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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Dottonedan on June 23, 2011, 03:49:53 PM

Title: Press type and color count
Post by: Dottonedan on June 23, 2011, 03:49:53 PM
NOt that it matters much, but I wanted to get an idea of the numbers from our press owners here on this forum.

Press type (manual or Auto) and color count.  It makes no difference on the poll if you have 1 or 10 autos.
You may change your vote on this poll over time should your press change.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Shanarchy on June 23, 2011, 04:23:10 PM
manual: Vastex V2000 6-6
auto: Anatol Horizon mini 8/7
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: inkman996 on June 23, 2011, 05:01:14 PM
Dan just curious did you mean for the poll options to be how many color machine versus how many stations?
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: blue moon on June 23, 2011, 05:02:51 PM
Dan just curious did you mean for the poll options to be how many color machine versus how many stations?

that's funny, I did not even read, just answered "colors" as it is asking in the header!
So Dan, which one is it?????
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Sbrem on June 23, 2011, 05:13:02 PM
MHM 10/12, Rototex 8/4, M & R Gauntlet 6/8...
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Dottonedan on June 23, 2011, 05:50:51 PM
Dan just curious did you mean for the poll options to be how many color machine versus how many stations?


Not sure I understand the questions. I don't know. It's been a while since I've been in looking at a 14 color press but don't you have an option to take out the flash and print 14 color on a 14 station press?

14 stations and 14 colors?

Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: inkman996 on June 23, 2011, 06:01:23 PM
No Dan you need an open station or else you would be loading and unloading on a print head lol.

Stations means how many tables the press has then how many colors, you could have two more stations than colors one for loader and one for unlaoder, or some small single operator shops only have one station over colors they load and unlaod all them selves.

My auto is six colors with 8 stations (not to be named)

We also have a four color supertex manual made by AWT before GPI took over.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Frog on June 23, 2011, 06:03:41 PM
An artist should want to know how many colors they could figure on, more than the number of stations the press person has to put shirts upon.

And, btw, I only run three stations on my six color workhorse.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: blue moon on June 23, 2011, 06:04:49 PM
Dan just curious did you mean for the poll options to be how many color machine versus how many stations?


Not sure I understand the questions. I don't know. It's been a while since I've been in looking at a 14 color press but don't you have an option to take out the flash and print 14 color on a 14 station press?

14 stations and 14 colors?

most presses have a loading and an offloading stations so they are 8/10 (8 colors/ 10 stations)
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Frog on June 23, 2011, 06:07:41 PM

most presses have a loading and an offloading stations so they are 8/10 (8 colors/ 10 stations)

Yep, otherwise dodging those screens would be a bitch!
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: alan802 on June 23, 2011, 06:16:27 PM
10 color RPM Revolution, 4 color/4 station Vastex V2000HD

Who has the 12 color autos here?
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Dottonedan on June 23, 2011, 06:23:15 PM
No Dan you need an open station or else you would be loading and unloading on a print head lol.

Stations means how many tables the press has then how many colors, you could have two more stations than colors one for loader and one for unlaoder, or some small single operator shops only have one station over colors they load and unlaod all them selves.

My auto is six colors with 8 stations (not to be named)

We also have a four color supertex manual made by AWT before GPI took over.


We had 14 color presses with 18 stations and a 16 color/24 stations oval.  Faster unloading production and we used them for extra cool down stations after a flash as well...but you could always ad a color in that spot as well. You could flash on a specific head that the artist requested or you could run strait colors 1 thru 16 on light color garments.

Heads, colors, stations, pallets, cool downs, they are all available interchangeable spots to me that are used or not used as a color location. It always confused me a little.

A station is your work area. If you have a 16 color press with 20 stations... and you can only load/unload from 4 areas/stations than they should call that press a 16 color (4 station press).  You have 20 pallets to load shirts on....not 20 work stations.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Mr Tees!! on June 23, 2011, 07:02:54 PM
6/8 DiamondBack
4/4 old school Hopkins
1/1 Odyssey tabletop which I would like to get rid of.
4/1 Ryonet Silver press that I would like to get rid of.
1/1 CAPS hat press that I would like to get rid of.
Brown Slider Number press that I probably SHOULD get rid of.

...Jeez, looking at this, I may be a screenprinting equipment hoarder.  ::)

...Is there a classified section here yet?    :P
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Frog on June 23, 2011, 07:11:55 PM
6/8 DiamondBack
4/4 old school Hopkins
1/1 Odyssey tabletop which I would like to get rid of.
4/1 Ryonet Silver press that I would like to get rid of.
1/1 CAPS hat press that I would like to get rid of.
Brown Slider Number press that I probably SHOULD get rid of.

...Jeez, looking at this, I may be a screenprinting equipment hoarder.  ::)

...Is there a classified section here yet?    :P


Right there at the bottom, under the word, "Classifieds"!   ???
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Mr Tees!! on June 23, 2011, 07:22:30 PM
Crap. Now I have no excuse.

 ;D
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Dottonedan on June 23, 2011, 07:43:39 PM
It's interesting to see that so many have 8 color manuals as well as 8 color autos.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Frog on June 23, 2011, 07:49:55 PM
It's interesting to see that so many have 8 color manuals as well as 8 color autos.

Presses like the Chameleon are often sold as "proof" presses to be used in conjunction with an auto. Some, in fact, find them a little big and heavy for everyday use.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Dottonedan on June 23, 2011, 09:20:50 PM
I did (or was in charge of) sampling of our sim process /multi spot color prints at Disney using a Chameleon. That baby was a monster. We had the two tier 14 color manual press.  I think it was 6 on bottom and 8 on top.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: tonypep on June 24, 2011, 06:07:44 AM
Four ten color Gauntlets one eight color Chameleon, One six color something or other.
But that looks like its all going to change soon.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Denis Kolar on June 24, 2011, 07:30:07 AM
6/4 Antec Legend
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: GraphicDisorder on June 24, 2011, 08:01:53 AM
8 color 10 station M&R Sportsman EX 2020 Auto.
6 color 6 station Vastex 2000HD Manual. 
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: blue moon on June 24, 2011, 08:12:35 AM
Four ten color Gauntlets one eight color Chameleon, One six color something or other.
But that looks like its all going to change soon.

Do tell Tony!
Is there a new Challenger on the way?
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: bimmridder on June 24, 2011, 09:02:11 AM
18-16 CII
14-12 CII
16-14 GII
8-8 Chameleon
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: tonypep on June 24, 2011, 09:12:06 AM
Four ten color Gauntlets one eight color Chameleon, One six color something or other.
But that looks like its all going to change soon.

Do tell Tony!
Is there a new Challenger on the way?

No........but maybe five TAS autos
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: tpitman on June 24, 2011, 09:45:07 AM
8-color, 4-station Vastex 2000HD, a strong back and a weak mind . . .
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: alan802 on June 24, 2011, 09:52:38 AM
Four ten color Gauntlets one eight color Chameleon, One six color something or other.
But that looks like its all going to change soon.

Do tell Tony!
Is there a new Challenger on the way?

No........but maybe five TAS autos

I thought you might be bringing in a couple Prism II's :)
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: tonypep on June 24, 2011, 10:18:36 AM
Sorry Alan.....Hell has'nt quite froze over yet. I'll keep you posted though.
Hint.....This is'nt about a machine purchase.
tp
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: blue moon on June 24, 2011, 10:20:45 AM
18-16 CII
14-12 CII
16-14 GII
8-8 Chameleon

I'm jealous!
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: GraphicDisorder on June 24, 2011, 11:57:44 AM
Sorry Alan.....Hell has'nt quite froze over yet. I'll keep you posted though.

LOL
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: blue moon on June 24, 2011, 12:40:34 PM
Four ten color Gauntlets one eight color Chameleon, One six color something or other.
But that looks like its all going to change soon.

Do tell Tony!
Is there a new Challenger on the way?

No........but maybe five TAS autos

no interest in MHM?

nothing against TAS or anybody else, it's just that I am more than a little partial to the MHM . . .
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: tonypep on June 24, 2011, 01:04:55 PM
MHM are awesome machines. Zero deflection on those boards. Anatols beefier machines like the Vindicator same thing. Tech support and parts not so good for MHM. That said they rarely need maintenance. But as I alluded to earlier this is not about a machine purchase.
I'll  send you a PM
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Screened Gear on June 24, 2011, 02:13:03 PM
I am not 100% sure about this (maybe Gavin could help) but I think with the new ownership of MHM the tech support call center is done by a new company. I have had no problems talking to a tech or getting parts. Parts are cheap and almost everything you can do yourself with tech help over the phone. (except resetting all the registration blocks after a previous owner moved them.)
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: DraginInk on June 24, 2011, 04:55:39 PM
10/12 TAS 205 RA
8/8 Antec Legend

Sounds like you're acquiring a shop, Tony.... anybody we know?


Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Nation03 on June 24, 2011, 06:50:28 PM
Currently printing on a 6/6 Antec Legend and a 6/4 Riley Hopkins Win Series.

I aspire to own a Tas Hawk Compact, MHM E-Type or an RPM in the future. But I'll settle for a Titan at this point lol.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: JBLUE on June 24, 2011, 06:56:26 PM
Looks like I win with oldest machine....lol 10 color Challenger. I found a 10 color Challenger a while back with under a 100k in impressions. It was like finding that old hotrod that Grandma parked in the garage and never drove for 20 years....lol
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: BorisB on June 25, 2011, 01:53:42 AM
Four ten color Gauntlets one eight color Chameleon, One six color something or other.
But that looks like its all going to change soon.

Do tell Tony!
Is there a new Challenger on the way?

No........but maybe five TAS autos


TAS isn't perfect but I love it.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: alan802 on June 25, 2011, 02:37:42 PM
That's very interesting Tony.  I hope you will still be able to get on the forums regularly and it's somewhere you can continue to work your magic.  I know it would be a boring move to go from the style of printing you're doing now to a spot color plastisol shop like ours.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: ZooCity on June 25, 2011, 07:25:45 PM
8co, 8station Chameleon II for us. 

Like Mr. Frog, I like to run 4 platens at a time to keep my body from getting totally wrecked on long runs involving a flash but will run 8 with a loader/puller.  The spider takes a lot of torque to move when printing at a steady clip which leads to frequent platen levelling and quite honestly would benefit from an indexer for both production and sampling accuracy purposes.  I'm not sure why they don't make this press with automated indexing and manual heads.

Quote
I aspire to own a Tas Hawk Compact, MHM E-Type or an RPM in the future. But I'll settle for a Titan at this point lol.

Funny, I was just thinking the exact same thing almost, except maybe Tas MiniMax instead of Hawk.   If the dumbasses we were brokering our new production space with the last 8 months had their poop in a group I would've picked up any number of cherry used Anatols though.  We have a full set of nearly every platen you might ever need with the M&R style bracket so the Anatol's are highly likely for us for that reason and since I hate x-y, anti-droop plate style micros.  We need 10 colors for the auto but with the Titan being so affordable and supposedly breezy to setup I keep mulling over getting an all-electric one as bridging measure.  I simply cannot get out of the weeds on our custom orders with the manual alone right now and the payroll costs needed to do it doesn't add up to a good business move. 

Those Tas machines look so simple and rock solid, they might not be as sexy as the MHM or the Vindicator (all-servo is extremely attractive) but I'll bet they're very faithful presses. 

Alan, I know I could just ask them myself, but will RPM do a 10 color build that can accept 25" wide screens?  Or are they pretty much settled on the stock configurations on the site?

Best with the new venture Tony.  Whomever's production your taking over is a lucky sob.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: alan802 on June 25, 2011, 08:31:53 PM
Zoo, we have a few 25 x 31's in our dark room that we have never used, Monday I'll got put one into the press and see what kind of room there is to work with.  I think they would be fine since our flash unit fits nicely and it's got to be wider than 25".  I've never had a problem with a screen's movement being hindered on either side of the flash units.  The conversations I've had with Rick seem to tell me they can do a lot of little custom things to the press to fit the customer's needs.  The guys up the road that bought one got a longer print stroke and the only difference in that machine and ours is a slightly larger dimension.  I believe it has a 24" stroke length and ours is a 20.

I think we'd all be a little surprised at what the manufacturers can do to the machines as far as modifying or speeding up the presses.  I know Rick told me they could really speed up the Revolution just by putting a larger servo on but nobody has needed it to run faster.  Plus you run into the sleeves flinging up and getting printed on among other engineering things that I don't know about.  He said they could have our 10 color run at 1500+/hr easily but there are issues like I mentioned earler.  I've seen a few presses that index faster than ours (challenger III, gauntlet z, mhm s-type) but it's faster than most I've seen.  I remember seeing an MHM e-type about four years ago at the ISS Ft. Worth that at the time seemed to index so fast it might take off, but I was running a very slow centurian at the time so it might not have been that fast.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: screenxpress on June 25, 2011, 10:17:26 PM
I am freaking awestruck with some of the equipment you guys have.

I'm almost ashamed to post my Workhorse 6/4. 

But on the positive side.  It is nice to know I have low expenses, paid off equipment and I don't really have to print shirts (or whatever) anymore to survive.  I just like doing it.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: alan802 on June 26, 2011, 10:14:49 AM
I am freaking awestruck with some of the equipment you guys have.

I'm almost ashamed to post my Workhorse 6/4. 

But on the positive side.  It is nice to know I have low expenses, paid off equipment and I don't really have to print shirts (or whatever) anymore to survive.  I just like doing it.

And that is worth a lot more than some fancy auto.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: blue moon on June 26, 2011, 11:39:00 AM
I am freaking awestruck with some of the equipment you guys have.

I'm almost ashamed to post my Workhorse 6/4. 

But on the positive side.  It is nice to know I have low expenses, paid off equipment and I don't really have to print shirts (or whatever) anymore to survive.  I just like doing it.

that's funny, 'cause Workhorse 6/4 is pretty darn nice press!
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: john52 on June 26, 2011, 11:39:45 AM
12 Color Progressive Falcon
16 Color Printex Prism II
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: screenxpress on June 26, 2011, 01:04:29 PM
I am freaking awestruck with some of the equipment you guys have.

I'm almost ashamed to post my Workhorse 6/4. 

But on the positive side.  It is nice to know I have low expenses, paid off equipment and I don't really have to print shirts (or whatever) anymore to survive.  I just like doing it.

that's funny, 'cause Workhorse 6/4 is pretty darn nice press!

Ah, but compared to even a 6 color auto, not to mention 8.  Maybe someday.  Be nice to have something besides the shoulders pulling (or pushing).
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Socalfmf on June 26, 2011, 09:46:26 PM
maybe you should ask also what press do you have the you dont use! like a anatol auto...ahhahahahahahahah  had to shane...
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Screened Gear on June 26, 2011, 10:57:08 PM
12 Color Progressive Falcon
16 Color Printex Prism II


The Workhorse manuals are great. I have never had a problem with my 6/6. Just make sure you buy the teal colored one. Workhorse also makes a Murcury brand press that is blackish. They are not nearly as good. (much cheaper and will do the job, but not as good.)

I made alot of money on my Workhorse 6/6. they keep perfect registration.  I have done 4 color process on it. CMYK Full Color Screen printing with a push stroke on t-shirts (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFr2VBH8arc#)

Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: screenxpress on June 26, 2011, 11:06:45 PM
Nice Vid. 

Mine is the teal one.  You make the CMYK look so easy.  What brand ink?
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Screened Gear on June 26, 2011, 11:15:57 PM
Mine is the teal one.  You make the CMYK look so easy.  What brand ink?
[/quote]

Its unions ink. I have had really good results with it. I use their color profile "magic numbers", from their website (its under software) when I output my film. I also use 2 sets of registration marks. one is to line up the screens. Then the closer ones are for when printing. they are much smaller and closer to the image. I use a loop to view them to make sure the print it dead on. (all reg marks are covered when printing the shirts)
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: screenxpress on June 26, 2011, 11:21:11 PM
Thanks.  One last question and I just posted that I'm thinking of making a printer change in the general section, but what do you use to output your films?
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Screened Gear on June 26, 2011, 11:28:55 PM
Thanks.  One last question and I just posted that I'm thinking of making a printer change in the general section, but what do you use to output your films?

I maybe the only one in the screen printing industry that uses Canon. I have a canon pro 9000. It does up to 13 wide. I am looking at getting a new one that does up to 24 inches wide. (right now I can only do 16 wide but my MHM with some new items will do 20 wide.)
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: screenxpress on June 26, 2011, 11:29:59 PM
Thanks
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: tonypep on June 27, 2011, 06:48:09 AM
Looks like I win with oldest machine....lol 10 color Challenger. I found a 10 color Challenger a while back with under a 100k in impressions. It was like finding that old hotrod that Grandma parked in the garage and never drove for 20 years....lol
Ummm not quite. All the work I am currently doing is on Gauntlets with ove 2,000,000 impressions.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: JBLUE on June 27, 2011, 11:15:13 AM
What year are they? My oldie is a 89.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Nation03 on June 27, 2011, 03:24:37 PM
12 Color Progressive Falcon
16 Color Printex Prism II


The Workhorse manuals are great. I have never had a problem with my 6/6. Just make sure you buy the teal colored one. Workhorse also makes a Murcury brand press that is blackish. They are not nearly as good. (much cheaper and will do the job, but not as good.)

I made alot of money on my Workhorse 6/6. they keep perfect registration.  I have done 4 color process on it. CMYK Full Color Screen printing with a push stroke on t-shirts ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFr2VBH8arc#[/url])


I've always enjoyed your videos on youtube. Any chance you'll get some videos of the MHM soon?
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: Screened Gear on June 27, 2011, 03:57:55 PM
12 Color Progressive Falcon
16 Color Printex Prism II


The Workhorse manuals are great. I have never had a problem with my 6/6. Just make sure you buy the teal colored one. Workhorse also makes a Murcury brand press that is blackish. They are not nearly as good. (much cheaper and will do the job, but not as good.)

I made alot of money on my Workhorse 6/6. they keep perfect registration.  I have done 4 color process on it. CMYK Full Color Screen printing with a push stroke on t-shirts ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFr2VBH8arc#[/url])


I've always enjoyed your videos on youtube. Any chance you'll get some videos of the MHM soon?


Nation03,

I have been wanting to. With the move and learning the MHM I just have not had time. I'm glad you like the videos. I will see if i can get a video of my 5 color job this week.
Title: Re: Press type and color count
Post by: ZooCity on June 27, 2011, 05:09:13 PM
An intimate MHM vid of you setting up a job would be rad.  You never get shots of screens being loaded and registered it seems like.