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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: jvanick on February 08, 2014, 03:34:39 PM
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All the 'new press' threads and the equipment resource list and all the nice gear got me to thinking about those of us who print on older/antique (by today's standards) equipment.
I own and print every day on a 1991 Javelin 6/8, which has been upgraded with pneumatic screen locks, and a chopper system. And then send them down a Mercury conveyor dryer from around the early 90's.
I'm actually considering replacing the original PLC with a home-coded one to add things like double index, dry index & revolver mode.
Who else here is printing on antique gear? And have you done anything to 'modernize' it?
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Our shop has a circa 80's American Rototex 6/4 manual press. With an inline foil stamper.
I hate the whole thing.
:D
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oh boy. this is my thread!
We have a 1997 M&M Xpress 10/12 press. This press actually is pretty awesome. it has a geneva drive, which from what i understand, is a step down from servo, and step up from pneumatic. It's got AC heads, and much like other American presses, it has a huge imprint area. Unfortunately for us, i think the PLC is toast, and no one has any information on this press, aside from the history of the machine. So this dinosaur might be done. But it was a solid press. Only one point of registartion though, which makes it a little weird.
That goes through a 2000 Sprint international.
Then we have a 1997 6/8 gauntlet. We bought it used, and at this point, i'm almost ready to complete rebuild it. I've already changed so many things on it.
That press goes through a mid 90's Eliminator Dryer.
On top of that we have a first generation stretching table, a Thompson Die Cutter from 60s/70s, and a Svecia Press/UV dryer from the early 90s as well.
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Have a 1991 Lawson dryer. Changed belt speed controller to digital and relays to solid state. This dryer is rock solid.
I just bought a 1995 Lawson Vector 6/8 automatic. Replaced a couple of the micro switches, welded a couple of cracked welds. Ordered new bushings for the heads but am figuring a way to change to bearings
This thing seems to have pretty good registration. I still haven't completely calibrated machine just been using the screen adjustments for head to head calibration.
I have a old national exposure unit that was a halogen and blacklight unit. Converted to a 1000w metal halide with steel manual shutter.
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There is a shop here in town (ol man) that runs a fab.1988 or so Precision Oval. Does not get any better than that! Another shop with MHM's. 1 SA. 2 SP2000. 2 SP 3000. 1 E type. That is every generation except the latest.
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I use a pretty old Advance Phoenix dryer, and my Workhorse Mach VI is no spring chicken either.
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Hahaha.
1984 American Multiprinter
70's cameo
60's/70's geniette (no longer used, but hard to get rid of lol)
1951 Heidelburg windmill diecutting/foiling press
50's Seybold Dynaclamp paper cutter.
I have some newer equipment, but these are the actual antiques of my shop. It's funny to not the lack of safety features, the heidelburg won't reverse and has no protection agains't falling into it's 16 ton jaws and the multiprinter is all too happy to pin you in between a platten and a print head. Thank goodness the American has a safety switch on top of the control unit, so as long as there is another person around you should be ok. I was soooo happy to have my thieme since it has a safety bar around the head since it is gear operated.
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1992 GT 6
80s American Cameo
80s American Tex Air, 20'
The Olec's and the Millington frame are the dinosaurs that have survived, though I suppose LED will eventually antiquate them.
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precision 6 color oval - 87 i think - and yes i can out print you on your new press with my oval - just gotta treat her with love.
SPEC - 8 color challenger rip off.
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oh and the dryer - precision
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There is a shop here in town (ol man) that runs a fab.1988 or so Precision Oval. Does not get any better than that! Another shop with MHM's. 1 SA. 2 SP2000. 2 SP 3000. 1 E type. That is every generation except the latest.
you like that press don't you ?
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There is a shop here in town (ol man) that runs a fab.1988 or so Precision Oval. Does not get any better than that! Another shop with MHM's. 1 SA. 2 SP2000. 2 SP 3000. 1 E type. That is every generation except the latest.
you like that press don't you ?
I ran many a shirt on it that's for sure. How are you doing on supplies?
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1992 Antec Legend 6/4, works perfect, holds great registration
Mid 90 Nuarc 40-1K Mercury Exposure unit
Late 90 Atlas 824 conveyor dryer
My whole SP setup is used stuff, but all of it is in a great condition.
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We have a prototype Supertex built by the original AWT. Early 90's ish. Not to be confused with the Rototex in any way. Tho we do not use a manual anymore I have never seen a manual in my years that can touch this supertex. Nothing built today or back in the day is as solid and smooth as this thing is. The problem was its cost, it just was not practical for the market so it never took off.
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1989 Precision Vortex dryer. The beast just keeps on burnin cotton day after day.
I had an all electric oval, not sure what year that thing was. What a horrid piece of machinery. It would slap ink on a shirt as fast as you could load it. It would also rip the necks and sleeves off shirts, misprint 4 in a row, all while maintaining horrible registration. Setting up a 4 color job required a monumental investment in test prints.
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1989 Precision Vortex dryer. The beast just keeps on burnin cotton day after day.
I had an all electric oval, not sure what year that thing was. What a horrid piece of machinery. It would slap ink on a shirt as fast as you could load it. It would also rip the necks and sleeves off shirts, misprint 4 in a row, all while maintaining horrible registration. Setting up a 4 color job required a monumental investment in test prints.
Sounds like a beauty. I bet the Trident was a dream compared to that thing.
We had a 91' American Centurian that looks almost identical to the 2014 models except they've added some tool-less features like squeegee angle adjustment and a few other little things but for the most part, unchanged. When we started shopping for autos in 07 I really began to appreciate the Centurian because it had more features than most of the new presses we were looking at. It didn't have central off contact and going from tees to sweats was a PITA and changing squeegee angle took an allen wrench, changing pallets took 20 minutes per change-out but when you look at the entire machine, it stood right up there with many of the new machines and actually stood above a few of them. Unfortunately the price for a new one was as much or more than an MHM S-type and Challenger 3 so it's little wonder they don't move a ton of those Centurians in most markets I've seen. I had zero idea how much a new Centurian would be when I got the quote and I damn near fell out of my chair when I saw it. I always recommend checking them out if someone is looking for a used press but space is usually a concern for those buyers and it takes up a ton of space.
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We have a 91 econo max dryer has been reworked with new parts (thanks Rich) a 2000 workhorse 6/4 manual press and I think maybe late 80's model heat press, cap press everything else pretty much up to date auto press etc. Equipment will last a long time if you take care of it.
Darryl
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1989 Precision Vortex dryer. The beast just keeps on burnin cotton day after day.
I had an all electric oval, not sure what year that thing was. What a horrid piece of machinery. It would slap ink on a shirt as fast as you could load it. It would also rip the necks and sleeves off shirts, misprint 4 in a row, all while maintaining horrible registration. Setting up a 4 color job required a monumental investment in test prints.
Sounds like a beauty. I bet the Trident was a dream compared to that thing.
We had a 91' American Centurian that looks almost identical to the 2014 models except they've added some tool-less features like squeegee angle adjustment and a few other little things but for the most part, unchanged. When we started shopping for autos in 07 I really began to appreciate the Centurian because it had more features than most of the new presses we were looking at. It didn't have central off contact and going from tees to sweats was a PITA and changing squeegee angle took an allen wrench, changing pallets took 20 minutes per change-out but when you look at the entire machine, it stood right up there with many of the new machines and actually stood above a few of them. Unfortunately the price for a new one was as much or more than an MHM S-type and Challenger 3 so it's little wonder they don't move a ton of those Centurians in most markets I've seen. I had zero idea how much a new Centurian would be when I got the quote and I damn near fell out of my chair when I saw it. I always recommend checking them out if someone is looking for a used press but space is usually a concern for those buyers and it takes up a ton of space.
that's how i feel with my current press. When i was going over information for the C3, our sales reps were getting really excited with all of it's new features, but on our current press, all of those features are there, and it was built in 97!
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My exposure machine is an '87 Dainippon plate maker. I'd like to say it works perfectly but unfortunately something seems to be wrong with the relay circuit that activates the main lamp. No biggie, I just wired in a manual switch. The light integrator is still fine.
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Not sure what year my Guillotine is.... Old. Good ol' Chicago Steel from Challenge.
My Hix dryer is old as dirt too, but keeps on keepin' on. I bought a newer used belt and extended the one side by 18" with some good old 2x4's ;D
I think my Padprinter is probably ~ 30 years old too.
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Hey challenge buddy! I just picked up this wwii era paper drill.
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/20/ane5u8az.jpg)
The table and fence were removed for ease
of transport.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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This was finally permanently retired to storage when we sold off the last of our 18x20 frames this past fall.
4 color, single pallet American Rototex.
Owner bought it used sometime around '84-'85 from a local high school art teacher.
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You can say what you want, but this old equipment still works!! just out dated and slower, and they used way more steel back then to build sometime.
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that's how i feel with my current press. When i was going over information for the C3, our sales reps were getting really excited with all of it's new features, but on our current press, all of those features are there, and it was built in 97!
Next time I'm in Houston can I come take a look at that X-press? I'd be willing to bet that it's the only X-press in the state of texas and likely within a thousand miles. I could be wrong and there are still quite a few Centurians in the state but I haven't heard of there being any of their other models. I'd like to get a good look at the C3 too and the few that are here in town aren't very open to visitors from other shops.
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10 foot harco dryer from 1987 still running strong. I replaced the temp control with a digital. It's a tank. I could take the legs off of it and cruise around town on it.
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10 foot harco dryer from 1987 still running strong. I replaced the temp control with a digital. It's a tank. I could take the legs off of it and cruise around town on it.
Is that the one with the belt re-tracking gadget?
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that's how i feel with my current press. When i was going over information for the C3, our sales reps were getting really excited with all of it's new features, but on our current press, all of those features are there, and it was built in 97!
Next time I'm in Houston can I come take a look at that X-press? I'd be willing to bet that it's the only X-press in the state of texas and likely within a thousand miles. I could be wrong and there are still quite a few Centurians in the state but I haven't heard of there being any of their other models. I'd like to get a good look at the C3 too and the few that are here in town aren't very open to visitors from other shops.
yeah of course, right now there aren't any c3s in Houston, at least that i'm aware of.....hopefully that will change in the next couple of weeks :))))
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I use a pretty old Advance Phoenix dryer, and my Workhorse Mach VI is no spring chicken either.
Don't the equipment tend to mimic the owners????? ;)
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It didn't have central off contact and going from tees to sweats was a PITA and changing squeegee angle took an allen wrench, changing pallets took 20 minutes per change-out but when you look at the entire machine, it stood right up there with many of the new machines and actually stood above a few of them.
Aside from the AC heads and the ability to go big on image size, I absolutely HATED the Centurian I used to work with. In fact it's the first auto I ever worked with, and I hated it within weeks. After working at other shops on other autos, I hated it even more.
Slow.
Micros sucked and filled with gunk easily.
Single registration fork for totally sloppy reg.
Flash units always broke down.
4-bolt pallets were a TOTAL pain in the ass.
Wood neck guides. Wood. On an auto press. WOOD.
No start/stop sequencing.
Etc, etc, etc.
I can't believe it even exists and is sold anymore. (seriously, who buys one??) It's like a Ford dealership today selling an 80's station wagon.
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It didn't have central off contact and going from tees to sweats was a PITA and changing squeegee angle took an allen wrench, changing pallets took 20 minutes per change-out but when you look at the entire machine, it stood right up there with many of the new machines and actually stood above a few of them.
Aside from the AC heads and the ability to go big on image size, I absolutely HATED the Centurian I used to work with. In fact it's the first auto I ever worked with, and I hated it within weeks. After working at other shops on other autos, I hated it even more.
Slow.
Micros sucked and filled with gunk easily.
Single registration fork for totally sloppy reg.
Flash units always broke down.
4-bolt pallets were a TOTAL pain in the ass.
Wood neck guides. Wood. On an auto press. WOOD.
No start/stop sequencing.
Etc, etc, etc.
I can't believe it even exists and is sold anymore. (seriously, who buys one??) It's like a Ford dealership today selling an 80's station wagon.
Most of those weren't ever an issue on our machine. I never put a wrench or changed a bulb on our HiFlash units. Wooden neck guides never were a problem except on printing the backs of hoodies but then we just took them off and problem solved. Without the neck guides it still had less deflection than most other autos. We had start/stop sequencing, NEVER a registration issue once I got the press calibrated.
Our micros were true and precise, it didn't require using tricks or adjustments over/under what you needed like you have with most turnbuckle style micros. It indexes slow compared to most other machines but ours ran at 700-800 per hour. We had the touchscreen control panel that never had any issues but our toggle switches needed replaced regularly. It blew fuses every once in a while, proxy sensors went bad, air lines wore holes in them due to rubbing on the metal which is a terrible design flaw, it was far from a perfect machine. I won't get into exact manufacturers and models of other presses but our Centurian was superior overall than most of the mid level autos we were looking at despite being way older. At the time we got rid of it I didn't have as much respect for it but the more machines I saw up close and got to know the more I realized it was way ahead of it's time. As far as them still making it, I have to agree, why would anyone pay that much for one when they could get an RPM for half price, a C3 for less, an MHM, etc? But if someone wants to buy a used one for a song I can guarantee that an early to mid 90's Centurian would be more enjoyable to have than ANY auto built in the same time frame...assuming it was more like our machine versus your machine.
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[I can't believe it even exists and is sold anymore. (seriously, who buys one??) It's like a Ford dealership today selling an 80's station wagon.
[/quote]
Nothing related to a Centurian, but I would buy a new 80's station wagon in a heartbeat if they still sold them. I wish any car company made station wagons still!
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How about an 80's Harco that was "brush" repainted by the used salesman's kid?
Yes painted the two Harco light and dark browns. It matched pretty good!
That dryer lasted me for another 10 years after of course replacing all six heater panels as needed.
Also drove 200+ miles to pick it up along with a Harco exposure unit in a -Horse trailer. ::)
The owner said, "Sure you can borrow it, the only rent I'll charge is if you help Ray grease the wheels. Ok!
Also, also, how about a '68 red station wagon that my dad didn't change out the winter tires one year.
Guess the treads were wearing down... But going too and fro from McyD's every day in the summer,
they sure made a loud embarrassing whizzing sound for a teenager. Turned up the 8-track Molly Hatchet and rode
that thing proud! 8)
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We took this with us when we bought a bunch of old equipment. Is anyone using something like this ?
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You and I may be the last two to still have a camera (but I actually used mine, LOL!) Keep meaning to toss it.
I was brought up on the big two-room horizontal jobs, but many of us space-starved T-Shirt and duplicating/offset hacks in the '70's and '80's used the more compact vertical ones.
Besides the bother of film and developing, newer members of the industry will never get is the HUGE difference and absolute ease in making halftones today.
We had to actually shoot through a special very expensive bumpy sheet to change a continuous tone to halftone, and then tweak highlights and shadows in the developing trays.
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If that "thing" above didn't say NUARC on it I could have been told it belonged on the space station and I would have never questioned it. That is insane/awesome/funny all at the same time.
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If someone had the space to have an old school show room of all the advances that have made screen printing better and easier, I would donate it lol
The show room might help some people from complaining about how hard it is to print these days lol jk ;)
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If someone had the space to have an old school show room of all the advances that have made screen printing better and easier, I would donate it lol
The show room might help some people from complaining about how hard it is to print these days lol jk ;)
I know it's crazy. Funny thing is that it is in better shape than some 2010 models haha
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It would be pretty cool if there was a screen printing museum. I would visit...
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You and I may be the last two to still have a camera (but I actually used mine, LOL!) Keep meaning to toss it.
I was brought up on the big two-room horizontal jobs, but many of us space-starved T-Shirt and duplicating/offset hacks in the '70's and '80's used the more compact vertical ones.
Besides the bother of film and developing, newer members of the industry will never get is the HUGE difference and absolute ease in making halftones today.
We had to actually shoot through a special very expensive bumpy sheet to change a continuous tone to halftone, and then tweak highlights and shadows in the developing trays.
We used to get films from a shop in Berkeley that was owned by our shop manager's husband. (they were both screen printers but worked apart). He had a nice old camera that took up 3 different rooms in his shop.
His films were amazing in quality, and I always got a contact negative of the positive to use for masking for color separations later.
Those were the days. Rubilith, swivel knives, Letraset sheets with all the letters there but THE ONE YOU NEEDED....
Glad that's all over.
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Add me to a third member of the Stat camera family in the dark corner of the shop.
Bought it about 20 years ago and my wife said you better use that….
Guess what, nope.
Took a good while to go from laser paper to inkjet having reservations, but
best move ever on film for us. Anyone still using cans of spray toner? :P
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Anyone still using cans of spray toner? :P
LOL.
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I am having a hard time understanding why a stat camera needs more than one room, the ones I have seen in photos look large, but are all in one room.
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I worked at a shop where we had a multi-room horizontal camera, shot films up to 50" x 100" Mostly 4cp. stuff. The guy who ran the camera was a wizard with the thing, I never did learn much about it. Voodoo and black magic from what I could tell.
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I am having a hard time understanding why a stat camera needs more than one room, the ones I have seen in photos look large, but are all in one room.
The larger ones generally have the copy board (and its lights) in one room (could be the art room) and the film board in the darkroom.
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Definitely those Rototex machines are built for life
`till death do us part.
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Anyone still using cans of spray toner? :P
No, but I still have a can. Anyone need one?
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How about a Rhema Dura Screen Stretcher? Preceded Newman's tables
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How about a Rhema Dura Screen Stretcher? Preceded Newman's tables
Brent and I found one of his at another shop in your neck of the woods. Needed a little adjustment. Who better to fix it than the man who invented it? 8) 8) 8)
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I know this thread is getting old, but I just came across this .... We used this until July of 1012 !
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I know this thread is getting old, but I just came across this .... We used this until July of 1012 !
nice. dont care what they say -with proper maintenance this press work very well.
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I know this thread is getting old, but I just came across this .... We used this until July of 1012 !
1012???? Printing for the crusades???
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They made electric versions as well.
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They made electric versions as well.
I think this is the electric version. We made pallets for these machines for many years. This was actually the second pallet design that we ever made.
Anyone know whats pictured here?? I'll bet Tony does.
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Agreed this appears to be the electric vs. No hydraulics visible. And that is the screen carraige pictured.
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Found a pic of the micro reggie tool for that old Precision:
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That same tool fit my Hopkins
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I know this thread is getting old, but I just came across this .... We used this until July of 1012 !
1012, just before the Battle of Hastings (1066 I think). And that "Micro registration tool" we called our Dynamic Excitement tool.
Steve
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I know this thread is getting old, but I just came across this .... We used this until July of 1012 !
1012, just before the Battle of Hastings (1066 I think). And that "Micro registration tool" we called our Dynamic Excitement tool.
Steve
When bought from cronies for hundreds of dollars on government contracts in the '70's, it was sometimes listed as a "manually operated fastener installation device"
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OK, I hadn't seen this thread before, and like Andy, I've been doing this since the early '70's. So, yes to just about everything posted; process cameras, both horizontal and vertical, tray developed films, ran a Filbar, Precision Ovals, Cameo's 18 and 24 (or was it 30). Anyway, I thought I'd show our oldest piece, our Seybold Guillotine, made and installed in this old mill building in 1916... (we bought it from the landlord for $500 when we took over the space)
Steve
We still drive our Roland plotter on a Mac clone running system 9 too...
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Who can guess what this is for, and it still good believe it or not
Darryl
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The Precision was electric. No hydraulics.
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Who can guess what this is for, and it still good believe it or not
Darryl
We've used paper gummed tape with a wet dispenser to tape screens in the old days.
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The Precision was electric. No hydraulics.
The hydraulic ovals were beasts. Fluid is easier to accel and decel than air (or was back then) and you could really crank them up past Precisions recommendations. But, many people overrode the saftey on the master print head. Dangerous. At Winterland one guy got his skull crushed. Died instantly. You need to respect hydraulics.
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Who can guess what this is for, and it still good believe it or not
Darryl
We've used paper gummed tape with a wet dispenser to tape screens in the old days.
ditto on the kraft tape. Getting it off was a bit of work, but if you let it soak in warm water, it loosened up pretty well.
Steve
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I seem to remember sticky fingers from its application.
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Years ago I bought some screens and they had that paper tape all over them, being new in the biz back then I didn't know how to clean them. I ended up tossing some nice screens until an old buddy told me to use soapy water and let them sit some, paper just melted right off.
D
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10 foot harco dryer from 1987 still running strong. I replaced the temp control with a digital. It's a tank. I could take the legs off of it and cruise around town on it.
Is that the one with the belt re-tracking gadget?
Sorry frog, didn't see your question. Yes it has the re-tracking gadget. I removed it and added a piece of rubber around the rollers (about 12" wide) and it never moves side to side. Poor man's crown roller.
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Gummed tape... awesome. I always loved it when that tape was described as "tightening up the screen".
Soooo.... exactly how much tension did you have on that screen to start with?
I'm jealous, the only vintage gear I get to use here is an old Hopkins, and EVERYONE has one of those.
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Gummed tape... awesome. I always loved it when that tape was described as "tightening up the screen".
Soooo.... exactly how much tension did you have on that screen to start with?
I'm jealous, the only vintage gear I get to use here is an old Hopkins, and EVERYONE has one of those.
There used to be a really fast dry block out from, I think Southwestern. It was made with some really fast evaporating solvent base, and was really poor for tight register screens as it would actually shrink the mesh as it dried.
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Gummed tape... awesome. I always loved it when that tape was described as "tightening up the screen".
Soooo.... exactly how much tension did you have on that screen to start with?
I'm jealous, the only vintage gear I get to use here is an old Hopkins, and EVERYONE has one of those.
There used to be a really fast dry block out from, I think Southwestern. It was made with some really fast evaporating solvent base, and was really poor for tight register screens as it would actually shrink the mesh as it dried.
That would be on stapled mesh perhaps? the kind of tension that registers 0 on a meter?
Steve
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Gummed tape... awesome. I always loved it when that tape was described as "tightening up the screen".
Soooo.... exactly how much tension did you have on that screen to start with?
I'm jealous, the only vintage gear I get to use here is an old Hopkins, and EVERYONE has one of those.
There used to be a really fast dry block out from, I think Southwestern. It was made with some really fast evaporating solvent base, and was really poor for tight register screens as it would actually shrink the mesh as it dried.
That would be on stapled mesh perhaps? the kind of tension that registers 0 on a meter?
Steve
The gummed tape was probably mostly on stapled screens (or the early re-tensionable, cord and groove), but my Kwik Dry reg problems were with standard well tensioned stretch and glues.
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Sometimes I feel like the antique printing on new equipment, I use to have some old screen frames that you push the cord in to attach the mesh...wish I had kept some around.
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How many you want? ;)
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The hydraulic ovals were beasts. Fluid is easier to accel and decel than air (or was back then) and you could really crank them up past Precisions recommendations. But, many people overrode the saftey on the master print head. Dangerous. At Winterland one guy got his skull crushed. Died instantly. You need to respect hydraulics.
that is just terrible. on a side note, that sort of thing really hurt the small plane industry in the 90's. People wouldn't properly maintain their planes and they would crash and family would sue the manufacturer. I am surprised it never happened that way with cars.
hydraulics are a totally different league than pneumatics. You can briefly hold a gaunlet from indexing with your hands...servo will rip your arms off without realizing it did anything.
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The problem was linked to the flash. The Precision flash would trip the safety and the mainframe would rise instantly. The machine would essentially freeze, often causing the shirt to scorch or burn. A quick wire disconnect would bypass the safety.
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The hydraulic ovals were beasts. Fluid is easier to accel and decel than air (or was back then) and you could really crank them up past Precisions recommendations. But, many people overrode the saftey on the master print head. Dangerous. At Winterland one guy got his skull crushed. Died instantly. You need to respect hydraulics.
that is just terrible. on a side note, that sort of thing really hurt the small plane industry in the 90's. People wouldn't properly maintain their planes and they would crash and family would sue the manufacturer. I am surprised it never happened that way with cars.
hydraulics are a totally different league than pneumatics. You can briefly hold a gaunlet from indexing with your hands...servo will rip your arms off without realizing it did anything.
Even though servos are very strong comparably, aren't they (at least most newer machines) still fairly safe and are somewhat "smart" and will recognize an issue and stop itself? Has anyone here with a servo had anything get lodged between the heads and pallets and what happened? Reason I ask is I know our press can recognize an issue during the index and it shuts down the system and goes into free wheel mode. During the last cold snap it got down to 23 degrees in the shop and our indexer was shutting down in mid index. After a few minutes of thinking about what could be the problem I knew the issue had to be temp related and I remember Rick telling me that a few of his colder weather customers needed to change the servo bath oil to a lighter weight due to extreme cold temps. I warmed up the servo area quickly with a space heater and problem went away. If the system can detect that the oil is too thick and shuts down shouldn't it be able to feel something, anything in the way of causing unwanted stress on the servo and shut down?
I'm sure someone with more knowledge will chime in but based on what I saw with our servo system, I'd assume that it would notice a "head" lodged in the way and shut itself down before the head fell off, but I could be wrong and I don't intend on testing out my theory.
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i am not so certain ours does that, but I really don't want to test it out. I feel if it doesn't it will break something.
they should run like garage door openers.
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It would be pretty difficult with todays technogies to get caught in a servo or belt drive. That said, we had one of the first all over wing servo drive M&Rs at Harlequin. Two person load. They had weight sensitive safety mats to protect the loader closest to the first print head. Now one night I had a new guy who was all of 90 lbs soaking wet. Somehow he shifted his weight and fooled the sensor and he was literally picked up and sent over to the print head and nearly got himself printed. New meaning to an allover print I supppose.
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I get the feeling the safety interlocks are indeed the key--I think the big issue with the index/servo thing is the momentum--it's one thing to hold the index still when it was already sitting still--how about slowing it down once it is moving at 3-4 feet per second?
As far as servos shutting down, they will (should) all be over-current protected, and should stop if enough load is on them to damage them, but if the momentum is already there, the motor can only attempt to reverse that momentum if it knows it is supposed to...
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I have attached a diagram of our first press. We used to print a ton of Van's t-shirts on these presses.
We designed their "Off the Wall" skateboard logo they still use til this day.
Before Rotary, older than dirt.
Al