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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Prosperi-Tees on October 09, 2012, 10:57:19 PM
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I know I asked before but can't remember. What size print can you get running manual 20x24 frames? Can you get the advertised 16" print or do you have to go with the custom 20x28 frames?
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6" front and back for squeegee flood contraption.
So 12" lost on the length of whatever screen you have in there.
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With those calculations you can only get about an 8" print on a 20x24 and 12" on a 20x28.
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On a side note question what is the difference between the Titan and the Mini? I see no difference in specs. What am I missing?
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Either size screen you will have a hard time reaching the 16". That does not even bring in the question of flashing.
May I ask what is the apeal of those two? Are you really limited on space?
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The shop is only 20x40. I have a 6 color Javelin stuffed in there that makes the place very tight and that's 10.5 ft in diameter. I'm looking to free up room as it looks like we won't be moving to a larger shop anytime soon.
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The shop is only 20x40. I have a 6 color Javelin stuffed in there that makes the place very tight and that's 10.5 ft in diameter. I'm looking to free up room as it looks like we won't be moving to a larger shop anytime soon.
Hope you got high ceilings! Get an auto in there and watch how much ink you blow throw in a week and where are you going to put all those blanks you will be printing on? Get some sturdy shelves (like costco), bolt to wall, and go up!
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Direct quote from the Anatol rep I asked this same question to about a year ago (shockingly, he is no longer with the company. Turnaround is crazy there!)
The Horizon Mini was our original small footprint auto press. We have since come out with the Titan, which in effect, replaced the Horizon Mini. We still offer it, but I always recommend the Titan, because it has all of the same features and options available, handles the same size prints and screens, but costs less. Either machine is great, but you get more bang for your buck with the Titan. The main difference between the two is that the Horizon is a little more durable and heavier gauge steel. If you are running double shifts 7 days a week, you probably want the Horizon. If you are running a normal, one shift or shift and a half operation, the Titan will more than do the job. So, it really comes down to how much and how long you are going to be running the machine.
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The shop is only 20x40. I have a 6 color Javelin stuffed in there that makes the place very tight and that's 10.5 ft in diameter. I'm looking to free up room as it looks like we won't be moving to a larger shop anytime soon.
Hope you got high ceilings! Get an auto in there and watch how much ink you blow throw in a week and where are you going to put all those blanks you will be printing on? Get some sturdy shelves (like costco), bolt to wall, and go up!
Yeah we will be working on revamping the shop and the office during the winter. We have about 20 ft cielings so yeah we will be putting alot of stuff on walls and the small space above the office.
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With high enough ceilings, stand-alone lofts can be a real plus as well for stretching space out of an otherwise small area.
I built in lots of loft storage into my small building, but I remember a buddy who built his office in its own loft space above one end of his shop. Gave him about a third more room.
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Yeah we are going to have to get creative with things. Our office right now is a real mess and not customer or us friendly. I just want to present a more proffesional look as opposed to people sitting on chairs and seeing all my junk, scratch notes, film, job info and what not sprawled across my desk. For the shop it is just building up and maybe a loft, Ill have to kick that around.
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Ok here is my 2 cents:
If you have 20' DON'T get a Horizon Mini, I don't know anything about the Titan so I can't comment on that. In our first shop we only had like 17' wide(it was super long though) because of that the Horizon Mini was the only choice at the time. I would HEAVILY suggest a full size press if you have 20'. Yes it might be tight, but how long is your lease? Theoretically with a auto you should be able to grow your business, either faster turn times, faster set ups, bigger orders, ect. With 20 x 40 you are going to be pushing it spacewise growing too much. Hopefully if your business grows, you will be able to go on the hunt for a larger space. If you do end up moving to a larger space, you will kick your own a$$ for getting the small press. I know I have. My advice would be to go for a full size, with as many colors as you can fit/afford. I went small and cheep for our first one, yes it will get the job done but there are a lot of "if I only" that come up(5,000 3 color oversized prints in a month, my elbow still hurts).
As for print size the largest print we were able to get out of the mini was 15.75" and that was NOT easy! The print also could of looked a lot better, there was pressure/angle/control issues with stretching the size that big. And yes, for that size imprint 20 x 28 screens are needed.
If you are set on a Anatol, I hope it all goes well for you, but I would look at whatever they are selling now as a full size press.
Like Frog said think about a loft space, it is a great idea and a even better use of space! We did in our first spot, in the back we made a platform about 5' off the ground. We had the artwork, some screens and the exposure unit up there. If I remember correctly we could fit roughly 20 boxes under the platform.
Here is a pic of our first place as our new dryer came in. It is super messy and cluttered because everything was moved out of the way for the dryer set up, but you should be able to get an idea. Look towards the back of the pic, behind the auto, to the right of the door, that is the platform I was talking about with the exposure unit ect. on it.
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab14/twincitytees/DSC00233.jpg)
I am always amazed how fast we "run out" of space!
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Question was how large of a print can you get on a 20x24 frame, first I,m going to say no on the 16 wide useless you want to tear up frames (although I know of a guy that sez he prints 16 wide on one) now 14 wide yes and if you angle your squeege just right you can get a 15 high print on a 20x24 and a 18" high print on a 20x28 if platens will take it. On a 20 x 24 screen frame you need to start your art at 3 1/2 down from the top of the screen if your using regular squeegies (bevel squeegee you can go 2" down because they go vertical). 3 1/2 is the magic number where this 6" on ethier side come from I don't know about, all my squeegeeies are cut to 14" wide cause I think 16 is just to wide to fit a 20x24 frame,maybe roller frames will handle them with no problems. Most of my prints are 12 1/2 x 13 and thats on the 20x24 frames if I need to go bigger I use the 20 x 28 which I can get up to 13 1/2 x 16.
Darryl
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I'm a Titan user.... I would concur with Darryl's summary measurements for 20 x24 and 20 x 28 screens.
I too, have my squeegee blades cut down to 14" wide... which works fine because I seldom print wider than 13".
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Do both you guys have Titans?
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3Deep has a Horizon Mini.
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I have a mini horizon. It's not a bad press, it has some nice features. You lose appx 3" in the front and 6" in the back. I use Newman's in mine. Even though they list the max screen width as 20", the 21" fits without any issues. I use 21x26 frames for bigger designs. The screens are pretty tight though, but you get used to it. I am liking the idea of cutting my squeegees to 14" as well.
All in all, if I were to do it again I would get a full size. But if you don't print anything too crazy in size (which I don't) and you are limited on space, it's a nice press. It will just limit you a little with bigger prints and it's a little tighter with the squeegee floodbar set up than a normal press.
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Question was how large of a print can you get on a 20x24 frame, first I,m going to say no on the 16 wide useless you want to tear up frames (although I know of a guy that sez he prints 16 wide on one) now 14 wide yes and if you angle your squeege just right you can get a 15 high print on a 20x24 and a 18" high print on a 20x28 if platens will take it. On a 20 x 24 screen frame you need to start your art at 3 1/2 down from the top of the screen if your using regular squeegies (bevel squeegee you can go 2" down because they go vertical). 3 1/2 is the magic number where this 6" on ethier side come from I don't know about, all my squeegeeies are cut to 14" wide cause I think 16 is just to wide to fit a 20x24 frame,maybe roller frames will handle them with no problems. Most of my prints are 12 1/2 x 13 and thats on the 20x24 frames if I need to go bigger I use the 20 x 28 which I can get up to 13 1/2 x 16.
Darryl
Hey 3Deep, how old is your Mini? I MUST be doing something waaaaaaaaaaay wrong, 18" is not something we have ever been able to do on ours.
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To correct myself not a full 18 but close enough and that is using the bevel squeegie my platen are 16 x 22, I can get 16 inch prints with any squeegie on the 20 x 28 frames. I can move one side of my frame hangers over some which will alot for a wider screen, but I don't think they make a 21 or 22 wide screen standard.
Darryl