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screen printing => Screen Making => Topic started by: DannyGruninger on April 10, 2014, 09:18:35 PM

Title: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: DannyGruninger on April 10, 2014, 09:18:35 PM
Well, our new I Image STE has been installed(today was our first day ripping screens on it) and this thing is a beast compared to our Lawson dts. Quite honestly the Lawson seems like a toy compared to this m&r unit. Prior to purchasing our lawson, we were told that the machine is basically an identical machine to the i image but having used our lawson for the last 1.5 years I must say this cannot be further from the truth. Yes both machines use the same style print heads, software platform and a few other minor things but other then that they are nowhere near the same. My analogy is similar to car manufactures, a ford might use the same goodyear tires as the ferrari but you cannot compare the two cars the slightest bit. That's how I look at these dts units between the two companies, they both have the same "tires"(print heads, etc) but other then that entirely different machines. So if anyone out there is looking at both machines, I will tell you they are NOT the same and the M&R so far is far superior. Once I get caught up with our production I will post some more information on the machine and some videos for everyone to check out. Today we ripped 78 screens and on press we setup several jobs that required 0 micro adjustments. This machine is bad to the bone as our quality is certainly going to improve over the lawson. Just excited that we are finally a 100% m&r shop so if anyone wants to come demo my unit in real life we can easily setup a time to do this. We also have the uni kote coating machine going here now as well so if anyone wants info on that I'll be happy to help.



Danny
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: tancehughes on April 10, 2014, 09:41:10 PM
We've had to hold off purchasing our unit for now (building reno ain't cheap!) but it's so good to hear these types of stories about the I image! Wish I was just a little closer to Colorado


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: GraphicDisorder on April 11, 2014, 06:22:16 AM
Awesome man!

I am coming out there, just a matter of finding some time. 
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: alan802 on April 11, 2014, 10:36:16 AM
Were there any reliability issues or performance problems with the Lawson or is it more along the line of manufacturing quality (more robust design and components)?  There are some things I put more emphasis on them being heavy and sturdy in design but other things can weigh 1000 pounds or 2000 and not make much of a difference.  Since I don't have any practical experience with CTS machines I don't know how those things can affect the final product (putting the design on the screen).

Hell, I'm still stuck on waterbased or wax so once I figure that one out we can move forward with all the other considerations.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: DannyGruninger on April 11, 2014, 05:45:57 PM
Were there any reliability issues or performance problems with the Lawson or is it more along the line of manufacturing quality (more robust design and components)?  There are some things I put more emphasis on them being heavy and sturdy in design but other things can weigh 1000 pounds or 2000 and not make much of a difference.  Since I don't have any practical experience with CTS machines I don't know how those things can affect the final product (putting the design on the screen).

Hell, I'm still stuck on waterbased or wax so once I figure that one out we can move forward with all the other considerations.

Without really getting into too many specifics on why I think the m&r is 10 times the machine the lawson is I will point out a few differences. The actual manufacturing of the machine is not really comparable. M&R has custom machined everything for their machine with lots of thought put behind the engineering of it whereas the Lawson is basically a bolt together combination of aluminum channel stock or parts you can find at a place like grainger. The easiest way for me to put it is the M&R is purpose built and the Lawson is not(converted dtg printer)

- Our lawson could NEVER print bi direction(halftones looked like crap and the solid areas would be slightly blurry) so the lawson ran at 50% the speed of the m&r right off the bat since everything had to be printed in uni direction mode.
- Lawson uses a step drive motor to control the screen table where the m&r uses a highly precise servo motor - The m&r is much smoother operating because of this, the detail is much better/controlled.
- Lawson printer does not use a mesh support and this is a key part of the m&r machine. With the combination of the lawson step drive motor and no frame support you will get a harmonic vibration while the machine is printing potentially causing a slightly blurred halftone or a halftone not as clean. Since the m&r supports the mesh with surface loading the mesh and the super smooth servo drive motor you don't have this problem at all.....
- With the way you load a screen into the lawson it has to physically move before the screen is clamped, during this locking action the screen can slightly shift. On the m&r you avoid this all together as when you load the screen it does not have to move up or down in order to lock into place. You can clearly check to confirm all tri loc points are touching in the correct spot.
- On the lawson we were doing quite a few auto cleans in order to clear the print head, m&r we barely have to do this so we are saving way more on ink over the lawson.... due to the ink the lawson uses, you are having to clean and flush the head a bunch more then with the m&r.

The manufacturing of the m&r is far more impressive and the quality issues that we did run into with the lawson are non existent with the m&r. I've looked at almost every dts machine out there, used quite a few of them(wax and ink) and I wouldn't look toward any other machine then the i image now that I'm actually seeing it work. The guys m&r has working on them are sharp as nails so you can't beat the support which is a huge thing. Support with the other companies is almost non existent.....


I'll chime in more here later on this
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: DannyGruninger on April 11, 2014, 06:25:34 PM
And here's a print that we just did with our I image ste....... This job was setup on press with perfect registration in under 6 minutes total. Not one adjustment needed to be made and I can look at the registration under 20X magnification and see dot on dot registration. Nearly each and every screen that has been setup needs no adjustment. I Image is kicking some major ass for us right now.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Underbase37 on April 11, 2014, 08:21:21 PM
That looks great. But I think you're prints always look kick a$$. The halftones look like they held great.

Murphy37

Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Mark @ Hurricane Printing on April 12, 2014, 03:19:03 PM
fantastic lookin'!
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: PixelPimp on May 02, 2014, 02:27:22 PM
looks good!
the STE is the version with built in LED exposure system, correct?
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Admiral on May 02, 2014, 08:25:41 PM
looks good!
the STE is the version with built in LED exposure system, correct?

Yes, 'E' is for Exposure
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: 244 on May 03, 2014, 02:13:16 PM
looks good!
the STE is the version with built in LED exposure system, correct?

Yes, 'E' is for Exposure
And the I Image STE II is launching at Nashville.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Doug S on May 03, 2014, 02:22:11 PM
looks good!
the STE is the version with built in LED exposure system, correct?

Yes, 'E' is for Exposure
And the I Image STE II is launching at Nashville.

Gotta ask what does the II do that the first ste doesn't?  Just curious
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: 244 on May 03, 2014, 02:33:06 PM
looks good!
the STE is the version with built in LED exposure system, correct?

Yes, 'E' is for Exposure
And the I Image STE II is launching at Nashville.
The II is aimed toward the diazo emulsions being used for water based applications.
Gotta ask what does the II do that the first ste doesn't?  Just curious
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: dirkdiggler on May 03, 2014, 03:29:54 PM
I am headed there to talk about this with you 244, now it just got better!
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: 244 on May 03, 2014, 04:14:40 PM
I am headed there to talk about this with you 244, now it just got better!
want to see how it does on your emulsion? Bring some with you to the show and I will coat and burn it for you.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Doug S on May 03, 2014, 04:17:13 PM
That would be lovely to have 1 that could do both diazo and photopolymer.  I'm just waiting to finish the lease up on the press and then considering adding 1 to the operation.  I can't justify it in quantity of screens but just for the quality.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: 244 on May 03, 2014, 04:39:38 PM
That would be lovely to have 1 that could do both diazo and photopolymer.  I'm just waiting to finish the lease up on the press and then considering adding 1 to the operation.  I can't justify it in quantity of screens but just for the quality.
depending on the quantity of screens needed daily we still have a few I image units in stock. Check with Sam or Mike on here for their thoughts on the unit.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: screenprintguy on May 04, 2014, 01:17:11 PM
We love our I-Image.  Even though our daily screen production isn't as high as some of the bigger players, the addition of the I-Image is more than justified.  Frankly I wish we would have done it sooner. For example,  I'll be heading to the shop in a little bit to get a jump on tomorrow.  40 some screens to shoot, and no need to stress on image placement,  linning up of films, hoping carrier sheets are in good, print, burn, rinse and done. And it will all be over in a very short time period with assured exact pre-registration,  "love it". If you have questions always feel free to pm or call me.

Mike
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Doug S on May 04, 2014, 01:48:44 PM
We love our I-Image.  Even though our daily screen production isn't as high as some of the bigger players, the addition of the I-Image is more than justified.  Frankly I wish we would have done it sooner. For example,  I'll be heading to the shop in a little bit to get a jump on tomorrow.  40 some screens to shoot, and no need to stress on image placement,  linning up of films, hoping carrier sheets are in good, print, burn, rinse and done. And it will all be over in a very short time period with assured exact pre-registration,  "love it". If you have questions always feel free to pm or call me.

Mike

I just sent you a pm.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: screenprintguy on May 04, 2014, 02:17:03 PM
Gotchya!
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Dottonedan on May 04, 2014, 10:33:12 PM

I love installing these. Imagine going into a shop and setting up a machine that will decrease their process time, increase image quality and once it's set up, making it so easy to handle that someone new can come in and operate the machine efficiently in under 30 minutes. People do love these machines. The ST and STE both provide extreme benefits and I can't even tell you about the STE2 yet, you'll have to come see it in Nashville this week. M&R just outdoes itself at each step. 
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: PixelPimp on May 05, 2014, 10:33:10 AM
And here's a print that we just did with our I image ste....... This job was setup on press with perfect registration in under 6 minutes total. Not one adjustment needed to be made and I can look at the registration under 20X magnification and see dot on dot registration. Nearly each and every screen that has been setup needs no adjustment. I Image is kicking some major ass for us right now.

what halftone settings and mesh count did you use for that design done with the i-image set? what was the lowest percentage of halftone you were able to capture?
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: DannyGruninger on May 05, 2014, 02:39:30 PM
And here's a print that we just did with our I image ste....... This job was setup on press with perfect registration in under 6 minutes total. Not one adjustment needed to be made and I can look at the registration under 20X magnification and see dot on dot registration. Nearly each and every screen that has been setup needs no adjustment. I Image is kicking some major ass for us right now.

what halftone settings and mesh count did you use for that design done with the i-image set? what was the lowest percentage of halftone you were able to capture?


55 lpi, 22.5, 272 mesh and we are holding 3% on all of our stuff.....


Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: DannyGruninger on May 05, 2014, 02:44:50 PM
So I just wanted to give this I Image STE a major shout out today....... Attached is a pic of a design that I am printing today.... I had to do the seps real quick on this so seps could have been better but all in all turned out really good...... So here's where the I Image ste kicked major ass for us on this job..... From the time I saved the seps from my computer to the ste, I started my stop watch..... Then I stopped my stop watch once I printed the first shirt that was in registration. This is an 8 color print so I had to make all 8 screens, tape them, etc..... Total time making screens, setting up on press, etc = 38 minutes

Prior to dts/ i image ste this would have taken us hours.... Just to print these films on an epson we would have been looking at close to an hour!

Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: PixelPimp on May 05, 2014, 02:48:27 PM
55 lpi, 22.5, 272 mesh and we are holding 3% on all of our stuff.....

that is great to hear! we seem to be having allot of issues with the i-image ST, we're struggling to capture even 10%. i just did a test with only vector lines starting at 0.25points and increasing by 0.25points all the way to 4points. a 1point line prints closer to 1.5-1.75.... very frustrating.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: GraphicDisorder on May 05, 2014, 02:57:34 PM
So here's where the I Image ste kicked major ass for us on this job..... From the time I saved the seps from my computer to the ste, I started my stop watch..... Then I stopped my stop watch once I printed the first shirt that was in registration. This is an 8 color print so I had to make all 8 screens, tape them, etc..... Total time making screens, setting up on press, etc = 38 minutes

Impressive. 
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: 244 on May 05, 2014, 03:14:35 PM
55 lpi, 22.5, 272 mesh and we are holding 3% on all of our stuff.....

that is great to hear! we seem to be having allot of issues with the i-image ST, we're struggling to capture even 10%. i just did a test with only vector lines starting at 0.25points and increasing by 0.25points all the way to 4points. a 1point line prints closer to 1.5-1.75.... very frustrating.
Please send me your contact information. Something is totally wrong if you cant hold the dots!
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: DannyGruninger on May 05, 2014, 03:28:11 PM
55 lpi, 22.5, 272 mesh and we are holding 3% on all of our stuff.....

that is great to hear! we seem to be having allot of issues with the i-image ST, we're struggling to capture even 10%. i just did a test with only vector lines starting at 0.25points and increasing by 0.25points all the way to 4points. a 1point line prints closer to 1.5-1.75.... very frustrating.



Like Rich said something is not right with your setup...... There's nothing we cannot hold detail wise with our i image........ Last week I did some testing and we are holding the .25 stroke in illustrator with zero problems at all..... If we setup our art to actually print 1 % I'm confident we would be able to image the 1 % stuff as well.....

Something is for sure wrong though as you should be able to hold all the detail there is with no issues at all


Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: ZooCity on May 05, 2014, 04:16:08 PM
This STE2 for diazo/wb runs is exciting.  Renewed my interest in LED expo for sure to hear a mfg building one for the screens we most commonly use.  We won't be doing CTS until we park a bigger/faster press in here, imaging screens is not yet our bottleneck, but who wouldn't want a unit like this?  Sounds dreamy.

Danny that is stellar throughput for an image like that. 

Pimp, your problem sounds like something in the linearization.  I imagine there is x amount of gain on the i-image machines just like printing via epsons onto film.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: T Shirt Farmer on May 05, 2014, 05:11:30 PM
Do you need to go thru a linearization process with the ST unit  like we did with our epson printer?
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Alex M on May 05, 2014, 05:33:31 PM
All imaging equipment should be linearized. Nothing will out put a true dot from the box, each piece of equipment needs to be told what to print.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: T Shirt Farmer on May 05, 2014, 06:00:01 PM
All imaging equipment should be linearized. Nothing will out put a true dot from the box, each piece of equipment needs to be told what to print.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

Alex,

do you take the densitometer from the imaged screen to test values or a printed shirt from a screen that was produced from the i image?
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Alex M on May 05, 2014, 06:07:42 PM
Ideally everything should be done from the shirt. the issue with this is all the variables in the print shop.
When we linearize our units we use the prints from the I-image.
Most of the time customers want our techs to match an existing unit and not truly linearize the unit. This is due mostly to re orders/vendors they have been producing for.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: TCT on May 06, 2014, 10:49:55 AM
So I just wanted to give this I Image STE a major shout out today....... Attached is a pic of a design that I am printing today.... I had to do the seps real quick on this so seps could have been better but all in all turned out really good...... So here's where the I Image ste kicked major ass for us on this job..... From the time I saved the seps from my computer to the ste, I started my stop watch..... Then I stopped my stop watch once I printed the first shirt that was in registration. This is an 8 color print so I had to make all 8 screens, tape them, etc..... Total time making screens, setting up on press, etc = 38 minutes

Prior to dts/ i image ste this would have taken us hours.... Just to print these films on an epson we would have been looking at close to an hour!

That is frickin crazy! In the last 2 weeks I have been thinking about going this route more and more as we are beginning to have a bit of a bottleneck at the exposure unit. Nothing terrible, but we should upgrade soon.

Danny, do you have a drying cabinet or something? How do you get your screens ready to block out and set up so quickly?
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: DannyGruninger on May 06, 2014, 07:48:04 PM
So I just wanted to give this I Image STE a major shout out today....... Attached is a pic of a design that I am printing today.... I had to do the seps real quick on this so seps could have been better but all in all turned out really good...... So here's where the I Image ste kicked major ass for us on this job..... From the time I saved the seps from my computer to the ste, I started my stop watch..... Then I stopped my stop watch once I printed the first shirt that was in registration. This is an 8 color print so I had to make all 8 screens, tape them, etc..... Total time making screens, setting up on press, etc = 38 minutes

Prior to dts/ i image ste this would have taken us hours.... Just to print these films on an epson we would have been looking at close to an hour!

That is frickin crazy! In the last 2 weeks I have been thinking about going this route more and more as we are beginning to have a bit of a bottleneck at the exposure unit. Nothing terrible, but we should upgrade soon.

Danny, do you have a drying cabinet or something? How do you get your screens ready to block out and set up so quickly?


The amount of setups we are doing a day is actually pretty mind blowing right now and it's all because the i image ste...... I will post some sim process stuff tomorrow to check out the dot but we are getting very good results with it......

As far as screen drying, on this particular job since I was in a super rush to get it on press I just dried the screens with air as soon as I developed them.... Since we never have pin holes in our shop(combination of auto coating, nice clean screens, and no glass to exposure through) I don't even have blockout in my shop anymore..... Screens get air dried off, then taped up if we are in a hurry but if it's normal stuff the screens go outside if it's warm enough or in front of a fan on a rack if its cold/wet outside.

Honestly anyone that can justify dts really needs to go down that road as it will change the way your shop works(for the better)......... Our I Image ste has not missed a beat since we dialed it in. Today we made a new record of almost 145 screens(just 1 guy and he also stretched almost 20 screens on the l2 today as well)......I'd bet if we had the volume we could do double what we are without even busting a sweat.

Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: T Shirt Farmer on May 06, 2014, 08:01:29 PM
What is the footprint of the unit? even though we do not make mass volumes of screens we are looking hard at this product to up or quality of prints and make the through put of screens increase with out adding additional labor. Unfortunately our shop space is maxed out, I am concerned we will not have adequate room for the unit.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: tonypep on May 08, 2014, 02:17:54 PM
T-Formation is selling their I-Screen CTS asking 15K BTW
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: bimmridder on May 12, 2014, 12:54:26 PM
Just had a quick conversation with my floor manager. He told me the last six jobs he set up were dead nuts on, NO MICROS. Came off the STE. 4-7 color jobs. Damn, I love good systems.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: GraphicDisorder on May 12, 2014, 12:59:59 PM
Just had a quick conversation with my floor manager. He told me the last six jobs he set up were dead nuts on, NO MICROS. Came off the STE. 4-7 color jobs. Damn, I love good systems.

No micros is a bunch of time savings in itself.  That time saved will pay for that machine quick.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: 3Deep on May 12, 2014, 03:03:07 PM
Even though all that equipment you guys are talking about would be overkill for us being a two person shop setup with no micro would be dam nice!!!!.  I can see moving from job to job without all that eyeballing and test print after test print.

Darryl
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: DannyGruninger on May 12, 2014, 03:32:43 PM
We went all last thursday and friday without touching a micro.......... In those two days we setup 212 screens, not bad for a 2 auto shop with 5 guys.... LOL


Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: bimmridder on May 12, 2014, 03:42:28 PM
I'd say outstanding. A little clarification. I think Danny does a lot of Sim Process. We do almost nothing but (boring ass) spot color with butt register. No traps. So it works great with both kinds of artwork.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: alan802 on May 12, 2014, 03:55:04 PM
I love going entire days without touching a micro, it's a great feeling.  When I'm running the press it happens more often than not and that saves so much time.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: 244 on May 12, 2014, 05:40:30 PM
We went all last thursday and friday without touching a micro.......... In those two days we setup 212 screens, not bad for a 2 auto shop with 5 guys.... LOL
Drop your numbers down. Nobody will believe you! LOL!
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: DannyGruninger on May 12, 2014, 05:45:42 PM
LOL, still haven't touched a micro!....... Dave, my ch3 press hasn't seen a spot color job since last weds LOL....... We have run 13 sim process jobs in a row on that press!


Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: bimmridder on May 12, 2014, 09:31:31 PM
I HATE you. Not really. Just jealous
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: dirkdiggler on May 12, 2014, 10:19:12 PM
did a test ride on the STE II, man that thing is fast.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: GraphicDisorder on May 13, 2014, 06:54:40 AM
LOL, still haven't touched a micro!....... Dave, my ch3 press hasn't seen a spot color job since last weds LOL....... We have run 13 sim process jobs in a row on that press!

What is a spot color job like?  We do like 1 a week if that at times. 
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: bimmridder on May 13, 2014, 07:17:07 AM
OK, I hate you, too ;D
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: GraphicDisorder on May 13, 2014, 07:52:02 AM
OK, I hate you, too ;D

Says the guy with CTS....  Listen I hope you stub your toe.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: mk162 on May 13, 2014, 07:57:28 AM
spot colors blow.  it seems we are doing a ton of 7 color spots or spots with metallic and so on.

I am over it
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: bimmridder on May 13, 2014, 08:26:51 AM
Most of the work we do is for Minor and Major League Baseball, as well as a number of other leagues. Tons of designs using team logos of course. Can't control how many colors a team has in their logo, we just do it. And of course they are all spot color. Butt register. There are some team logos that have eight colors in them. Ugh.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: alan802 on May 13, 2014, 09:22:56 AM
Got an 8 color, spot, all colors touching for...wait for it...10 shirts.  They're paying for it and we're making money so I guess that's all that counts.  Last week had one almost identical like this one that gave us fits.  Hope this one goes better but there are two browns that traditionally haven't played well when WOW printing so I'll hold my breath.  But good news is it's only 10 pieces so if we have to flash after every color we can still print the job in 5 minutes.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: inkman996 on May 13, 2014, 10:14:50 AM
Just finished an order for a Science fair. 6 orders 10 pcs each all black tee's. The best part 3 color spot two locations on each. Full Front Full back naturally so in the end for sixty shirts it was 36 screens. All the money was in screens on this job.

Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: DannyGruninger on May 13, 2014, 10:22:32 AM
8:30 and we have done 3 setups today so far..... Still haven't touched a micro  :o :o :o and ch3 still hasn't seen a spot color. Getting ready to put up an 11 color spot color but registration though on the press here shortly so that will be a good one to see how it does, maybe I'll take a video of the registration if we get time


Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: GraphicDisorder on May 13, 2014, 10:46:10 AM
8:30 and we have done 3 setups today so far..... Still haven't touched a micro  :o :o :o and ch3 still hasn't seen a spot color. Getting ready to put up an 11 color spot color but registration though on the press here shortly so that will be a good one to see how it does, maybe I'll take a video of the registration if we get time

DO IT
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: JBLUE on May 13, 2014, 10:54:14 AM
Got an 8 color, spot, all colors touching for...wait for it...10 shirts.  They're paying for it and we're making money so I guess that's all that counts.  Last week had one almost identical like this one that gave us fits.  Hope this one goes better but there are two browns that traditionally haven't played well when WOW printing so I'll hold my breath.  But good news is it's only 10 pieces so if we have to flash after every color we can still print the job in 5 minutes.

Low tack additive is your best friend with browns and picking up on WOW prints.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: alan802 on May 13, 2014, 11:01:08 AM
Got an 8 color, spot, all colors touching for...wait for it...10 shirts.  They're paying for it and we're making money so I guess that's all that counts.  Last week had one almost identical like this one that gave us fits.  Hope this one goes better but there are two browns that traditionally haven't played well when WOW printing so I'll hold my breath.  But good news is it's only 10 pieces so if we have to flash after every color we can still print the job in 5 minutes.

Low tack additive is your best friend with browns and picking up on WOW prints.

I haven't had any in a while and have used process base exclusively for any ink alterations.  When I did use it on the older inks we have it didn't have much of an impact but on the newer inks it works great.  I need to buy some, thanks for the reminder.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: DannyGruninger on May 13, 2014, 02:06:06 PM
So here's a quick little video of that 11 color job that I was talking about....... Also attached is the photo of shirt on the pallet, perfect registration first try..... Still haven't touched a micro here since last thursday  :o


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HjVM5uo4bg&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HjVM5uo4bg&feature=youtu.be)
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: dirkdiggler on May 13, 2014, 02:11:27 PM
awesome
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: GraphicDisorder on May 13, 2014, 02:12:21 PM
So here's a quick little video of that 11 color job that I was talking about....... Also attached is the photo of shirt on the pallet, perfect registration first try..... Still haven't touched a micro here since last thursday  :o


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HjVM5uo4bg&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HjVM5uo4bg&feature=youtu.be)

I hope you also stub your toe and it bleeds for at least 10 minutes.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Socalfmf on May 13, 2014, 02:26:12 PM
I still don't buy it...where are the wood frames and eye registration?

Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: tonypep on May 13, 2014, 02:36:57 PM
This is an excellent testimony to all the progress in pre-press made by M&R. Nothing like seeing something like that in an actual production setting. Impressive Danny.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: inkman996 on May 13, 2014, 02:45:28 PM
I still don't buy it...where are the wood frames and eye registration?

What are you trying to imply? Did people used to say wood frames and eye registration is better than systems? If so please link to these comments.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: cleveprint on May 13, 2014, 02:47:05 PM
that was awesome
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Socalfmf on May 13, 2014, 02:48:13 PM
yeah Mike...the people saying they can register a job just as fast by eye....or Sonny saying that people print just as good with wood screens...

the stories I hear still today about press operators not wanting to use Tri-loc because they can do it faster by eye..yeah right...

Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: inkman996 on May 13, 2014, 02:57:59 PM
yeah Mike...the people saying they can register a job just as fast by eye....or Sonny saying that people print just as good with wood screens...

the stories I hear still today about press operators not wanting to use Tri-loc because they can do it faster by eye..yeah right...

To be fair some people are quite fast with registering by eye. I know I have said many times i can register by eye pretty fast, certainly not as fast as using the Tri-loc and I never implied otherwise. On the flip side we now spend more time in the exposure room pre-registering the films versus using rulers to lay out the films pre-tri-loc days.

As for printing with wood screens come on surely you seen people that have produced amazing prints with wood. A roller frame is only one part of the whole process not having a roller frame is not a prerequisite for making amazing prints.

Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Printficient on May 13, 2014, 03:22:57 PM
or Sonny saying that people print just as good with wood screens.
I said I could print as good a print with wood screens as anyone could print with any other frame.  The reason is as Mike says.  A roller frame is one part of the process.  I KNOW how to print.  I learned with wooden frames, no tension, white ink so thick that it had to be turned on a turnabout for an hour before it would even try to lay down correct.  If you know what happens at all parts of the process then it doesn't matter what equipment, screens or such that you have.  The same is true in reverse.  Also said I could replicate any print on a Precision oval that is produced on any current press.  I asked what happened when print issues popped up so that I could repair the issue in the quickest time.  I don't profess to know all the parameters that could go wrong but I damn well know most of them.  There off my soap box.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: tonypep on May 13, 2014, 03:38:10 PM
Not to derail a fabulous post but while visiting this shop all they had was wood and aluminium. And did this. Note the DC/UB peaking out at the top ;)
Like red hair WB don't care
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: tonypep on May 13, 2014, 03:52:29 PM
Attachment wld help. Sometimes you have to work with what you have available at hand
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: alan802 on May 13, 2014, 05:40:01 PM
To give you guys an idea of what kind of a brilliant mind I have working for me:  We've set up hundreds of jobs with our registration system without touching a micro and in far less time than registering by eye yet if I didn't make my printer use the triloc, he wouldn't touch it because he thinks he's faster and more accurate.  I even made him set up a 7 color job by eye then I broke it all down and did it in front of him in half the time it took him yet he wouldn't use it if I didn't force him to.  He's fast manually setting up but still twice as long as using the triloc on anything more than 3 colors.  And he rarely doesn't have to micro a color or two or do 2-3 test prints to get the job registered.  If that doesn't convince someone then nothing will and it's useless to try.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: screenprintguy on May 13, 2014, 05:59:10 PM
hahahahahahahahah, sometimes stubbornness makes one miss the bus  :o
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: alan802 on May 13, 2014, 06:00:32 PM
You're too kind calling it stubbornness.  It's ok, problem is almost gone, 1 more strike to go.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: Binkspot on May 13, 2014, 06:46:22 PM
Might be a stupid question but what emulsion is being used with CTS. I see several mfg offer a CTS emulsion, how is it diffrent then a std off the shelf emulsion if any?
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: screenprintguy on May 13, 2014, 06:52:25 PM
You're too kind calling it stubbornness.  It's ok, problem is almost gone, 1 more strike to go.

Alan buddy, I didn't mean you being stubborn if that's what ya thought. I meant the guys that would rather go nuts with regi marks and no system. Been there done that, would never go back  ;D


"Might be a stupid question but what emulsion is being used with CTS. I see several mfg offer a CTS emulsion, how is it diffrent then a std off the shelf emulsion if any?"

Brian, we use Chromablue emulsion for out plastisol screens with our I-Image, and CCI HXT blue for our waterbased/discharge screens with our I-Image. There are some emulsions out there that don't accept the InkJet ink from the Inkjet CTS systems, we narrowed these two down to be the best for us. Now from what I was just told, all of the emulsion companies out there are re-engineering and extensively testing their products to be all in one type emulsions, super fast exposures, great interaction with inkjet CTS, and holding up to discharge and plastisol printing. Can't wait to see what's in store.
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: shurloc on May 13, 2014, 06:56:20 PM
I would totally love to see how this system works with the EZ Frame! If anyone that has one would like to demo a frame let me know. I would love to get you setup with a demo frame and fabric in exchange for a few images of the STE in action with an EZ Frame... Bonus points for a video of it! Shoot me a message if you are interested!
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: ScreenPrinter123 on May 13, 2014, 06:57:58 PM
That must have sucked to clean all those screens, retape, and reink just to show no micros!!!  ;D
Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: DannyGruninger on May 13, 2014, 08:36:50 PM
I would totally love to see how this system works with the EZ Frame! If anyone that has one would like to demo a frame let me know. I would love to get you setup with a demo frame and fabric in exchange for a few images of the STE in action with an EZ Frame... Bonus points for a video of it! Shoot me a message if you are interested!

PM if interested in having us do the demo on it..... I would be willing to do this for you guys, been wanting to try them anyways.

Title: Re: M&R I Image STE - Installed
Post by: GraphicDisorder on May 14, 2014, 06:20:44 AM
To give you guys an idea of what kind of a brilliant mind I have working for me:  We've set up hundreds of jobs with our registration system without touching a micro and in far less time than registering by eye yet if I didn't make my printer use the triloc, he wouldn't touch it because he thinks he's faster and more accurate.  I even made him set up a 7 color job by eye then I broke it all down and did it in front of him in half the time it took him yet he wouldn't use it if I didn't force him to.  He's fast manually setting up but still twice as long as using the triloc on anything more than 3 colors.  And he rarely doesn't have to micro a color or two or do 2-3 test prints to get the job registered.  If that doesn't convince someone then nothing will and it's useless to try.

Except your the boss and you said to use it.  That should be enough.