screen printing > Equipment

Roller Fames and more.

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GraphicDisorder:
Currently we run 23x31 static frames (which limit our print area a bit) with a few static 25x36's (ideal screen size id like be using).  Considering moving to all 25x36's.  Fighting with doing statics or just going for it with rollers.  For those of you that have went from static to rollers, did you do it all at once, or did you phase in some rollers?  Where can I get the best deal on rollers as well.  Ive looked around but not real hard yet. 

Also I have talked to some shops about this and some guys are making the mesh, some are using shurlock panels, and so on.  What's everyones thoughts on this and whats better or what you can get by with and be satisfied with it.

Also I think if I do this our dip tank will be too small so what are guys doing for a dipatank on these larger screens? 

One of the driving factors for us to do this is for example yesterday we were running a 17 inch tall design, we had to run the press a little slower than I would have liked due to the smaller 23x31 frames. 

tpitman:
Manual press only. I started using rollers almost from the get-go due to warped wood frames. As for bolt mesh vs. shurloc panels, I think the shurloc panels are worth the extra expense, unless you're prone to popping a lot of mesh out of carelessness. I never got very good at stretching my own up to the tensions I like. Busted as much as I was successful with. On the other hand, I've never busted a mesh panel through tensioning. It takes all of the guesswork out of it. Keep your frames free of burrs and crud, handle them carefully, and you'll get good service out of the panels. Having a pneumatic table also prompts me to throw my frames on it right after reclaiming, check tension, and retension if necessary. That way I know everything I've got has been retensioned or checked after the last job. Everything except for 305s are at 35nm.

Clark:
I used static for years, and put out good prints on a manual with them..or at least I thought.  When I went automatic I bought all Roller Frames, with shurloc panels.  One thing that will really help lessen the learning cure is buying a Roller Master table, you can hit the ground running with rollers with shurloc's and the roller table...there really is no learning curve using them.  There are plenty of deals out there, for instance, I got 100 M3's and a roller table for 3K.  There are some 25x36 M3's on M&R's board, brand new for $65 a piece I think.  But if you keep looking and don't mind cleaning up some dirty ones, you can get a much better deal.  If it were me, I would buy the roller master table first, then start adding Rollers into the mix as they come available.

GraphicDisorder:

--- Quote from: Clark on April 27, 2011, 10:06:39 AM ---I used static for years, and put out good prints on a manual with them..or at least I thought.  When I went automatic I bought all Roller Frames, with shurloc panels.  One thing that will really help lessen the learning cure is buying a Roller Master table, you can hit the ground running with rollers with shurloc's and the roller table...there really is no learning curve using them.  There are plenty of deals out there, for instance, I got 100 M3's and a roller table for 3K.  There are some 25x36 M3's on M&R's board, brand new for $65 a piece I think.  But if you keep looking and don't mind cleaning up some dirty ones, you can get a much better deal.  If it were me, I would buy the roller master table first, then start adding Rollers into the mix as they come available.

--- End quote ---

100 M3's and roller table for 3k, sign me up.  LOL.  Where those 23x31's or 25x36's? 

I am going to make that switch to larger screens, just will make it easier to run faster on tall prints.  Today for example I did 17 inch tall print as well, we were running around 43dz an hour with 1 head double stroking.  With longer screens I could have cranked up the speed some more on the print stroke and did the job faster.  Plus with the 25x36's I will also have a dual use frame, can use that to do the over sized 23 inch printing we do.  Rather than having 2 screen sizes. 

Clark:
Ha..yeah.  Roller table for $1K and 100 M3's for $20 each.  Most still had mesh, but I did have to take a lot of ink and junk off of them.  They look great now after some cleaning.  It looks like you do quite a bit of oversize, so I think staying with all 25x36 would be a good idea, you can always print small on an oversize screen.

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