screen printing > Newbie

Tips and tricks for new auto user

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Northland:

--- Quote from: ZooCity on July 06, 2011, 12:45:01 PM ---Northland, your comments intrigue me.  My assumption has been that we need no less than a 10/12 due to the nature of our work but, then again a 7/8 could get us to scrill to get that big 'ol press.  Has this worked for you running 5 colors?  It just seems so limiting to me.  But then again, I'll bet a servo machine that small indexes lickety split so you could probably just revolve it with one flash or one of those "color saver" units anatol makes and leave 4/5 open color heads.  I'd imagine some jobs are just really slow on it?

--- End quote ---
Yes... 5 colors is very limiting. I can deal with that.
Here's why a 5x6 Auto works for me..... and why it doesn't work in most shops.
I'm a part-timer (maybe 10 hours a week), in a home based setting.
I have no desire to have employees and no desire to rent space.
I choose to look only for work that fits my business.

So, in a 14' x 23' space with a 100 amp panel... I can print 200-250 shirts an hour (my conv-dryer could maybe handle 300).
I try to average $100/hr for press time and $30/hr for non-press time.
If I can't find those jobs... I chose to not print.
My market niche is simple, spot color, low cost stuff.
My customers aren't paying much for their shirts... so they don't have high expectations.
 
Easy-peasy... no squeegee pulling with the Titan.
I do 50% of my jobs with no flash.
When I do use my quartz flash... I seldom need a cool-down station.
The quartz is so fast it doesn't drive the heat into the garment and at 200/hr there's cool-down time at the flash before indexing.
The Titan servo has a step back feature.. you can print/flash/stepback
It's sold as a 16"x16" print area.... but I don't think I've ever had to print larger than 14"x14"

I do think that a 5/6 color press would work well (in tandem with a 10/12 press) in many shops.
If I was selling my press... I'd be making that sales pitch.
Why tie up a big press for a 2 color job... add this 8' diameter press & you've got the bases covered !

Prosperi-Tees:
They also have the step back program with a pneumatic indexer as well.

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