Skip shirt buttons / no shirt detectors / go/no go pedals - yea or nay?

[JmanRT]

I would say definitely get a shirt detector, i think depending on the size of the run depends on if you will want to use it for every job but it is well worth the money. especially on larger runs, if you have a miss load its much easier to pull the shirt off and let the machine keep moving instead of pausing the machine. on small runs at our shop we like to run the jobs on double index so in that case we dont use the shirt detector. but yes get one! you will like it

[ZooCity]

One other thing to mention is on contact printing.  The no shirt detector does you little good if you are still bringing a freshly tacked platen right up against over very close to a screen.  The tack will tear off emulsion and/or lint will stick to the underside of the screen. 

Toss in the fact that the older Gauntlet we have maintains the squeegee choppers in the down position at all times and you have a fairly useless feature for us...actually more of a liability. 

I agree wholeheartedly with those of you touting it's benefits on newer model presses but even there if screens are set at on contact you really cannot be sending empty pallets around.  I'd say this feature would be insanely useful on presses that lower the print heads to the platens v. the platens tabling up/down. 

[Doug S]

I have the no shirt detector on my sportsman.  I've never used it in case of misleads but I have on one job to avoid loading a particular warped pallet until I got a new pallet in.  Other than that it's been setting on the floor under the press unplugged.

We never run the press at unbearable speeds but I can see where they would be beneficial if someone does.

[Nick Bane]

had em on our challenger and gauntlet in 1993 and several machines since then, and again, wouldnt trade em if i wasnt forced to.  i can see why those who werent used to them would say they had no use for them, and thats your option, but theyve never been anything but a benefit, new or old machine alike.  but if youre not that into being super critical of your efficiencies than it may not make much of a difference to you.

[Rockers]

How much are the no shirt detectors from M&R?

[TCT]

I agree wholeheartedly with those of you touting it's benefits on newer model presses but even there if screens are set at on contact you really cannot be sending empty pallets around.  I'd say this feature would be insanely useful on presses that lower the print heads to the platens v. the platens tabling up/down.

Guess I never really thought of that.... But like I said we just stop the press. Because I can't really think of a time we didn't get the shirt on the board, it is usually just the shirt not being positioned/straightened properly which the detector wouldn't exactly help anyway....
Looks like people really like the detector option or could care less and have made their own system. No one is really "in the middle" and uses it sometimes huh?

Bet this would get the same split response- Where do people stand(no pun intended) on using a foot pedal?

[ZooCity]

I agree wholeheartedly with those of you touting it's benefits on newer model presses but even there if screens are set at on contact you really cannot be sending empty pallets around.  I'd say this feature would be insanely useful on presses that lower the print heads to the platens v. the platens tabling up/down.

Guess I never really thought of that.... But like I said we just stop the press. Because I can't really think of a time we didn't get the shirt on the board, it is usually just the shirt not being positioned/straightened properly which the detector wouldn't exactly help anyway....
Looks like people really like the detector option or could care less and have made their own system. No one is really "in the middle" and uses it sometimes huh?

Bet this would get the same split response- Where do people stand(no pun intended) on using a foot pedal?

Yeah it totally negates the skip shirt functionality on table up/down presses but obviously the feature was designed under the assumption that there would be off contact.

We've ran our Gauntlet full tilt (which is actually around 700pcs/hr for this press), with me loading/operating and in the groove and I have to say that when you really get moving like that for hours on end you miss a throw now and then or just want to get a sip of your beverage or look up for a few seconds at your ink wells without bringing the whole show to a stop.  I do really like the concept.  Toss a bunch of clingy bastard ring spun cotton Ts into the situation and a mis-throw or a slow/hard time getting the shirt picked apart to grip it and load it before the press indexes is quite common. 

[alan802]

I agree wholeheartedly with those of you touting it's benefits on newer model presses but even there if screens are set at on contact you really cannot be sending empty pallets around.  I'd say this feature would be insanely useful on presses that lower the print heads to the platens v. the platens tabling up/down.

Guess I never really thought of that.... But like I said we just stop the press. Because I can't really think of a time we didn't get the shirt on the board, it is usually just the shirt not being positioned/straightened properly which the detector wouldn't exactly help anyway....
Looks like people really like the detector option or could care less and have made their own system. No one is really "in the middle" and uses it sometimes huh?

Bet this would get the same split response- Where do people stand(no pun intended) on using a foot pedal?

Foot pedals are for amateurs

[TCT]

I agree wholeheartedly with those of you touting it's benefits on newer model presses but even there if screens are set at on contact you really cannot be sending empty pallets around.  I'd say this feature would be insanely useful on presses that lower the print heads to the platens v. the platens tabling up/down.

Guess I never really thought of that.... But like I said we just stop the press. Because I can't really think of a time we didn't get the shirt on the board, it is usually just the shirt not being positioned/straightened properly which the detector wouldn't exactly help anyway....
Looks like people really like the detector option or could care less and have made their own system. No one is really "in the middle" and uses it sometimes huh?

Bet this would get the same split response- Where do people stand(no pun intended) on using a foot pedal?

Foot pedals are for amateurs

You cut me deep there Alan, you cut me deep.

[ScreenFoo]

No way, foot pedals are great.



I don't think I'd want one by the press to trip over though...

[jvanick]

is that your guitar pedal board?  Can you hear the delay when playing from all those buffered pedals?  Love the EH pedals tho...

[Action1]

No way, foot pedals are great.



I don't think I'd want one by the press to trip over though...

I wish we had a like button! - I think I see few vintage  70's style MXR's here.
This is great ScreenFoo. I agree that it should go next to your press.

[dirkdiggler]

No way, foot pedals are great.



I don't think I'd want one by the press to trip over though...

Now those are my kind of pedals!  All you are missing is the Way Huge Aqua Puss!

[GraphicDisorder]

We don't have one, but I could see how it would come in handy on large long runs.  We ran 5k shirts Friday.  Some of these shirts come outta the cases not so straight and at 68dz a hour it might be nice to miss a pallet to fix the pile without worrying about stopping the press or using the peddle.  We do have a peddle but its never been used, ever.  LOL   

[244]

We don't have one, but I could see how it would come in handy on large long runs.  We ran 5k shirts Friday.  Some of these shirts come outta the cases not so straight and at 68dz a hour it might be nice to miss a pallet to fix the pile without worrying about stopping the press or using the peddle.  We do have a peddle but its never been used, ever.  LOL

Your new press will have it. Please give an honest opinion of the feature when you get a chance.