TSB
screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: WHD_Jason on October 20, 2016, 11:41:53 AM
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Hey guys, we're looking at upgrading our main film printer to something that can handle a heavier work load, so I wanted to get your opinion. What do you use to print film/vellum? Why do you like/dislike your printer?
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What type heavier load are you talking films per day and avg size.
That helps.
Shane
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And what are you using now?
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I guess that would've been useful to note in the first place, huh? Sorry about that.
We currently use an Epson Artisan 1430 with Accurip. We have three designers that share the functions of just one single-feed printer, so you can imagine how bogged down things can get. I'd love to go larger format with a roll feed of some kind. Auto cut would be nice too. I've eyeballed the Epson T3270 and the Epson 4900. Just wanted to get a good sense of what the community is using, including some pros and cons.
Thanks for the help!
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stay away from the 4900. The verdict is till not out on the T3270, search the board for the previous discussions.
4880 is your best bang for the buck right now.
pierre
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Direct to screen. Get the smaller M&R unit and be done with it.
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stole the idea form pierre, so not really seconding it... but we're really really glad me kicked our 1430 out for a 4800 (not real sure the distinction between a 4800 and 4880). much cheaper to run, much faster. but budget a week of repeated cleaning and re-learning the difference in settings before it's something you don't need to think about.
search "epson 4800 conde" on youtube for a good number of walkthroughs on the various software and IRL cleaning options to get it up and running.
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How many screens are you making per day?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
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Direct to screen. Get the smaller M&R unit and be done with it.
You offering to purchase one for us? How nice! :-)
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Direct to screen. Get the smaller M&R unit and be done with it.
You offering to purchase one for us? How nice! :-)
if you buy the right unit, it's cheaper than going to film....just sayin.
just think, no more tape. :-X
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Hummm.... I'll take one too!
Actually how many screens a day and up makes sense?
20...40+ ?
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t3270 -so far its the jam.fast fast fast ... had 2 4900 before this - they suck so bad - worse purchase ever.. however looking for a cts
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Hummm.... I'll take one too!
Actually how many screens a day and up makes sense?
20...40+ ?
30 screens a day alone and you're at the tipping point based on cost only... probably 15-20 and you're at the tipping point when you include time savings and efficiency.
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Hummm.... I'll take one too!
Actually how many screens a day and up makes sense?
20...40+ ?
30 screens a day alone and you're at the tipping point based on cost only... probably 15-20 and you're at the tipping point when you include time savings and efficiency.
that's about where we are, 20-30ish on a busy day. You aren't just buying a DTS, you are buying back time... this has been discussed to death so I won't derail but if you have a sharp pencil, you may want to do some calculations. Spend 2k on a printer and 10k? 20k? per year on wasted employee time vs 30k on that new M&R Unit and get to work.
or go to craigslist for a 4800.
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...following this, we are in the same boat.
We're a small 2-person operation, so CTS isnt viable for us (YET)...plus we need to upgrade other things first (bigger press).
We currently use a 1400, but would like to move to 17" wide. We already have Accurip. Compatibility with refillable cartridges is a must, and if you have a supplier that you prefer, would be just swell.
Accurip lists 3800/3880 as compatible....any feedback on those?
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Accurip lists 3800/3880 as compatible....any feedback on those?
pretty sure that's the 4800 and the 4880 and those are the preferred printers for film these days.
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i have a 4880 with Accurip, bulk system black, very happy with the results. Would love not to have to deal with a temperamental printer.
Looking to go to CTS but that's an economic decision, it's obviously better from every respect.
You can't only cost the film, the accuracy, time saved sticking on film to the screen, pinholes, ease of exposure ( you don't need a vacuum)
and for me a big one is filling the films, this takes a long time and a lot of space and we are always looking for old ones that were misplaced.
A lot of our work is reorders and being able to upload a file and print on screen will be a big advantage.
I'm sure a left a few advantages out, those using CTS will certainly have a few more.
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We're at around 20-25 screens average.
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And on the flip side, you won't outgrow a CTS anytime soon.
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With M&R's new unit your payment should be around $500 a month or so(just guessing). Are you guys currently using any sort of tri-lock or pre-reg system?
We do around 15 screens a day and I will not go back to a film printer unless it's temporary.
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...following this, we are in the same boat.
We're a small 2-person operation, so CTS isnt viable for us (YET)...plus we need to upgrade other things first (bigger press).
We currently use a 1400, but would like to move to 17" wide. We already have Accurip. Compatibility with refillable cartridges is a must, and if you have a supplier that you prefer, would be just swell.
Accurip lists 3800/3880 as compatible....any feedback on those?
We use a 3800 daily with AccuRIP, works great. But, it's getting near the end, so we're considering the Epson P800 or T3270, which would be the last printer until CTS...
Steve
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With M&R's new unit your payment should be around $500 a month or so(just guessing). Are you guys currently using any sort of tri-lock or pre-reg system?
We do around 15 screens a day and I will not go back to a film printer unless it's temporary.
At what price point though... I mean, you didn't buy in at full retail price so that's easy to say.
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not sure exactly what brad paid for his i-image, but ours was a bit shy of what the new I-Image S costs now... and worth every penny.
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Still rocking the Epson 3000 with another one on the shelf as back-up. We have an Epson 7880 but honestly the 3000 is almost as good even under the loop, and can handle any film size from 4" x 6" to 17" wide and as long as needed. the small films are great for us for padprinting jobs.
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DTS would be a dream, but I'm not there yet. Anyone using the Techstyler? I like the idea of not having to replace any ink, but the film looks really expensive and the printer alone costs like 10 grand. I think at that point DTS is a better buy.
That said, I'm using a 1430 right now, I hate it. thing spits random ink blobs somewhat regularly. Even after head cleanings. Are used 4880's that common on the used market?
Edit: Nevermind, did some searches for 4880's looks like there are plenty out there at decent prices. Might have to switch to one of those soon.
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not sure exactly what brad paid for his i-image, but ours was a bit shy of what the new I-Image S costs now... and worth every penny.
You do more than 15 screens a day as well.
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stay away from the 4900. The verdict is till not out on the T3270, search the board for the previous discussions.
4880 is your best bang for the buck right now.
pierre
We went from a 4900 to a T3270 and could not have been happier. 4900 is crap. JUST CRAP! Stay away from it. Ours is sitting in a corner waiting for a hammer for us to have some fun with it.
The T3270 is amazing, not a single problem yet.
As for what others are saying, consider CTS. With some now being at $30k, it's worth taking a look if you can afford that sort of thing. I know we will in a year or two.
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stay away from the 4900. The verdict is till not out on the T3270, search the board for the previous discussions.
4880 is your best bang for the buck right now.
pierre
We went from a 4900 to a T3270 and could not have been happier. 4900 is crap. JUST CRAP! Stay away from it. Ours is sitting in a corner waiting for a hammer for us to have some fun with it.
The T3270 is amazing, not a single problem yet.
As for what others are saying, consider CTS. With some now being at $30k, it's worth taking a look if you can afford that sort of thing. I know we will in a year or two.
Man, I could have blown it up for you this week. We were looking for stuff to blow up!
(Jump to the 1:20 mark)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwdPJ7c6eSh6YTY1bGhWa2dPbFU
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BTW, that piece of plywood (that was BEHIND the charge), that flies out of the screen to the right, landed here from the tree line in the back!
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwdPJ7c6eSh6czhfSU9oZ3pISTg
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Os7pZ2WN2ph6LwFbs5FG05wxM9Kymm6q7EMqEjsTwAoWDYDUfXS_3H5bz36UeJCidbp1dWUtxd3Fccw=w1366-h672-rw)
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The joys of living in the south. Can't get away with that in Komifornia
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Soon to come, footage of the fully auto MP5 and the silenced AR15 and silenced 22 pistol (might not actually have filmed that now that I'm thinking about it).
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Soon to come, footage of the fully auto MP5 and the silenced AR15 and silenced 22 pistol (might not actually have filmed that now that I'm thinking about it).
LUCKY!!!
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Thanks for the help, everyone. I'll be sure to report in once we decide what's best for our future.