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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Prosperi-Tees on September 25, 2013, 11:08:54 PM
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When you guys get in crated equipment such as an auto do you tear into the crates and place the machine where you want it or do you let the tech handle everything?
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i would ask the tech what he wants you to do.
On new equipment I wouldn't touch a thing.
On used equipment, I would tear it all apart and lay everything out so you can see if anything is broken or missing.
That's me though.
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Yeah it is used so I am itching to get into it and make sure everything is accounted for, just wanted to make sure that was ok, I guess it is since its mine now lol.
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And your recent experience.
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And your recent experience.
Exactly but this thing is crated like it will survive a war lol!
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From my experience tech's are not interested in having to uncrate and position machines unless that was arranged during time of purchase. We have only had techs come to install new equipment and always have machine in place with electrical and air ran to machine. Your paying high dollar for a tech compared to someone who could uncrate and position the machine so I'd suggest get as much ready for him so there's more time for machine testing once up and running.
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When you guys get in crated equipment such as an auto do you tear into the crates and place the machine where you want it or do you let the tech handle everything?
the machine should be uncrated and in position with power and air nearby
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When you guys get in crated equipment such as an auto do you tear into the crates and place the machine where you want it or do you let the tech handle everything?
the machine should be uncrated and in position with power and air nearby
Perfect. That's what will be done then. Still have to do some moving around and electrical and duct work yet.
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I must have missed it, what did you buy Gerry?
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Pretty sure I know but don't want to steal anyones thunder.
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(http://rlv.zcache.com/cmon_man_cmon_man_come_on_man_tees-rf9587008095348deba8a3716fa9ec397_va6l5_512.jpg)
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I know. ;)
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Nothing exciting like a Challenger III but still exciting for me. Its a 97 Gauntlet 8 color. Did it right this time around and let M&R handle everything, im sure ill be satisfied!
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Nothing exciting like a Challenger III but still exciting for me. Its a 97 Gauntlet 8 color. Did it right this time around and let M&R handle everything, im sure ill be satisfied!
Sweet! Congrats.
You get some insurance figured out on the other one?
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Dude, you're going to love that press, congrats! Now get it spinning!
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NICE G!! good for you, go blue, can't go wrong...unless you drop it..........oohhhhhhhh nooo he didn't......
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A good step up for sure, you will love it. We run a '94 6/8 almost everyday (it's our #2 press) and it just keeps on working (with a little loving care of course)
Steve
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Yup this one came in great shape.
Actually did good on the other press, insurance payed out and I just sold it last Friday and kept the flash.
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At least you have the comfort level knowing the press was gone through by M&R, not to mention they got the crating thing down
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That's great news. Glad its worked out. Best wishes going forward!
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More power to ya Gerry!
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The GTS was an elegantly simple design. You have some simple individual head controls which of course speeds setup. It is very easy to work on when necessary. Drawbacks....probably no stroke proxes, and that one design flaw where the squeegee rests in the down position.
This makes a real good case for a good used machine at a great price that can pay for itself in a couple of months.
kudos
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I did see a sensor on each head. Looks like a stroke prox to me.
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Sorry I meant adjustable proxes
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Looks adjustable.... no?
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Yes it is after all. Bonus. Front may be permanent but that shouldn't matter. Ours is a fixed stroke but it doesn't matter. Its still as fast as all get out. Try dry running it and keeping up with loading at zero dwell and get back to us. This is a designated discharge press for us........doesn't even have a flash
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I believe there is a retro fit part to allow rear stroke adjustment. Seems like Dan Goldberg is who I talked to years ago when I got a few. We sold our Gauntlet years ago, but she's still running strong every day in a friend's shop. Has to be twenty years old now. I miss her.
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You have got to be kidding me with this crating! I am getting a workout out here!
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I built a storage shed with the leftover lumber from the crating of my diamondback. True story.
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You have got to be kidding me with this crating! I am getting a workout out here!
nope. No kidding here. Which crate style do you prefer, first or second one?
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You have got to be kidding me with this crating! I am getting a workout out here!
nope. No kidding here. Which crate style do you prefer, first or second one?
In all fairness by the time I got the first shipment there was no crating at all so I would have to say I prefer the 2nd one since its the only crates I actually received!
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Hope you get to print shirts with this one 8)
Darryl
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From the looks of it I sure will :D
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You have got to be kidding me with this crating! I am getting a workout out here!
I swear you could hit them with a car and the car would come out in worse shape.
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I believe there is a retro fit part to allow rear stroke adjustment. Seems like Dan Goldberg is who I talked to years ago when I got a few. We sold our Gauntlet years ago, but she's still running strong every day in a friend's shop. Has to be twenty years old now. I miss her.
http://presstech.net/innovations/innovations.html (http://presstech.net/innovations/innovations.html)
Invaluable for the older Gauntlets.
You done good Gerry, Gauntlets are probably best bang for the buck out there with minimal risk- the parts and the support of course are in abundance for the most part. The sq pressure thing and platen deflection are honestly the only 2 legitimate bummers when it comes to these presses. If it doesn't already have them, put platens on that have the full length bracket, not the short ones or reinforce them if you have the short brackets, the arm deflection combined with the tooling plate of the platen deflecting at the tip can make running sim pro and certain prints impossible as your top of image will be drastically off from the bottom, even when you have the job setup "right".
A Gauntlet rebuilt from M&R is going to be the bees knees man. Enjoy.
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Is there a way to concert the platen system to be quick release? I cant see doing platen change over for youth or sleeve. I did it once on the old Javelin and it took forever.
I looked closer at the heads and it actually has rear micros as well. Although I hear nobody really uses them.
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If I am not mistaken I believe your machine has quick release cams for pallet change. If not they can be added. Speak to your tech.
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I have not looked close enough yet so the question may have been premature. I was out today. I will be in the shop on Sunday getting everything placed and sorted.
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I have short and long Allen bolts, an uneven number. Which ones go in the heads?
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Does it really matter if you don't put head #1 in the #1 position or can you mix them around?
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Yes because the first and last head are usually wired for the safety cord connection on m&r presses. I'm sure rich will chime in about your specific machine but all m&r presses we've ever had the first and last head have a yellow wire which no other heads have so those are specific.
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Ahh yes. Thanks Danny, that was a duh moment for me when I was looking at it. At first I was considering putting head 2 in on #1 just to have a "fresher" head there but yeah, safety cables.
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Starting to look like a press!
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Does it really matter if you don't put head #1 in the #1 position or can you mix them around?
I strongly suggest you let the tech put the machine together. You will have considerable issues if the press is installed incorrectly. Just a FYI and yes the heads should've assembled in the correct order. When the press needs troubleshooting the wire numbers being mixed will cause you to need a service call to troubleshoot a problem. Ever see the sign at a car repair shop" labor $60.00 per hour. Labor after you try and fix it $150.00 per hour. There is a reason.
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Does it really matter if you don't put head #1 in the #1 position or can you mix them around?
I strongly suggest you let the tech put the machine together. You will have considerable issues if the press is installed incorrectly. Just a FYI and yes the heads should've assembled in the correct order. When the press needs troubleshooting the wire numbers being mixed will cause you to need a service call to troubleshoot a problem. Ever see the sign at a car repair shop" labor $60.00 per hour. Labor after you try and fix it $150.00 per hour. There is a reason.
Will do!
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Oh and I did not touch the wires. That looks scary! I remember the old Jav was just 2 airlines and that was it. I could figure out 2 air lines but this Gauntlet no thanks I will not try and mees with that.
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I just realized I don't have squeegee/floodbar clamps! Anybody got 32 of these laying around? Or is this something a tech may have in his "stock"?
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Try here might work
http://www.digitsmith.com/m-r-squeegee-flood-bar-clamps-38671.html (http://www.digitsmith.com/m-r-squeegee-flood-bar-clamps-38671.html)
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Was that not included in the deal?
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I don't really think so. Rich did an awesome thing for us with this and has gone above and beyond what I expected so im not gonna push the issue. I may need to borrow some from someone local just so the tech can do his thing.
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I don't really think so. Rich did an awesome thing for us with this and has gone above and beyond what I expected so im not gonna push the issue. I may need to borrow some from someone local just so the tech can do his thing.
did not know they were not sent with the press to us when it was traded in. Is your install being done by our tech and if so when?
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Try Brannon or Scot at Spotcolor Supply. I unloaded a boatload of surplus stuff to them. Also floodbars and squeegee holders.
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I don't really think so. Rich did an awesome thing for us with this and has gone above and beyond what I expected so im not gonna push the issue. I may need to borrow some from someone local just so the tech can do his thing.
did not know they were not sent with the press to us when it was traded in. Is your install being done by our tech and if so when?
Yes your tech is scheduled for this Monday.
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I don't really think so. Rich did an awesome thing for us with this and has gone above and beyond what I expected so im not gonna push the issue. I may need to borrow some from someone local just so the tech can do his thing.
did not know they were not sent with the press to us when it was traded in. Is your install being done by our tech and if so when?
Yes your tech is scheduled for this Monday.
clamps will be there by the time our tech arrives.
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Awesome! Thanks again Rich
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Can you say SERVICE?
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Just another reason M&R rocks.
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that is the reason they Rock Brandt.
blue through and through here
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The tech is registering the press as we speak but the poor guy has a cavity and needs a root canal and you can tell its wearing on him. His dentist can't get him in. Its taking longer than I thought, I don't know if it's cause he is in pain or if he isn't completely familiar with the press.
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Registering a press is a toothache in itself.
Take notes Gerry.
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I bet you are excited. Best wishes!
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Good luck on the install, Gerry.
John
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I am very excited but concerned with the costs right now with the admittedly slow tech. On a plus note the press has dump valves so it won't have the constant squeegee pressure on the screen! I am gonna need a bigger compressor and probably a new flash as the one I have from the challenger may not work. But yeah im excited.
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Gerry
I know it seems like a lot of money and you don't have it, but please trust us all. you will be fine once it is up and running when you are producing more and more daily you will forget all about the $$ it cost to install. plus you will have a kick a$$ machine to do your work on and it will make you money for years to come.
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It will all get there Gerry, we all know what you are going through with the antsyness, but you will be printing in no time!
A thought on a bigger compressor- I am not familiar with the dump valves, but is it going to be something that needs constant new pressure every print or only every now and then? If it is not every print, and you have a good size compressor, you could try to add just an additional holding tank for iar. It is much cheaper than a actual whole additional compressor. We have a extra 240gal tank we use as a sort of reservoir. That way the compressor doesn't turn on as often but we still have a good amount of air ready to go.
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Yeah it is gonna cost us a bunch more but it will be worth it in the end. My compressor is starving the press so a holding tank I don't believe will increase cfm so a new compressor is in the plans either a 7.5 or 10 horse. I found out I have 3 phase power so that will be good. The regulator/lubricator is leaking air and oil so I have to replace that. The flash I kept from the old Challenger wont fit on the Gauntlet so I have to get one of those unless I could figure something out with the old flash. I would like a 2nd one anyway. I need to replace the blanket on my exposure unit before I could burn any 23x31 screens so I cant test the press for registration yet, the blanket is on its way. It seems to just be piling up but it will all come together.
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Be diligent when looking at a new compressor, you may already know this but there is no such thing as a true 7.5hp compressor. It is either a 5hp that is spead up, or a 10hp that is slowed down. The second one will usually last longer and be easier on the motor. At that rate though you may as well just get a 10hp.
Having 3ph will help finding a good compressor. Check craigslist often for one, there are usually killer deals on them!
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http://modesto.craigslist.org/tls/4046717141.html (http://modesto.craigslist.org/tls/4046717141.html)
1 hour away, 10hp 3phase, and $800
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Nevermind
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Yeah it is gonna cost us a bunch more but it will be worth it in the end. My compressor is starving the press so a holding tank I don't believe will increase cfm so a new compressor is in the plans either a 7.5 or 10 horse. I found out I have 3 phase power so that will be good. The regulator/lubricator is leaking air and oil so I have to replace that. The flash I kept from the old Challenger wont fit on the Gauntlet so I have to get one of those unless I could figure something out with the old flash. I would like a 2nd one anyway. I need to replace the blanket on my exposure unit before I could burn any 23x31 screens so I cant test the press for registration yet, the blanket is on its way. It seems to just be piling up but it will all come together.
Check out the BBC Auto IR Flash Dryer. It will fit a Gauntlet, Dback, Sportsman with a bracket. It is about $1200.00 and ships UPS, 3 day production time. So i was told. Why won't the unit you have work?
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Yeah it is gonna cost us a bunch more but it will be worth it in the end. My compressor is starving the press so a holding tank I don't believe will increase cfm so a new compressor is in the plans either a 7.5 or 10 horse. I found out I have 3 phase power so that will be good. The regulator/lubricator is leaking air and oil so I have to replace that. The flash I kept from the old Challenger wont fit on the Gauntlet so I have to get one of those unless I could figure something out with the old flash. I would like a 2nd one anyway. I need to replace the blanket on my exposure unit before I could burn any 23x31 screens so I cant test the press for registration yet, the blanket is on its way. It seems to just be piling up but it will all come together.
Check out the BBC Auto IR Flash Dryer. It will fit a Gauntlet, Dback, Sportsman with a bracket. It is about $1200.00 and ships UPS, 3 day production time. So i was told. Why won't the unit you have work?
I am looking at that one. It is all about the brackets that hold the flash up. My supply sales rep said he can get the old one to work, he will be here tomorrow to help me out so we shall see.
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This doesn't look right. I have not checked all heads but this is head #8. Do I have to cut the squeegees down? This is with it adjusted all the way up.
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This doesn't look right. I have not checked all heads but this is head #8. Do I have to cut the squeegees down? This is with it adjusted all the way up.
no you do not cut the blade to adjust for the press,ever. You should also not be pulling the squeegee across the mesh without ink in it. Did you print when the tech was there?
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No the machined was finished at 5:30 yesterday evening and we did not have time to print. I have not printed anything yet nor am I ready to.
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This doesn't look right. I have not checked all heads but this is head #8. Do I have to cut the squeegees down? This is with it adjusted all the way up.
Looks like us printing DC. But seriously, no, that ain't right. You need to drop the plane of the screen holders to be in the right zone and then the platens need paralleled to that. This is presuming you don't have central off contact or something. If that's happening it's my guess that everything- screen holders and platens -is up too high. Maybe something else is going on though, seems really weird that a tech would do a setup like that.
We have our Gauntlet setup so that the screen holders are setup for printing on contact and then we use shims for higher o.c. when plasti is on the press. Bump it up one more shim for fleece. Not a bad way to go if you do wb/dc printing and plastisol.
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Looks like the screen holder have been adjusted up for old squeegees that been ground down/sharpened.
Rich what your idea/opinion?
Shane
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Yeah it is gonna cost us a bunch more but it will be worth it in the end. My compressor is starving the press so a holding tank I don't believe will increase cfm so a new compressor is in the plans either a 7.5 or 10 horse. I found out I have 3 phase power so that will be good. The regulator/lubricator is leaking air and oil so I have to replace that. The flash I kept from the old Challenger wont fit on the Gauntlet so I have to get one of those unless I could figure something out with the old flash. I would like a 2nd one anyway. I need to replace the blanket on my exposure unit before I could burn any 23x31 screens so I cant test the press for registration yet, the blanket is on its way. It seems to just be piling up but it will all come together.
Check out the BBC Auto IR Flash Dryer. It will fit a Gauntlet, Dback, Sportsman with a bracket. It is about $1200.00 and ships UPS, 3 day production time. So i was told. Why won't the unit you have work?
I am looking at that one. It is all about the brackets that hold the flash up. My supply sales rep said he can get the old one to work, he will be here tomorrow to help me out so we shall see.
Go to www.presstech.net (http://www.presstech.net). Dave has all the parts you will need for an old omni flash, simple website.
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Rich is right u just need some lube in the trough.
Or less pressure. Air is sure full on that chop.
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I didn't even think the squeegee would even hit the screen since I adjusted it all the way to the top.
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Gerry, was this an M&R tech? that stuff should have been set up by him, the techs I had wouldn't leave until a print came off the machine....
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Yeah it was an M&R tech. He was in a hurry to get out of here for another job. He admittedly wasn't very familiar with the press which I understand cause he hasn't been with M&R long. He was also laboring from a bad toothache so that may have affected some things as well. Took 3 days to get to this point. A day and a half longer than expected. Im gonna burn a couple screens tomorrow if I can get my exposure unit to cooperate with me.
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Yeah ink and a garment is needed to gauge
how much pressure is being exerted or driven
into it.
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I have old screens sitting here that we could have used but...
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You know turning pressure knobs "up" actually move the squeegee down, right?
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You know turning pressure knobs "up" actually move the squeegee down, right?
Yikes! Honestly I didn't take but 3 minutes to day to look at anything. I will check in the AM
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Looks like the screen holder have been adjusted up for old squeegees that been ground down/sharpened.
Rich what your idea/opinion?
Shane
I dont think anything is wrong. I think the fact that the compressor will not run the press is taking away from the press being test printed properly. Get the right compressor and then see what is right or wrong.
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Well the tech showed up in this morning and I showed him about the squeegee pressure. He is now having to relevel the arms and register it all over again.
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Well the tech showed up in this morning and I showed him about the squeegee pressure. He is now having to relevel the arms and register it all over again.
Called it! Easy mistake to make when setting up any press, auto or manual. You want the arms/platens on a plane that will allow you the largest range of adjustment on the top part of the machine- off contact, blade pressure, etc. It takes a little thinkin' and figurin' to get there sometimes and I've been down that road of having to redo what you thought was such a nice leveling job before that is in parallel but not on the right plane unfortunately.
The worst was when I was installing new platen brackets on a new press that was shipped with incorrect brackets/platens. The brackets looked identical but were not, and actually had two different heights, rendering it impossible to parallel as the range of adjustment of the bolts could not accommodate both types of brackets together. That really had me stumped. Lucky you have an M&R and there are many more "fixed variables" on those machines to help you in troubleshooting.
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Got fixed today. The tech adjusted the press to the standards of a new machine instead of the older press that it is so that caused the squeegee problem. It is running pretty smooth now. It will definitely print a few colors with the current compressor but I will have to take it slow until I get decided on which compressor to go with. My main concern now is trying to rig up the omni flash from the old challenger to work on the Gauntlet and also to replace the air/oil leaking regulator/lubricator.
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Did the regulator get damaged in shipping or install?
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I think it was old and they just overlooked it in the refurb, I guess it's not that important of a piece.
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[url]http://modesto.craigslist.org/tls/4046717141.html[/url] ([url]http://modesto.craigslist.org/tls/4046717141.html[/url])
1 hour away, 10hp 3phase, and $800
Dude, what's wrong with this one? Looks like around 33CFM and has a newer motor.
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[url]http://modesto.craigslist.org/tls/4046717141.html[/url] ([url]http://modesto.craigslist.org/tls/4046717141.html[/url])
1 hour away, 10hp 3phase, and $800
Dude, what's wrong with this one? Looks like around 33CFM and has a newer motor.
im gonna give them a shout today! Thanks!
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So when the tech was measuring the print stroke he said max I could get was maybe 16". This is a 18" print area machine. Does anyone with a Gauntlet in the mid 90s era get more than a 16" stroke?
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So when the tech was measuring the print stroke he said max I could get was maybe 16". This is a 18" print area machine. Does anyone with a Gauntlet in the mid 90s era get more than a 16" stroke?
Screen size is going to also dictate that. 23x31 may be tight on some presses to get 18. May need more like a 23x33.
If the press will do 18, just find the screen size needed to accomplish it.
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So when the tech was measuring the print stroke he said max I could get was maybe 16". This is a 18" print area machine. Does anyone with a Gauntlet in the mid 90s era get more than a 16" stroke?
the press has a 16 " long image area with a 23X31 frame.
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Gerry, where are you measuring exactly? I measure from where the flood bar stops and the squeegie ends. you do have those extra 2" or so between the squeegie and the flood bar but that has always been a grey area for us as far as printability. somedays we can squeak out the extra inch but somedays we need that flood.
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You can always use double beveled squeegees with no angle. I just printed a back image that was almost 17" long without beveled squeegees ('95 Gauntlet S (16x18 max image). You just adjust your bumpers, as long as your squeegee still lands on the front of the platten and your flood clears the image you should be fine. If you adjust the bumpers make sure you tighten them up real good, they can easily come loose. My press will not take any screen longer than 31".
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Now that's some ingenuity!
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You can always use double beveled squeegees with no angle. I just printed a back image that was almost 17" long without beveled squeegees ('95 Gauntlet S (16x18 max image). You just adjust your bumpers, as long as your squeegee still lands on the front of the platten and your flood clears the image you should be fine. If you adjust the bumpers make sure you tighten them up real good, they can easily come loose. My press will not take any screen longer than 31".
If you adjust the bumpers and bottom out the cylinder stroke on its self your cylinders will prematurely fail. Need to know what you are doing to be safe.
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We tried to print a 1 color print today. Set up the screen in head 8. Printed nice for about 3 prints and then the flood and squeegee stopped chopping, it would just move to the front and then go back. I got frustrated and threw it on the manual to finish up the job. I then went back and turned all heads on thinking that maybe it was starving for air but all the other heads chopped and printed as normal although under no load.
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Ingenuity on the - vertical squeegee with bevel
giving print angle. Don't ever modify the
Great Blue Machine!!
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We tried to print a 1 color print today. Set up the screen in head 8. Printed nice for about 3 prints and then the flood and squeegee stopped chopping, it would just move to the front and then go back. I got frustrated and threw it on the manual to finish up the job. I then went back and turned all heads on thinking that maybe it was starving for air but all the other heads chopped and printed as normal although under no load.
I have a 97 g2 8/10 - Make sure the program is setup correct, also check the sensors are working red when head is in foward or backward. Or if the optic shirt doesn't have a shirt or hit the reflective on the bottom in the right place.
I run a 7.5 ir compressor, to small barely If printing 6-8 colors.
Just runs slowly.
My Thoughts.
Shane