use the fluorescent ones as well, and I try to make the similar colors (green/yellow) meshes that are
obviously different, IE 137 and 280.
Doesn't putting them around the corner eff with your exposure? I guess the vacuum would pull the mesh
to the glass but I'm dead nervouse about breaking (another) piece of exposure unit glass.
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Alex, what kind of crazy ass platens are those in the pic, s.roque?
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Doesn't putting them around the corner eff with your exposure? I guess the vacuum would pull the mesh
to the glass but I'm dead nervouse about breaking (another) piece of exposure unit glass.
The biggest issue we had was it made the screen hard to retention(getting the socket on the nut) I'll take a proper pic tomorrow!
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Alex, what kind of crazy ass platens are those in the pic, s.roque?
Now ZOO, there is no need for name calling...:D Yes, those are S.Roque platens though.
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Sorry there, TCT.
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Careful that those zip ties dont put a hole in your blanket
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Sorry there, TCT.
You do understand I was joking, right?
I'm assuming you knew, but sometimes it is so hard to tell when a person is typing. Kinda why I try to use so many smiley faces:D:D:D;D
You guys probably just thought I was a real happy person... Far from it! :D;D
Careful that those zip ties dont put a hole in your blanket
The zip ties don't stick out any farther than the corners in the other place we put them. You guys are really making me pay for posting the wrong pic! :D I'll get a proper one and post it in the morning.
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Yeah I got it.
;{)
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I'm sure there are simpler ways but we have vinyl printer and create a 1 x 2 1/2 inch sticker with bold black numbers in mesh sizes and thread counts and stick them to every side of the frame. We would only stick them to the ends but we have two different style screen racks. They hold up amazingly well even after several dippings in the tank even with not laminating them.
^^^^
This.
T
this pic is on Hix Retens and S&G's, but would work just as well on the white tape you guys have to put on your Newmans.
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We simply take a picec of white vinyl, bumper sticker material, and write the mesh spec on it, then cover it with 2" clear packing tape. You can see/read the label across the room.
The masking tape is the design number and a brief location description. This is changed out on every job as part of reclaim.
We tried colored electrical tape and/or zip ties but with our yellow light screen room, it was a problem with blues & greens.
Simple & effective.
~Kitson
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OK! Here are the pics of the zip ties in the NEW place we put them on all the screens now....
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e260/Twinc/IMG_20140123_073801_zps9bd0d4cf.jpg)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e260/Twinc/IMG_20140123_073645_zps36bda2ed.jpg)
Like Kitson said sometimes the colors can be a bit tricky in the darkroom. The only ones I found to be real bad to decipher is between the orange and magenta zip ties. All the other ones don't pose that much of a issue.
Kitson- Do you guys use a dip tank? How does the tape with the mesh count and clear packing tape hold up?
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We do it like Mr Kitson but without the masking tape thing and I put the date I initially stretched the mesh on the right side of the short frame with the mesh count in the middel. On white label tape (or the Polyken 221) with clear tape over that and it lasts forever...rarely have we ever needed to relabel a screen because the markings came off.
I know people's brains all work differently so the need for the differing methods but because the way my head fires I've never thought to do it a different way. What's simple and practical to some of us simply isn't to someone else. One reason the color coded system would be tougher here is because we use so many different mesh counts, and the other reason is the majority of the screen techs haven't had the mental capacity to figure out a system besides the one we use.
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I like the numbering on the Polyken tape then covering it, I just kinda assumed it wouldn't make it through a trip in the dip tank. It is much better than the zip ties I'm using, it eliminates a whole step(checking the key for mesh count) and removes another opportunity for error. The mesh number being right on the screen is pretty straight forward! That is what we have on our statics and I like that much better.
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All good ideas. Its great to see that some shops actually work harden their frames and check tension regularly. It's safe to say that a majority of retnsionable shops I visit do not.
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All good ideas. Its great to see that some shops actually work harden their frames and check tension regularly. It's safe to say that a majority of retnsionable shops I visit do not.
This is something i'm hoping to start doing this year!