screen printing > Newbie
Tips and tricks for new auto user
blue moon:
--- Quote from: jsheridan on July 04, 2011, 01:09:19 PM ---
--- Quote from: blue moon on July 04, 2011, 12:08:00 PM ---
You should strive to hit everything only once. Two hits reduces your production output. That means two white screens to print white on darks, but the time saved on everything but the shortest runs is worth it.
--- End quote ---
I don't want to de-rail to much here but this is the problem with US based production models. We are told we have to hit it once and move on.. go abroad and down south and it's not multiple hits, it's multiple high mesh screens of the same color and they flash everything so they don't get ink buildup. The 1-hit-wonder Americans are doing more to beat our selves in the head with a single screen than to think it through and simply add a screen. where do you think all the mid 90-s 12-16 color challengers went.. mexico. where are all the alpha 8's.. china
The biggest goal of a new auto is to get the best print you can no matter how long it takes.
When you go from a manual to a small auto, you still print the same, just raise your mesh counts. If your manual shop has been flashing between colors, using all low mesh screens then do the same thing in the beginning until you get comfortable and begin to understand what the machine can and can't do for you as you grow into it.
The best tip that will help with printing techniques.. use only as much squeegee pressure to print as you need. It's very easy to crank up the squeegee pressure on an auto making your prints start to look worse than when you printed by hand.
Good luck and congrats on the auto!!
--- End quote ---
agreed for the most part. The point was to print with one hit when possible which will not always be the case. It will depend on many parameters, art, inks, press and so on.
The labor in china and mexico is considerably cheaper and the multiple hits with the same screen are easier to pay for than here. Two hits reduces the production by 30% in my case and if I can get away from it I do.
Northland:
--- Quote from: blue moon on July 04, 2011, 12:08:00 PM --- 'first thought, and most with auto's will agree, is that 6/8 is going to be too small. You will outgrow it pretty soon. On an auto, flash uses up a head and in some cases the head after it is used as a cooldown station. So on dark garments, you might print an underbase (1), flash (2), cooldown (3) and you have three colors left. On an auto the second hit of white is mostly on a separate screen so you don't have to spin it around twice. This now leaves you with only two useful colors. Just something to think about . . .
pierre
--- End quote ---
I'll offer an opposing viewpoint on the number of print stations you need.
If you know your market... and it's all 1,2,3 color work, a 6 color press is fine.
I choose to only do the jobs I can print with a 5x6 Titan.
I'm not able to compete with a shop that has a 10 color press (and employees working for $15/hr).
Anything more complex (colorwise) can be contracted out.
Prosperi-Tees:
All good stuff guys.
I have 100 amp service
Single Phase I think. My electrician will be coming by this week to evaluate
Compressor-30 Amp
Flash- 25 Amp
Dryer- 25 Amp
I could save amps on the compressor but I think this would be good for a small shop http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/chicago-pneumatic-quiet-rotary-screw-50hp-air-compessor-refrigerated-dryer-qrs50-hpd-p-11837.aspx
I really need a bigger dryer but I am limited on electrical. Maybe I can move to a bigger shop next year.
3Deep:
Northland I agree with you, get what you need and can afford, but with that said if we all could buy what our eyes see, we would all have way more equipment than we need to be a success in the print world. I for one would love a bigger dryer, press and exposure unit and some of the tightness sweet butt screens I could buy oh yea a very very fast computer.
Darryl
Prosperi-Tees:
What do you think of the compressor i linked? I am thinking maybe going to a smaller compressor to save on amps and getting a slightly bigger dryer.
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