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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: IonInk98 on December 11, 2011, 08:24:03 AM
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We just got our new Mus7ang and we are wondering if you guys were to get a brand new auto what type of job would you print first to put this thing to the test?
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I would go high color (screen count), tight registration (butt register). Throw in some half tones, fine lines. Everything you never want to do
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Check with Inkman966 He had a new press for a while and I think, got rid of that one and then got another. I know he was asking for an art file to test out on at that time but I never got around to it. I'm sure he got a good test file from someone that he might pass on over to you.
Thanks
Dan
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In my opinion the question of “What type of job to print on a new auto” could have multiple answers dependent on the skill level and experience of the crew that is going to be running the press.
For example if you are already experienced with printing on an automatic and know how to produce art, films, and screens to support high precision and complex designs I would pick a job that tests the absolute limits of the press to ensure that it is manufactured to tolerance, and that it has been set up correctly.
On the other hand, there’s no way that I would recommend you trying to crank out a “Uber-Complex” print job if this is your first auto, and the most complex print that you’ve ever done previously is a four to six colors, flashing in between many of the colors, using small format screens on a manual press.
If you’re a beginner auto printer the best way to learn how to get the most out of your auto is to start with a job that you already know how to print manually, and use that job as a starting point to learn the fine points of how to print on an auto. Even taking this approach might require some changes in set-up of the print like reducing or removing any traps in the artwork to convert the job to a butt register design.
Good luck on the new equipment, I hope that this answer helps and please be sure to keep the Shirt Board Team updated on your results.
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We turned on our press at about 12pm on day one. We then printed 3 jobs on it that day, keep in mind we had never ran an auto in my life before we got ours. So I guess the answer is I would mix it up......
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We just got our new horse and we are wondering if you guys were to get a brand new auto what type of job would you print first to put this thing to the test?
I may want to try a print at the maximum possible advertised size.
I know that another press sold by the same folks distributing this brand was grossly mis-represented in this feature.
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Given the choice, I would start with something fairly simple just to get a feel for the press and work your way up to more complex jobs. The first job a ran was 2 colors and had some halftones. Dialing in the proper squeegee pressure is a must learn.
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i agree with all of the above also getting familiar with your new microns is a must
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In my opinion the question of “What type of job to print on a new auto” could have multiple answers dependent on the skill level and experience of the crew that is going to be running the press.
For example if you are already experienced with printing on an automatic and know how to produce art, films, and screens to support high precision and complex designs I would pick a job that tests the absolute limits of the press to ensure that it is manufactured to tolerance, and that it has been set up correctly.
On the other hand, there’s no way that I would recommend you trying to crank out a “Uber-Complex” print job if this is your first auto, and the most complex print that you’ve ever done previously is a four to six colors, flashing in between many of the colors, using small format screens on a manual press.
If you’re a beginner auto printer the best way to learn how to get the most out of your auto is to start with a job that you already know how to print manually, and use that job as a starting point to learn the fine points of how to print on an auto. Even taking this approach might require some changes in set-up of the print like reducing or removing any traps in the artwork to convert the job to a butt register design.
Good luck on the new equipment, I hope that this answer helps and please be sure to keep the Shirt Board Team updated on your results.
DITTO!!!
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I would run a one color. just to get used to the start/ stop/dwell etc.. then i would run a one color/flash job. then whatever after that..
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But I would first leave the Marriott in Austin, TX.
Just sayin'. LOL.
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Our standard recommendation is at least four colors and the art should be butt to butt register. Have at least three jobs ready to print. Running a long job you have to get out minimizes the ability for the technician to teach you proper set up of the press. Help with the install and then do as many set up as the tech,s time allows.
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Also remember if you missprint one shirt on an auto you can allmost bet your butt you got 7 more or how ever many platens you got coming. If this is your first time ever running an auto please do not jump on a rush job without extra shirts misprints happen and it just makes you sick, other than that everthing the guys said in the above post, good luck and make some money!!!
Darryl
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I'd go for a simple job to get the feel of the press. The temptation to try something big and important was met by almost disaster when we brought our new MHM 8 years ago into the shop, and tried to print an important job for a large customer, and some parts were missing which kept us from being able to get enough squeegee pressure to get a good print. We had them the next day, but our pia customer, you know, the kind that talks sweetly to you just before the reaming begins, was not pleased. At any rate print something, anything, it's going to be so cool...
Steve
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Being that we were already experienced auto printers we did not want to bother with a simple one color. We were looking for a six color spot on light to test the machines registration. We did not get one but we did run a 4 color job and verified the machine was tight.
Frog funny you mentioned the advertised print area, just this Friday I once again tried to print 18" in lenght and could not pull it off I had to walk away from the thing before I had a nervous break down, but what am I whinning about, 18 is only two less than the advertised 20 lol.
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Being that we were already experienced auto printers we did not want to bother with a simple one color. We were looking for a six color spot on light to test the machines registration. We did not get one but we did run a 4 color job and verified the machine was tight.
Frog funny you mentioned the advertised print area, just this Friday I once again tried to print 18" in lenght and could not pull it off I had to walk away from the thing before I had a nervous break down, but what am I whinning about, 18 is only two less than the advertised 20 lol.
speaking of stroke length . . . the E-type is also advertised as having a 20" long print area, but we could not get past 17". It turns out it will do 21", but not on the regular auto sized screens (23x31). We had to order a longer size to be able to print full length.
pierre
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Being that we were already experienced auto printers we did not want to bother with a simple one color. We were looking for a six color spot on light to test the machines registration. We did not get one but we did run a 4 color job and verified the machine was tight.
Frog funny you mentioned the advertised print area, just this Friday I once again tried to print 18" in lenght and could not pull it off I had to walk away from the thing before I had a nervous break down, but what am I whinning about, 18 is only two less than the advertised 20 lol.
speaking of stroke length . . . the E-type is also advertised as having a 20" long print area, but we could not get past 17". It turns out it will do 21", but not on the regular auto sized screens (23x31). We had to order a longer size to be able to print full length.
pierre
That's not the presses fault though, that's a limitation of the screen not the press. So ya of course you have to use larger screens.
We get 23"-24" out of our Sportsman EX with 25x36's
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Being that we were already experienced auto printers we did not want to bother with a simple one color. We were looking for a six color spot on light to test the machines registration. We did not get one but we did run a 4 color job and verified the machine was tight.
Frog funny you mentioned the advertised print area, just this Friday I once again tried to print 18" in lenght and could not pull it off I had to walk away from the thing before I had a nervous break down, but what am I whinning about, 18 is only two less than the advertised 20 lol.
speaking of stroke length . . . the E-type is also advertised as having a 20" long print area, but we could not get past 17". It turns out it will do 21", but not on the regular auto sized screens (23x31). We had to order a longer size to be able to print full length.
pierre
Yea Pierre I understand except I am using the max screen size of 35" length.
One of the things I was excited about with the new press was the ability to print 20" down pant legs it is something we do tons of (pants legs) but I always hated being limited in length. 17" is my safe length now, gee I had that on the Javelin.
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Being that we were already experienced auto printers we did not want to bother with a simple one color. We were looking for a six color spot on light to test the machines registration. We did not get one but we did run a 4 color job and verified the machine was tight.
Frog funny you mentioned the advertised print area, just this Friday I once again tried to print 18" in lenght and could not pull it off I had to walk away from the thing before I had a nervous break down, but what am I whinning about, 18 is only two less than the advertised 20 lol.
speaking of stroke length . . . the E-type is also advertised as having a 20" long print area, but we could not get past 17". It turns out it will do 21", but not on the regular auto sized screens (23x31). We had to order a longer size to be able to print full length.
pierre
Yea Pierre I understand except I am using the max screen size of 35" length.
One of the things I was excited about with the new press was the ability to print 20" down pant legs it is something we do tons of (pants legs) but I always hated being limited in length. 17" is my safe length now, gee I had that on the Javelin.
Did you have to have custom 35 inch screens made? 36 is the normal. Never seen a 35.
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Being that we were already experienced auto printers we did not want to bother with a simple one color. We were looking for a six color spot on light to test the machines registration. We did not get one but we did run a 4 color job and verified the machine was tight.
Frog funny you mentioned the advertised print area, just this Friday I once again tried to print 18" in lenght and could not pull it off I had to walk away from the thing before I had a nervous break down, but what am I whinning about, 18 is only two less than the advertised 20 lol.
speaking of stroke length . . . the E-type is also advertised as having a 20" long print area, but we could not get past 17". It turns out it will do 21", but not on the regular auto sized screens (23x31). We had to order a longer size to be able to print full length.
pierre
Yea Pierre I understand except I am using the max screen size of 35" length.
One of the things I was excited about with the new press was the ability to print 20" down pant legs it is something we do tons of (pants legs) but I always hated being limited in length. 17" is my safe length now, gee I had that on the Javelin.
Did you have to have custom 35 inch screens made? 36 is the normal. Never seen a 35.
I actually did have the 35" screens made. 36" supposedly does not fit. So if there is a downfall to this press, it is a shorter stroke length and need for the custom screens to get to the advertised size. On the other hand, with custom screens and oversized plattens, we can go to almost 28" wide. Now that's WIDE!
pierre
pierre
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Being that we were already experienced auto printers we did not want to bother with a simple one color. We were looking for a six color spot on light to test the machines registration. We did not get one but we did run a 4 color job and verified the machine was tight.
Frog funny you mentioned the advertised print area, just this Friday I once again tried to print 18" in lenght and could not pull it off I had to walk away from the thing before I had a nervous break down, but what am I whinning about, 18 is only two less than the advertised 20 lol.
speaking of stroke length . . . the E-type is also advertised as having a 20" long print area, but we could not get past 17". It turns out it will do 21", but not on the regular auto sized screens (23x31). We had to order a longer size to be able to print full length.
pierre
Yea Pierre I understand except I am using the max screen size of 35" length.
One of the things I was excited about with the new press was the ability to print 20" down pant legs it is something we do tons of (pants legs) but I always hated being limited in length. 17" is my safe length now, gee I had that on the Javelin.
Did you have to have custom 35 inch screens made? 36 is the normal. Never seen a 35.
I actually did have the 35" screens made. 36" supposedly does not fit. So if there is a downfall to this press, it is a shorter stroke length and need for the custom screens to get to the advertised size. On the other hand, with custom screens and oversized plattens, we can go to almost 28" wide. Now that's WIDE!
pierre
pierre
Weird, 36" fits in mine all day long. I think I could even take a little bigger one than that if needed.
I am still confused, the press prints exactly what it claims it will print right? What screens you load it in, its not the presses fault. You obviously have to put enough gas in a car to drive X distance, same as you have to put the correct screen in a press to print X distance. Right?
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Brandt 35" is the max screen I can get in it. And i had to order them custom. I have a 36 already and it does not fit period. Regardless with a lot of tweaking and headaches and some press modifications you can get 18" but quality suffers so I am now sticking to 17".
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Brandt 35" is the max screen I can get in it. And i had to order them custom. I have a 36 already and it does not fit period. Regardless with a lot of tweaking and headaches and some press modifications you can get 18" but quality suffers so I am now sticking to 17".
So even with a 35" screen you can only do 17-18?
I can print 17ish on a 23x31.
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Inkman I thought you got a new press, because the other would not print the size you wanted or is this the same press your messing with again?
Darryl
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Being that we were already experienced auto printers we did not want to bother with a simple one color. We were looking for a six color spot on light to test the machines registration. We did not get one but we did run a 4 color job and verified the machine was tight.
Frog funny you mentioned the advertised print area, just this Friday I once again tried to print 18" in lenght and could not pull it off I had to walk away from the thing before I had a nervous break down, but what am I whinning about, 18 is only two less than the advertised 20 lol.
speaking of stroke length . . . the E-type is also advertised as having a 20" long print area, but we could not get past 17". It turns out it will do 21", but not on the regular auto sized screens (23x31). We had to order a longer size to be able to print full length.
pierre
Pierre,
We get 20" long prints from our E-types without a problem, 23 x 31 frames.
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Daryll Every time we had a buyer for the press asdf sabotaged it and I have actual proof, something for lawyers to deal with down the road.
ON my old ass Javelin with 23x31 screens I could get 17"
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Pierre,
We get 20" long prints from our E-types without a problem, 23 x 31 frames.
hmm, 'just went and checked, and 20" is not happening on my press unless the floodbar does not clear the image (which leaves a line in the print). Not that it matters much though, we can print the longer stuff now, so it's OK.
pierre
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I know about the fine line from the flood, we set our micros inwards a smigen and changed indicating flag back to zero to allow the flood to clear the image (there's still more than enough vertical adjustment). Anyway was just trying to help.
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Less than 18" print length for multi-color is unacceptable to me. We can do that with our 25x30s and can print longer if it's single color, trapped, or the reg is not critical. That sucks inkman, I wish you luck in moving along if you can.
I'm surprised that the MHM E-type (not surprised about the asdf press) needs a weirdo 35" screen length. I mean, you could easily order newmans with a custom length to the long rollers or custom fabbed alum statics but what a pain in the arse. It's one more inch to get to standard, why not just build the machine to accommodate?
Pierre, you mention getting a 28" wide print on the E-type so what's the max screen width? and how many color is yours?
And more along the lines of the actual thread topic, I'm an auto-press virgin but on any machine, new or used, I would test each head for repeatability at some point. Print a design with 55lpi halftones with a white. Flash it, do a color change to something bright that will contrast the white and the shirt color and print again at identical settings. If the dots are stacking perfectly you have repeatability on that head. The ink will, of course need to be similar in rheology for this test, you'll want to pre-flash the test substrates and you'd probably need to do a full round off the carousel. I think I read about this from murakami, they sugggested using it as a standard for determining if you whole crew can print to repeatability on a manual.
Bill hood also made some type of test file for testing press registration, I think action offers it for free or with their o.c. calibration device.
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go ahead print something you already know how to print pop your cherry
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I know about the fine line from the flood, we set our micros inwards a smigen and changed indicating flag back to zero to allow the flood to clear the image (there's still more than enough vertical adjustment). Anyway was just trying to help.
appreciate that! What does "changed indicating flag back to zero" mean? Maybe that's what we are missing. . . It also dawns on me that I was listing 17" as max because of the registration marks. If those were placed in different locations, we would gain another inch or two.
As far as the oversized prints, we would have to double index our eight color press to be able to fit something that big. That would give us four colors. The deal is, oversized screens and plattens encroach into the next print station's space thus the double index.
pierre
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Setting the flood straight up and down, hence making it as close to the squeegee as possible.
For the OP. If you want to learn how to print with your press, print a job you already
know how to do manually. If you want to test how well it was paralleled, expose
a screen with a halftone gradient (lpi of your choice) at the extreme corners of your print area
and running the length and width.
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appreciate that! What does "changed indicating flag back to zero" mean? Maybe that's what we are missing. . . It also dawns on me that I was listing 17" as max because of the registration marks. If those were placed in different locations, we would gain another inch or two.
As far as the oversized prints, we would have to double index our eight color press to be able to fit something that big. That would give us four colors. The deal is, oversized screens and plattens encroach into the next print station's space thus the double index.
pierre
Yea sure and yes we move the reg marks to the sides/other places as well in order to get the whole imprint area. What I meant about micro marker/flag, on the vertical micro, I set them all inwards I think about a cm so the image can go a little higher on the screen and the flood still clear the image, then I reset the micro flag/indicator back to zero (by loosening the allen head) to make that our permanent starting point. We set our floods to zero angle. We've been able to do multi color prints with halftones/tight reg at 20" length without problems. It just takes a little trial and error experimenting.
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Do the E-Types have the removable front bars on the screen holders? This changes your start position in
relation to the screen. MHM's are already weird in that the start is 9" from OD as opposed to 6" for all other
machinery I've every seen, including flatstock presses. But we can print closer to the rear of the frame than
other machines. Backwards I suppose.
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Our normal start point is ~7" from OD, but we can start at ~6.5 which is what we do for large prints. No removable bars, but I'm curious about what that is on your press, got a pic?
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Basically a ~1" thick bar where the front of the screen clicks in, extends the screen back that much.
Picture wouldn't really show it, it looks like a piece of the screen holder.
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Basically a ~1" thick bar where the front of the screen clicks in, extends the screen back that much.
Picture wouldn't really show it, it looks like a piece of the screen holder.
definitely no bar here either . . .