screen printing > Screen Making
Pre-reg!
ZooCity:
Homer's post got me all hot and bothered about making a pre-reg system again. I figured I'd start a fresh thread so as not to steal his thunder on his post. I know Alan and others are working on this sort of thing too and we're probably all too busy right now to actually build the damn things so let's hear everyone's best ideas and viciously criticize and tear them apart until we find a really solid one or some good elements at least. How's that sound?
Here's my running concept, I think this may have been loosely mentioned before somewhere. It's basically combining the Pin-Lock and Tri-Lock system and eliminating reg-marks all together as well as nixing a bunch of taping:
We have screens from 25"x30" up to really damn big so I'm putting a big 'ol vac frame in at our new space. This means no crap on the glass for any pre-reg. The textile and flatstock screens need to share the expo unit. We do have a smaller unit that I built that could have permanent bump stops or whatever but that's more floor space eaten up.
Use a hole punch from one of our sister trades, maybe like this:
http://www.takachpress.com/servlet/the-291/Punch-Registration-System-6-dsh-Hole/Detail
{Or maybe cheaper. Maybe you're a total cheap-ass and use a three hole punch from the office supply store. And buy a second one to dismantle and use holes from.}
I'm not sure which would be superior but you could either use sheets only and punch those sheets ahead of time. Or you could print off a roll feed first and them stack the films together and punch them all at once. This is the critical point here- if the holes don't get punched accurately this whole concept won't work too well. I'm leaning toward sheets only and pre-punch but will r&d it both ways to see. Using roll would save film but I'm concerned it will curl to0 much to get an accurate punch after printing.
I have a template illy file that all art gets placed in before output. There's a set of guides you can turn on or off showing different platen print areas at true size as well as placements for left crest, etc. Well, you can see where this is going- Place the art before it goes to rip where you want it to land on-press for that particular platen, print on those punched sheets and now you have each color aligned as perfectly as an inkjet will allow onto films that are their own carrier sheets with no reg marks, with punch holes ready to go.
From here you could either:
* make a jig that's a reverse/flip of the thee point jig used on press allowing you to load the the screen in print side up for film placement, like the MHM system does. Except no alignment is needed here, simply fit the sheet on the reg pins, tape and carefully pull it off the pins and its off to expose a (presumably) perfectly registered screen with no bump stops, etc. needed on the glass
* Do something like Homer's setup and the tri-loc does and put the film on the pins on the expo glass where you have the bump stops
Downsides:
* Wastes film
* Takes the added step of punching the film.
* Might not actually work.
Upsides:
* No reg marks! If it works this would be huge. You're saving all that blocking out and eliminating the risk of any ink getting through the blockout.
* No lining up a film or screen by eye. Saving even more time and eliminates another step where there's room for error.
* Very little or no tape needed. You still need to tape in scenario 1 above but not at all in scenario 2.
* No carrier sheets, the films are the carriers.
* Allows you to expose screens as fast as the unit will allow.
I'm pretty sold on it, in my head at least. And if it doesn't perfectly reg screens that's fine by me. It's still saving a crap-ton of time. But, I bet it can reg things pretty close.
jsheridan:
I've used the high placed 3-wide-1 way-low reg marks for the last 10 yrs, the idea is to get the regies out of the squeegee drop area, this way, even if you 'forget' to tape or blockout the back of the screen, a reg mark will never print on the shirt. Just as jay has done with the reg marks on the glass, you can't miss the mark as long as it's lined up... that's it. Line it up right, dial in your reg frame and you'll never touch a micro again.
You use a few more inches of film in the process but who cares, the time saved in set up pays for any extra film you may have used. The mind set knowing that a reg mark will never again 'accidentally' print on a shirt and any new guy who runs your press can set it just as easy and quick as the last. This is golden if you do discharge.. you can't blow out a discharge reg mark on 45 shirts.
inkman996:
I love that idea John placing the reggies off the print area. If your reg system is tight even a tiny tweak can be done looking at the art instead of the reg marks.
jason-23:
whats wrong with carrier sheets? on my manuel i use vastex vrs system and freaking love it.
mk162:
It's and added and unnecessary product. M&R should have been able to design a product that doesn't need carrier sheets. Homer's system once perfected, should be faster and cheaper than the tri-lock.
I would have personally put pre-reg on a light table off the expo unit to save some time, but that's me.
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