workhorse manual

[Shawn (EIP)]

taken from the manual online, they call them float arms that make it an all heads down

mine press is more like this one without, so not all heads down?

[screenxpress]

All heads down is not a phenomenon of supported arms or unsupported.

All heads down is simply when the number of heads match the number of platens.

2 platens and 2 heads would be all heads down IF the heads line up with the platens. 

Unless you have 5 other people pulling squeegees on a 6 color job, there isn't any gain in "all heads down" - imho

Look closely at that picture.  I'm betting yours does not have the aluminum spider looking thing to which the heads are attached.  Mine is a more solid blue plate where the heads are attached - it's the Odyssey Series.

Sounds like this is what you purchased -

http://www.texsourceonline.com/p-658-workhorse-screen-printing-equipment-manual-odyssey-series.aspx

Click on "view larger image"

Note the obvious differences in the rotating plate where the heads are attached in addition to the missing arm supports.

It's not a bad press at all, just not as heavy duty as the one in your picture.

[Frog]

All heads down is not a phenomenon of supported arms or unsupported.

All heads down is simply when the number of heads match the number of platens.

2 platens and 2 heads would be all heads down IF the heads line up with the platens.   

Look closely at that picture.  I'm betting yours does not have the aluminum spider looking thing to which the heads are attached.  Mine is a more solid blue plate where the heads are attached.

Sounds like this is what you purchased -

http://www.texsourceonline.com/p-658-workhorse-screen-printing-equipment-manual-odyssey-series.aspx

Click on "view larger image"

Note the obvious differences in the rotating plate where the heads are attached in addition to the missing arm supports.

It's not a bad press at all, just not as heavy duty as the one in your picture.

No Wayne, there is more to it than just having the same number of heads and stations.
On the press we are talking about, the Mach series comes both ways, both can be 6/6,

Mine is a 6/6 that does not line up to print all heads down. Even if it could, the slightest mis-adjustment of the nylon registration bolts on one head rotate the whole carousel just enough to muck it up. That's why the all heads down model has that part a little different. They have what are called "float heads" which compensate and self-allign.
The manual explains it a bit. http://www.workhorseproducts.com/images/pdf/manuals/workhorse/original_modular_manual.pdf

[Shawn (EIP)]

Frog got it! Even RJennings says his press is all heads down but it's not really unless every head is exactly the same, just a minor adjustment in one head and it's out of whack.

[screenxpress]

All heads down is not a phenomenon of supported arms or unsupported.

All heads down is simply when the number of heads match the number of platens.

2 platens and 2 heads would be all heads down IF the heads line up with the platens.   

Look closely at that picture.  I'm betting yours does not have the aluminum spider looking thing to which the heads are attached.  Mine is a more solid blue plate where the heads are attached.

Sounds like this is what you purchased -

http://www.texsourceonline.com/p-658-workhorse-screen-printing-equipment-manual-odyssey-series.aspx

Click on "view larger image"

Note the obvious differences in the rotating plate where the heads are attached in addition to the missing arm supports.

It's not a bad press at all, just not as heavy duty as the one in your picture.

No Wayne, there is more to it than just having the same number of heads and stations.
On the press we are talking about, the Mach series comes both ways, both can be 6/6,

Mine is a 6/6 that does not line up to print all heads down. Even if it could, the slightest mis-adjustment of the nylon registration bolts on one head rotate the whole carousel just enough to muck it up. That's why the all heads down model has that part a little different. They have what are called "float heads" which compensate and self-allign.
The manual explains it a bit. http://www.workhorseproducts.com/images/pdf/manuals/workhorse/original_modular_manual.pdf

Okay, I stand corrected, lol.

But still -

Working as a one person shop, NOT having "all heads down" is still not a loss to my thinking.

Even with two people, the odds are "all heads down" would rarely, if ever, be of use.

Am I right?

[Shawn (EIP)]

It's not a big deal to me at all but it does add resale value.

Strange thing is my print heads have the bolt holes for the float arms to attach to ,maybe I can add them later if I ever find the need to.

[Evo]

To clarify a bit....

I owned a Aaron 6/6 press that was a copy of the Workhorse AHD design:





Each head is attached to these black steel plates that radiate out from the central bearing. Each head is attached to the main carousel wheel with several bolts and nylon washers. The bolts are not tightened down all the way, which allows each head to "float" side to side, about 1/4-1/2" or so. When more than one head is lowered into the registration gates, this allows each head to adjust slightly left or right to fit the gate. Since the heads are attached to this steel strap and the center bearing, they cannot move back and forth or rotate, they just self-adjust to fit the gates.

Aaron tried to over-engineer the press, so they included 4 nylon registration bolts in each gate. This actually made the press almost impossible to setup correctly, as their manufacturing tolerances were horrible. The bolts never aligned correctly so the heads would bind, or have slop. I set it up to use just one pair on each gate and it worked marvelously. In the pic below you can see how I back out the rear pair. (left them in as spares) Also in the background you can see where the head bolts to the wheel (blurry though)




The Workhorse press with AHD is this same design, but done much MUCH better with higher quality. I liked the Aaron for what it was but they are no longer around so I ditched it (worried about replacement parts)

[Evo]

Oh...and if you want to see a pic of a crazy manual press head:






 

[Shawn (EIP)]

That press looks like a tank and maybe an overkill. Maybe Workhorse had something to do with it's demise?

[Evo]

Picked up my Workhorse 6/6 today. It's going to be a project for a few months to clean off the spray tack, new paint job and some adjustments to get back into all heads down. Luckily its the newer model with the spring covers.

Going to be looking for a some brackets if anyone has any?

I'll look around, I might have some pallet brackets.

The pics of the press above was after I cleaned it. It was covered pretty bad in spray tack.
Used this:
http://www.realmilkpaint.com/citrus.html

VERY concentrated stuff. Wipe a little on, wait a bit for it to loosen the tack, scrub off. (I would do a second wipe-down with simple green or similar) 1 gallon will clean several presses.

Good luck on the re-furb!

[Evo]

That press looks like a tank and maybe an overkill. Maybe Workhorse had something to do with it's demise?

From what I recall reading in a forum post somewhere, they sued them back to the stoneage.


Point I was making with the above posts is that a normal Workhorse (or Odyssey) press cannot be adjusted to to AHD printing.

[Frog]

That press looks like a tank and maybe an overkill. Maybe Workhorse had something to do with it's demise?

From what I recall reading in a forum post somewhere, they sued them back to the stoneage.


Point I was making with the above posts is that a normal Workhorse (or Odyssey) press cannot be adjusted to to AHD printing.

That's freakin' ironic as Workhorse's beginnings are somewhat sordid. Ask Riley Hopkins.

[Shawn (EIP)]

The print heads that I started cleaning. Kinda of strange that each head has 1 metal and 1 black plastic micro adjustment , will be ordering metal one to replace the plastic ones I think.

[Prosperi-Tees]

Before I bought my Hopkins BWM I almost went down to Los Angeles and pick up a clean Aaron press just on the looks of that printhead lol.

[Evo]

The print heads that I started cleaning. Kinda of strange that each head has 1 metal and 1 black plastic micro adjustment , will be ordering metal one to replace the plastic ones I think.

From what I remember, all the new ones have nylon eye bolts and plastic adjustment knobs. Supposed to be smoother with less play than metal when adjusting. Since the bolts are for adjusting only and don't hold anything in place, they can be nylon. Call Workhorse about it.