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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Gilligan on October 04, 2014, 12:41:34 AM
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2.5 hours, with no real instructions... Just a rough basics of level base, head one, platens to head one then heads to platen.
Took a lot of figuring, but I came up with a few gimmicks to get it done.
After leveling head 1 with a level to the printing rails, I taped a nickel and a dime together with a bit of extra tape as a tag to slide it under the frames edge. Clamped an old static with the edge of the pallet sticking out on one side and started leveling the pallet to the nickel dime combo and sliding the frame back and forth and adjusting.
Then just rinse and repeat for all 8 pallets, probably the most pain in the ass part just because having to go back and forth under the pallets. After that move the "rig" to the next head with a pallet and level that head to the pallet, much more comfortable as I could stay standing. Blazed through that pretty quickly, now I have a pretty sweet setup... I just hope I got the off contact right!
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2.5 hours, with no real instructions... Just a rough basics of level base, head one, platens to head one then heads to platen.
Took a lot of figuring, but I came up with a few gimmicks to get it done.
After leveling head 1 with a level to the printing rails, I taped a nickel and a dime together with a bit of extra tape as a tag to slide it under the frames edge. Clamped an old static with the edge of the pallet sticking out on one side and started leveling the pallet to the nickel dime combo and sliding the frame back and forth and adjusting.
Then just rinse and repeat for all 8 pallets, probably the most pain in the ass part just because having to go back and forth under the pallets. After that move the "rig" to the next head with a pallet and level that head to the pallet, much more comfortable as I could stay standing. Blazed through that pretty quickly, now I have a pretty sweet setup... I just hope I got the off contact right!
You got any photos of that procedure?
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It's a new press that was just installed why are you tinkering with it!!!?
I'm a bit confused whit what you did but please tell me you didn't level the pallets to the screen holders.
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Did workhorse not level this thing? Unless you have issues there is no way you need to be leveling it again this quick.
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The tech was in town when the gear arrived and ISS was about to kick off, I could have them quickly install it the next two days or wait till after ISS.
We went with the quick install option, they would have come back out if we wanted. But I wanted to learn how to do it myself. Figured if I got in over my head I could then call in that return visit. :)
Brian, hard to describe as it was hard to vision when told to me... But I leveled the platens to head 1 then leveled the other heads to the leveled platens. Almost texted you to double check that process but went for it half blind. ;) Did I screw it up? I didn't check everything after since it was late and I wanted to head home.
Rockers, I could get pictures after, but I'm sure someone has a MUCH more official way of doing it than my way!
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I still don't understand what you did but I'm slow. If the tech set the machine up correctly the only thing to check/adjust the pallets and screen holders every now and then
From scratch I level the base, level and center the print heads, set pallet arms, level pallets, set screen holders and lastly check/set regerstration. Then do a test print with at least 3 colors.
If your just setting pallets I use the flood bar. Level the back of pallet No.1 left/right with a level. Bring that pallet under head one, put a flood bar in and adjust using choppers to be about the thickness of a business card off the back edge of the pallet. Bring the flood at to the front and adjust to match the back. Now your set just bring every pallet under that flood bar and adjust so they are all the same. If you mess with the pallets you then have to set all the screen holders to match the first pallet.
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Yeah, I should have used the flood bar... I'll have to go over it again.
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Yeah, I should have used the flood bar... I'll have to go over it again.
(https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/2043286272/h20E33C18/)
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Have to start somewhere!
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Someone who shall remain nameless actually has a decent set of YouTube videos that take you through the process
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I watched them, if nothing else, he has given that to the screen printing community.
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I watched them, if nothing else, he has given that to the screen printing community.
You mind sending me a PM with the links to those videos please.
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I watched them, if nothing else, he has given that to the screen printing community.
You mind sending me a PM with the links to those videos please.
Second this ^^
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I wouldn't mind taking a peek also :)
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Swear you guys have never used youtube before. ;)
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Swear you guys have never used youtube before. ;)
Or Google...
Seriously guys, do a little search work like "How to install an automatic press"
Our policy here does not allow us to link to this particular guy's stuff.
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After 30sec I realized it's like watching bad porn.
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After 30sec I realized it's like watching bad porn
no such thing, there are naked folks on your TV, it's a good thing.
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Those specific videos are good to learn about the relationship between all of the planes but I'd not go through all that trouble to parallel a press. It can be done as accurately and in half the time. But if you don't quite understand how everything is tied together it will surely clear that up for you.
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Use his videos if you don't mind being talked down to lol.
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The tech was in town when the gear arrived and ISS was about to kick off, I could have them quickly install it the next two days or wait till after ISS.
We went with the quick install option, they would have come back out if we wanted. But I wanted to learn how to do it myself. Figured if I got in over my head I could then call in that return visit. :)
Brian, hard to describe as it was hard to vision when told to me... But I leveled the platens to head 1 then leveled the other heads to the leveled platens. Almost texted you to double check that process but went for it half blind. ;) Did I screw it up? I didn't check everything after since it was late and I wanted to head home.
Rockers, I could get pictures after, but I'm sure someone has a MUCH more official way of doing it than my way!
As far as off contact... set it low, because you can always shim under a screen frame to get more if needed.
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The tech was in town when the gear arrived and ISS was about to kick off, I could have them quickly install it the next two days or wait till after ISS.
We went with the quick install option, they would have come back out if we wanted. But I wanted to learn how to do it myself. Figured if I got in over my head I could then call in that return visit. :)
Brian, hard to describe as it was hard to vision when told to me... But I leveled the platens to head 1 then leveled the other heads to the leveled platens. Almost texted you to double check that process but went for it half blind. ;) Did I screw it up? I didn't check everything after since it was late and I wanted to head home.
Rockers, I could get pictures after, but I'm sure someone has a MUCH more official way of doing it than my way!
As far as off contact... set it low, because you can always shim under a screen frame to get more if needed.
I hit about 1/8" with shirt on the platen, so I think that's pretty good.
We run s-mesh so our tension is mid 20's.
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The tech was in town when the gear arrived and ISS was about to kick off, I could have them quickly install it the next two days or wait till after ISS.
This bugs me more than it should. If you buy a press it should be installed and properly dialed in, no matter what trade show is happening at the time.
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The tech was in town when the gear arrived and ISS was about to kick off, I could have them quickly install it the next two days or wait till after ISS.
This bugs me more than it should. If you buy a press it should be installed and properly dialed in, no matter what trade show is happening at the time.
Or if it can't be done right away like the customer wants due to his timeline, at least they should have came back through and did it after the show?
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The tech was in town when the gear arrived and ISS was about to kick off, I could have them quickly install it the next two days or wait till after ISS.
This bugs me more than it should. If you buy a press it should be installed and properly dialed in, no matter what trade show is happening at the time.
Or if it can't be done right away like the customer wants due to his timeline, at least they should have came back through and did it after the show?
This was offered before I even agreed to the quick install. Phil said he would come out from Houston himself and go over anything that I needed if I wasn't completely satisfied.
Again, I'm mainly tackling this because I want to learn to do it myself and if I completely bugger it up then I can call in to have them come out and fix it right. That call is like my safety net if I can't get it.
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Which isn't a terrible idea either to learn to do it yourself.
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Don't get me wrong... it was printing some nice prints.
We just know it can be fine tuned and done better. Some due to not being leveled as well as it could have... so I aimed to take that out of the equation and get it setup better.
We are running a job right now and I don't think we even have 10 psi on a top color and I could probably drop that some more! It's definitely dialed in a good bit better, but it was printing pretty shirts before as well.
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Kevin wouldn't that experience of doing yourself be greatly enhanced by watching the procedure for the initial setup? That way your only focus is on executing the procedures more efficiently..
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That's true.
I he did show me how to adjust the hangers and level the pallets when he was here.
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When my Diamondback was installed, I videoed everything the tech did. Been the best decision I've ever made regarding my press.
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learning to do it yourself is great. BUT. on the initial set up, no freakin way would that fly. they should never have offered you a "quick install"...this isn't some 5k manual, this is a 30k piece of machinery that needs to be dialed in to perfection. You can get the press to run and make nice prints with it still out of whack and wrecking parts and you won't even know it's going on...I would highly suggest to make the call and have them button it up before too much time lapses....never know what could happen in a month. but that's just me. one hell of a nice press to just go "eh, good enough"