Exposure Unit Recommendations

[mk162]

So we currently run an Amergraph 755, with a 7500w metal halide unit.  The power supply is dying and the company is long gone.  I contacted the company that replaced them HID Ventures about getting a replacement PS. In case they don't have them or they aren't made, I need a few recommendations for a new unit.

I know Pierre tested some of the LED units and found a hot spot across the field.  I'd prefer to stick with single point, and I have enough power run to that location to run a large bulb like that.

We run a wax Douthitt CTS unit, so no film.

Thanks!

[Homer]

-outside looking in- are you doing Pierre type prints?.... We have a DTS along with Starlight, no glass, no film.. wouldn't change a thing. It's been over 10 years and our times haven't changed at all. I'm not smart enough to sort through the info of single point vs LED, I just know I like to eliminate variables so I have less demons to fight.

[mk162]

We aren't, but we do a fair amount of sim process.

I checked with Douthitt and they sell a single point LED with a timer that would be cheaper to slap into our unit than trying to fix it or way better than replacing the entire unit.

We'll probably go that route, it also frees up some space in the electrical panel for other upgrades.

[Homer]

We aren't, but we do a fair amount of sim process.

I checked with Douthitt and they sell a single point LED with a timer that would be cheaper to slap into our unit than trying to fix it or way better than replacing the entire unit.

We'll probably go that route, it also frees up some space in the electrical panel for other upgrades.

well that answers that question! Good move, if we were in the market for anything, Douthitt would be the way....

[bimmridder]

And the support from Douthitt is top notch as well. Remember how M&R used to be. That's how Douthitt has always been.

[mk162]

Yeah, Mark was emailing back and forth with me over the weekend...on his birthday.  Everything is set, unit should ship out and arrive Thursday.

The plan is to keep the existing Amergraph cabinet, just remove the guts and put the new bulb in the bottom and a timer on the outside. The current unit does 2 screens at a time, and hopefully the distance is there for this one as well.  If not, we'll just switch to one screen at a time and set the bulb at the appropriate distance.

It's not the cheapest route, but probably the best one for us.

[R8R]

Remember how M&R used to be.

 

[mk162]

Got the new light in. It's bigger than i thought. Not as bright as I thought either, but it's a blacklight colored light, not bright white like the metal halide. Still hurts to look at.

We are testing it now and it'll be an adjustment.  but this should be a good solution for us.

[tonypep]

Laser to screen is probably best however, we bought one two ys ago and it is awesome with no consumables. Downside, totally overkill for a two auto shop. ROI might never happen. On top of that it was part of a quarter of a million investment, auto coat, auto reclaim (they cant afford the chemicals). All three retail stores closed. They are in trouble. But at least they got the young kids running the shop. Upside is the larger contract owners are in contact and ready to move as soon as I land somewhere. Shows you where the loyalty and trust lie sorry for the rant. They are a great family, they just put family first rather than kids finding jobs of their own. Sorry for the rant but Douthett is my vote, I do not recommend
used units. Usually blanket, bulbuls and glass  will cost you, thinking four or more autos, depending on volume might make better sense for an LSR

[3Deep]

That's what I did to our old Atlas 5 way unit when I could no longer get bulb's I bought an LED light and ballast rewired it, way better than the original unit ever was

[Admiral]

Laser to screen is probably best however, we bought one two ys ago and it is awesome with no consumables. Downside, totally overkill for a two auto shop. ROI might never happen. On top of that it was part of a quarter of a million investment, auto coat, auto reclaim (they cant afford the chemicals). All three retail stores closed. They are in trouble. But at least they got the young kids running the shop. Upside is the larger contract owners are in contact and ready to move as soon as I land somewhere. Shows you where the loyalty and trust lie sorry for the rant. They are a great family, they just put family first rather than kids finding jobs of their own. Sorry for the rant but Douthett is my vote, I do not recommend
used units. Usually blanket, bulbuls and glass  will cost you, thinking four or more autos, depending on volume might make better sense for an LSR

Yeah, I wonder what screens/day you need to be at to make sense.  Lasers were probably double the price 2-4 years ago.  Our M&R CTS (2 head) is costing us $3000/year in maintenance (replacing print heads is way too expensive) and the consumables and other maintenance $2500/year too.  If the laser is truly so little maintenance and no consumables it makes perfect sense for us.  Screen time is quicker than our 2 head CTS too, only about 1 minute 20 seconds it looked like. 

My plan is do print heads again soon then get a max of 2 years and by then get a laser system.

[mk162]

Laser to screen is probably best however, we bought one two ys ago and it is awesome with no consumables. Downside, totally overkill for a two auto shop. ROI might never happen. On top of that it was part of a quarter of a million investment, auto coat, auto reclaim (they cant afford the chemicals). All three retail stores closed. They are in trouble. But at least they got the young kids running the shop. Upside is the larger contract owners are in contact and ready to move as soon as I land somewhere. Shows you where the loyalty and trust lie sorry for the rant. They are a great family, they just put family first rather than kids finding jobs of their own. Sorry for the rant but Douthett is my vote, I do not recommend
used units. Usually blanket, bulbuls and glass  will cost you, thinking four or more autos, depending on volume might make better sense for an LSR

We are a one auto shop.  the wax douthitt unit is probably overkill for us, but I wouldn't give it up.

The Saati unit seems to work well so far. We are testing new emulsions because the stuff we were using for a slower and wider latitude is taking forever on the new bulb.  Like 5+ minutes.