Exposure Unit LED UV vs Metal Halide (What best?)

[zener858]

I can not choose between
Anatol Metal Halide Exposure Unit (31”*40”) - price $5000
http://www.anatol.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=265&lang=en

and
Vastex LED Screen Exposing Units (23”*31”) - price $3700
http://www.vastex.com/Screen-Printing-Equipment/Exposing-Units-Drying-Cabinets/E-2000/E-2000.php

price and size differ, but I'm most interested in the quality of the finished product

which one would you chose?
or may recommend another similar..

Thanks, everyone!

[Rockers]

We just bought the Vastex 4131 LED unit. That was around $6000. I would really recommend this size unit.
It`s very fast, build like a tank, and overall a very good upgrade from our Metal Halide exposure unit.I personally would not bother anylonger with Metal Halide. Having to constantly buy a new bulb is such a pain in the back. And the Vastex one is so quiet.

[jvanick]

I could be wrong, but isn't Anatol's 31x40 LED unit less expensive than their MH unit?

Don't waste your money on MH.

Between bulbs, heat, electricity cost, and especially resale value, it's a losing proposition to buy a new one at this point.

[zener858]

We just bought the Vastex 4131 LED unit. That was around $6000. I would really recommend this size unit.
It`s very fast, build like a tank, and overall a very good upgrade from our Metal Halide exposure unit.I personally would not bother anylonger with Metal Halide. Having to constantly buy a new bulb is such a pain in the back. And the Vastex one is so quiet.

Rockers, I am very grateful for the advice, but the problem is that we need to transport unit  to Europe, so purchase of Vastex 4731  will exceed our budget, including all charges, it  will guard about $8000

We are able to buy Anatol Metal Halide  in Poland, but hesitate between LED UV and Metal Halide up to $ 5,000 - $ 6,000.

[Rockers]

I`m in Japan. That`s not around the corner either. Ask Steve at Vastex for good deal. He will make it possible. Shipping buy UPS was for us only $800. By boat would have been  actually more expensive.
Anatol do  as well LED units.

[zener858]

I could be wrong, but isn't Anatol's 31x40 LED unit less expensive than their MH unit?

Don't waste your money on MH.

Between bulbs, heat, electricity cost, and especially resale value, it's a losing proposition to buy a new one at this point.

Dear, jvanick! Anatol also have Aurora UV LED 2636 but it may cost to us about $5000, so we are considering  Vastex 2331 under  $4000
major that interests me is the best detail and halftones by price up to $6000

Do you think it is worth considering a purchase Anatol LED 2636?

[jvanick]

numerous experts in our industry have done studies and found that the LED units are *nearly as good as the MH units... and the differences are so minor that unless you were trying to do something like 150lpi halftones you'd never notice, unless looking under a 150x microscope.

add to the equation that because the LEDs don't age, you'll end up with more consistent exposures over time, personally it's a no brainer to me....

Plus, faster exposure times as well.

Also, look into what it will cost to run a high-amperage circuit into your screen room, and the cost difference of the LED to MH unit starts to shrink as well.

Disclaimer: we have a M&R Starlight LED unit here, and we absolutely love it. 

[zener858]

numerous experts in our industry have done studies and found that the LED units are *nearly as good as the MH units... and the differences are so minor that unless you were trying to do something like 150lpi halftones you'd never notice, unless looking under a 150x microscope.

add to the equation that because the LEDs don't age, you'll end up with more consistent exposures over time, personally it's a no brainer to me....

Plus, faster exposure times as well.

Also, look into what it will cost to run a high-amperage circuit into your screen room, and the cost difference of the LED to MH unit starts to shrink as well.

Disclaimer: we have a M&R Starlight LED unit here, and we absolutely love it.

Thank you for valuable information! Have a nice day! 

[Prosperi-Tees]

The Anatol LED 2536 is around 3800 last I checked.

[244]

I could be wrong, but isn't Anatol's 31x40 LED unit less expensive than their MH unit?

Don't waste your money on MH.

Between bulbs, heat, electricity cost, and especially resale value, it's a losing proposition to buy a new one at this point.

Dear, jvanick! Anatol also have Aurora UV LED 2636 but it may cost to us about $5000, so we are considering  Vastex 2331 under  $4000
major that interests me is the best detail and halftones by price up to $6000

Do you think it is worth considering a purchase Anatol LED 2636?

The Starlight will be in production at our Poland facility in December. Just a FYI

[zener858]

I could be wrong, but isn't Anatol's 31x40 LED unit less expensive than their MH unit?

Don't waste your money on MH.

Between bulbs, heat, electricity cost, and especially resale value, it's a losing proposition to buy a new one at this point.

Dear, jvanick! Anatol also have Aurora UV LED 2636 but it may cost to us about $5000, so we are considering  Vastex 2331 under  $4000
major that interests me is the best detail and halftones by price up to $6000

Do you think it is worth considering a purchase Anatol LED 2636?

The Starlight will be in production at our Poland facility in December. Just a FYI

Thanks!

[mk162]

i would go LED, hands down...i had to just order a $250 bulb for our Amergraph...I won't miss doing that when we upgrade.

Also, with us it will free up enough power to run both a 230v heat press and an electric clothes dryer if I ever get off my butt and buy one.

[alan802]

There has been a lot of discussion on the pros and cons of both units recently, and unless the price on the MH unit is deeply discounted LED is the better choice for most shops.  I can't really envision a scenario where a shop would be better off buying an MH unit versus LED unless they need the ultimate in fine details for their work.  There is very little in the way of detail that the LED can't give you and I think the only place that MH does a better job over LED is in the very extreme detail that 99.9% of the shops out there won't need, and likely could never develop in the first place due to various reasons. 

[blue moon]

if you can hold a CALIBRATED 3% 55lpi dot on a 305 and you need it for many of your jobs, MH MIGHT be a better choice (non calibrated film output does not count here as the settings out of the box before calibration are normally printing the 3% dot at 7-9%).
If your film output is not linearized, you are not printing your film at 2800dpi or using an imagesetter, LED is a better choice. For high end, award winning level, MH has a slight edge, but as Alan said, we are talking 0.1% of the shops. . .

pierre

p.s. we are one of those companies that has won the awards and we also helped test the Vastex unit.

[zener858]

if you can hold a CALIBRATED 3% 55lpi dot on a 305 and you need it for many of your jobs, MH MIGHT be a better choice (non calibrated film output does not count here as the settings out of the box before calibration are normally printing the 3% dot at 7-9%).
If your film output is not linearized, you are not printing your film at 2800dpi or using an imagesetter, LED is a better choice. For high end, award winning level, MH has a slight edge, but as Alan said, we are talking 0.1% of the shops. . .

pierre

p.s. we are one of those companies that has won the awards and we also helped test the Vastex unit.

ThankYOU!!