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General => General Discussion and ??? => Topic started by: jvanick on October 30, 2014, 07:38:53 AM

Title: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on October 30, 2014, 07:38:53 AM
We're starting day 4 in the new shop today...

Some updates from this week:

Monday
Edgar from M&R got the press assembled and level.
Matt from T&J and I got the dryer assembled, and level.

Tuesday
Edgar continued leveling and dialing in the press...
Javier arrived and started the I-Image install
I built some custom brackets so I could run the starlight without glass and dialed in exposure times...

Wednesday
Edgar trained Tiffany and I on the operation of the press, and maintenance, we ran a few jobs, including a butt-register job that we trilocked and had on press with just 2 small micro adjustments (I'm sure it was us not holding the screens into the trilock platten correct tho)
Javier trained me on basic I-Image stuff and we made screens.

Today
HVAC guys are hooking up the new dryer.... we've been running on the old Workhorse 3011 dryer, which can absolutely not come close to having enough speed to cure shirts coming off the new press.
More I-Image stuff, and we're going to be putting a 9 color job on press... because we can :)

Thoughts so far...
Installers have been great... answering questions, showing us stuff, etc.
I-Image is awesome...  removing the glass from the exposure unit literally dropped our times in HALF... we're at 12sec for a 305, 13 sec for 225, 20 sec for 156 with SP1400...  we shot a 55lpi screen and it looks like we were holding down to a 2% halftone dot with no extra dialing-in...
The Sportsman rocks... I was running solo yesterday at approx 350/hr, with very little change to my technique... the fact that it indexes faster and table up/table down faster makes it WAY easier to print on than the Javelin.

The installers loved the fact that I was willing to get my hands dirty and jump in and help/install/do stuff, apparently that's not very common ;)
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: GraphicDisorder on October 30, 2014, 07:46:40 AM
Congrats, your situation is going to improve a lot!
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on October 30, 2014, 10:00:11 AM
already has, and we've had a crazy end to October orders... we're SUPER backed up now, gonna be printing all weekend...

I just got done making a few screens on the I-Image for prints today...  I'm so stoked on how fast everything is now...
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on October 30, 2014, 06:10:44 PM
Been rocking the new gear all day today, and I have to say this has stepped up my printing game in nearly inmeasurable amounts...

We've now setup 19 different jobs on the new press, and burned nearly 70 screens with the I-Image.

Sorry film guys, but even our small shop that does around 20 or so screens a day can already see a difference in screen quality, exposure time, and setup time.  out of the 19 jobs, 16 of them were multi color, and I was able to hit 2 of them with absolutely no micro'ing.

While there's definitely some bugs in the Rip code on the I-Image that I'm not too happy about (mainly having to re-open the same file multiple times to get it to actually open without an error), the unit works great and is really easy to use.

The new press, well, what can I say.. I'm printing right now at least 2x, if not 3x faster than I was able to run solo on the old press.  We have roughly 5000 shirts to run this weekend, and will have plenty of help, I'm guessing we'll be able to push the press to at least 650-700 shirts/hr, and maybe even faster...  Gonna need to optimize the Sprint dryer speeds tho...  we're at 380 degrees, belt at 12fpm, and the shirts are around 340 right before they leave... I'd like to get the belt up to at least 15fpm if not faster... may need to lower the gates, as well as bump the temperature higher.

Rich: you were exactly spot on in how much faster I'm able to print on the new press...

Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: 244 on October 30, 2014, 06:13:56 PM
Been rocking the new gear all day today, and I have to say this has stepped up my printing game in nearly inmeasurable amounts...

We've now setup 19 different jobs on the new press, and burned nearly 70 screens with the I-Image.

Sorry film guys, but even our small shop that does around 20 or so screens a day can already see a difference in screen quality, exposure time, and setup time.  out of the 19 jobs, 16 of them were multi color, and I was able to hit 2 of them with absolutely no micro'ing.

While there's definitely some bugs in the Rip code on the I-Image that I'm not too happy about (mainly having to re-open the same file multiple times to get it to actually open without an error), the unit works great and is really easy to use.

The new press, well, what can I say.. I'm printing right now at least 2x, if not 3x faster than I was able to run solo on the old press.  We have roughly 5000 shirts to run this weekend, and will have plenty of help, I'm guessing we'll be able to push the press to at least 650-700 shirts/hr, and maybe even faster...  Gonna need to optimize the Sprint dryer speeds tho...  we're at 380 degrees, belt at 12fpm, and the shirts are around 340 right before they leave... I'd like to get the belt up to at least 15fpm if not faster... may need to lower the gates, as well as bump the temperature higher.

Rich: you were exactly spot on in how much faster I'm able to print on the new press...
Sounds like you are going to be really busy for a while! Congrats!
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: Dottonedan on October 30, 2014, 07:34:33 PM
It's good to see my friends getting these. I'm installing one next week for another member.

I have much respect for Javiare.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: sqslabs on October 30, 2014, 07:40:29 PM
Sounds awesome man, congrats!  Be sure to post up some pics of the final setup when you have a chance. 
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on November 03, 2014, 09:12:28 PM
some pics..

(http://www.oaknet.com/gallery/var/albums/Screen-Printing/975-Nimco-Suite-P---Setup/IMG_7262.jpg?m=1415066611)

(http://www.oaknet.com/gallery/var/resizes/Screen-Printing/975-Nimco-Suite-P---Setup/IMG_7268.jpg?m=1415066622)

(http://www.oaknet.com/gallery/var/resizes/Screen-Printing/975-Nimco-Suite-P---Setup/IMG_7267.jpg?m=1415066621)
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: mk162 on November 04, 2014, 06:43:33 AM
all this to print shirts....anybody else find it crazy sometimes?

very nice BTW.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 04, 2014, 07:45:10 AM
Great looking set up man!
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: sqslabs on November 04, 2014, 07:55:13 AM
Nice!  And looks like you have room to grow as well.  Now let's see how clean you can keep those floors!    ;D
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on November 04, 2014, 08:01:30 AM
it's not super noticeable in the pics I posted, but all around the press, ink table, ink racks etc, there's 50# craft paper on the floor...  hopefully that'll catch most of the mess...
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: dirkdiggler on November 04, 2014, 02:35:41 PM
bet that double wall pipe out the ceiling set you back a penny or two!
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: sqslabs on November 04, 2014, 02:37:21 PM
it's not super noticeable in the pics I posted, but all around the press, ink table, ink racks etc, there's 50# craft paper on the floor...  hopefully that'll catch most of the mess...

I really wish I would have been intelligent enough to do this when I moved into my current location.  But hey, ink stains on the floor add character right?   8)
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on November 04, 2014, 02:42:47 PM
bet that double wall pipe out the ceiling set you back a penny or two!

That was not a pleasant bill...

$50/ft for just the pipe.  plus everything else needed on the roof and install labor.

I will say this tho... we had the old Workhorse 3011 running in the new shop for a few days before we got the MiniSprint up and running... the 3011 definitely warmed the place up, a ton... the MiniSprint, we barely notice anything... the only major amount of heat that's coming off of it is the residual heat on the shirts at the end of the belt.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: Gilligan on November 04, 2014, 08:46:17 PM
That's good... our Radicure pumps out a fair amount of heat. Not from the side but just the exit of the tunnel... rolling out. 8' ceiling about the exit is 150°, 6' away 100°!
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: Admiral on November 04, 2014, 09:35:02 PM
It's good to see my friends getting these. I'm installing one next week for another member.

I have much respect for Javiare.

Coming to Michigan? I mentioned you might be installing ours but have no idea what your region is.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: Dottonedan on November 04, 2014, 11:49:17 PM
HA!  Yes,  as a matter of fact, I am going to MI next week. I just checked and it's your Co.  Thats fantastic!  Love it. :) I'll see you on Tues. afternoon.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on November 07, 2014, 04:57:49 PM
All filled up for a week or 2.

35000 hoodies in the house.

(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/07/a11eafcb3ce8309b136c28499a943ba9.jpg)
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: mimosatexas on November 07, 2014, 05:07:03 PM
That might be the most hilarious and the most terrifying photo I have ever seen!
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: T Shirt Farmer on November 07, 2014, 05:24:52 PM
That might be the most hilarious and the most terrifying photo I have ever seen!

X2

Best of luck with the new shop looks awesome!
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on November 07, 2014, 05:43:17 PM
Doesn't look that big anymore lol
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: sqslabs on November 07, 2014, 05:58:00 PM
I take back my comment about having room to grow.   ;D

Good luck man!
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: SteveS on November 07, 2014, 06:15:29 PM
I hope I am not the bearer of bad news but I am wondering what type of 12" vent pipe you used for the Sprint dryer. We just learned the hard way that Type-B vent pipe is not what should be used. All we were told in the beginning was to use double wall vent pipe and that what I wrote in our scope of work for the A/C contractor. Low and behold our shop is now full of CO because that pipe is not rated for positive pressure exhaust gases. We used a Type B Metal Fab brand pipe and now were are having to replace it because that pipe leaks like a sieve. Metal Fab makes a PSW type or a PIC type that is applicable for the 1200 CFM exhaust of the 38" Mini Sprint we have so if yours is a 48 or wider, you have even more CFM. You better check because OSHA will come down hard on you.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: dirkdiggler on November 07, 2014, 09:05:23 PM
Think I would quit before I commited to that many hoodies, I would rather take a beating than print hoodies!  I do it everyday, but I HATE THEM!
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on November 07, 2014, 09:52:56 PM
Not sure which they used, but I can tell you for sure that we have no co in the shop.  We have a carbon monoxide detector about 15 or so feet from the dyer and even after running for hours there's nothing on the display.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 09, 2014, 07:21:56 AM
35k hoodies, jesus.  We don't even like doing them in 24pc runs haha. 
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on November 09, 2014, 07:52:06 AM
super proud of my crew yesterday... they were averaging just over 400/hr... press was rocking at 528/hr.

for those who have asked.. no webtack... just waterbased Xen tack from Xenon, put it on thick, lasts for about 45 minutes or so of printing...

Big gotcha that the customer is going to end up paying for.. these things are individually folded and bagged inside the box... oops on his part.  trying to figure out a reasonable amount for unbagging... it's taking 2 people unbagging and stacking to keep up with the press.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: mk162 on November 10, 2014, 09:16:53 AM
yeah...so wait, you use straight up WB tack?  Are you flashing?
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: cleveprint on November 10, 2014, 10:23:16 AM
damn. thats a bad*ss order. wish my shop was that clean. every time i clean i turn around and its messy again! good luck let us know how it finishes up.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on November 10, 2014, 10:41:27 AM
yeah...so wait, you use straight up WB tack?  Are you flashing?

yup straight up WB tack, and yes we're flashing.   They're 100% poly hoodies, and the 'fleece' inside doesn't seem to pull off like the standard gildan ones.

about 5 minutes or so per hour to stop and re-glue the platens... and that's about it.

after things are warmed up and running, the flash times are around 1-1.25 seconds with the Wilflex Performance White we're using as underbase.

After we did some optimizing of the flood and print speeds,  we got it running at 59 doz /hr on sunday once we got up to speed.  I planned, priced and quoted the job at 20 doz/hr... so we're actually running a lot faster than planned.  Very happy with all the new gear (I suppose it won't be 'new' for long tho lol).

When Rich Hoffman told us that we'd be running more efficiently, and easier with the new press than our old press, he wasn't kidding.  Loading the sportsman at 59 doz/hr feels slow now, compared to 30 doz/hr on the old javelin feeling like we were flying...  if we didn't have to flash, I believe we could even run faster after we were up to speed, but I'll take 700 hoodies/hr all day long... 

Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: GraphicDisorder on November 10, 2014, 11:37:51 AM
yeah...so wait, you use straight up WB tack?  Are you flashing?

yup straight up WB tack, and yes we're flashing.   They're 100% poly hoodies, and the 'fleece' inside doesn't seem to pull off like the standard gildan ones.

about 5 minutes or so per hour to stop and re-glue the platens... and that's about it.

after things are warmed up and running, the flash times are around 1-1.25 seconds with the Wilflex Performance White we're using as underbase.

After we did some optimizing of the flood and print speeds,  we got it running at 59 doz /hr on sunday once we got up to speed.  I planned, priced and quoted the job at 20 doz/hr... so we're actually running a lot faster than planned.  Very happy with all the new gear (I suppose it won't be 'new' for long tho lol).

When Rich Hoffman told us that we'd be running more efficiently, and easier with the new press than our old press, he wasn't kidding.  Loading the sportsman at 59 doz/hr feels slow now, compared to 30 doz/hr on the old javelin feeling like we were flying...  if we didn't have to flash, I believe we could even run faster after we were up to speed, but I'll take 700 hoodies/hr all day long...

59dz a hour on hoodies is great.  Most shops would struggle at half that speed. 
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: 3Deep on November 10, 2014, 12:18:57 PM
We've got some hoodie's to print sometime today and I'm hating it already, printed hoodie's two weeks ago and had to change the pallet tape, so much fiber on the boards, just nasty looking....good luck to ya whew 35K

darryl
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: T Shirt Farmer on November 10, 2014, 12:24:00 PM
yeah...so wait, you use straight up WB tack?  Are you flashing?
we got it running at 59 doz /hr on sunday once we got up to speed. .
 

You sir are a printing Stallion.. I have been in the Biz for 30 years and never came close to these numbers.. u must have a loader/unloader/catcher/inker/and 3 or 4 peps just stagging- unboxing - boxing etc..

Nice work!
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: ebscreen on November 10, 2014, 12:30:22 PM
Dude I feel ya on the un-bagging. We've been buried in tissue paper.

We charge about $60/hr for it depending on what's involved. Barely covers the
expense really.

Some garments it makes sense for, others, I just don't get it. The ST200's come to mind.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: Frog on November 10, 2014, 12:59:55 PM
Dude I feel ya on the un-bagging. We've been buried in tissue paper.

We charge about $60/hr for it depending on what's involved. Barely covers the
expense really.

Some garments it makes sense for, others, I just don't get it. The ST200's come to mind.

P I T A !
I've had clients show up with their garments, before ever opening the boxes themselves to see that they would need attention. After that additional expanse is mentioned,  they usually get on it themselves right there in my reception area!

I've also found bags and paper in my trash from folks who did it themselves last minute right there in their car or truck.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on November 10, 2014, 07:04:15 PM
You sir are a printing Stallion.. I have been in the Biz for 30 years and never came close to these numbers.. u must have a loader/unloader/catcher/inker/and 3 or 4 peps just stagging- unboxing - boxing etc..

We use winged flood bars, so no inker...

5 person Team:
2 people unboxing / unbagging / staging / running shirts
Loader
UnLoader
Catcher / Boxer
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on November 23, 2014, 09:15:14 AM
660 hoodies / hr..

I'll try to do a time lapse video on monday, so you can see just how long it is between tacking the pallets.

http://youtu.be/NwcN-eA7aog (http://youtu.be/NwcN-eA7aog)
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: islandtees on November 23, 2014, 09:27:31 AM
What head number 1 doing? I t looks like no ink.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on November 23, 2014, 10:01:36 AM
Out secret weapon....  lint screen. 

Just a exposed screen with a bit of spray tack on the back and the squeegee at 10psi...  just enough to kiss the top of the shirt and pick any lint or residual strings off.

Run it on every job we can.

(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/23/4ef1b0e8b7aa0d3a648eb206feb51ae1.jpg)
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on November 23, 2014, 10:58:03 AM
I kinda feel bad for your unloader having to take all those steps but I can see you are pretty cramped for room in there lol.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on November 23, 2014, 11:44:18 AM
Belt is only like 30" from the platen... she just isn't super efficient with her movements... but she does it 3000+ shirts a day, so whatever works for her I guess.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: jvanick on November 23, 2014, 11:47:26 AM
Gerry: you probably mean our catcher. .. yeah.. that part sucks at the moment... it's quickly getting better... and usually they're stacking dozens and then bringing them to the table... not sure what was going on there.
Title: Re: New gear install - a mini blog.
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on November 23, 2014, 11:51:28 AM
Yup my mistake, I did mean the catcher. The loader and unloader seem real efficient and comfortable