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screen printing => Newbie => Topic started by: Prosperi-Tees on February 16, 2012, 08:50:06 PM
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I suck at loading! I know I will get better with time but any tips from the experts? The Javelin has 23 inch platens on it which I never understood since it can only print 16 long.
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I used to make my new guys load and unload the press while it indexed but not printing. When they got used to it, we would turn on the heads.
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haha, I was saying the same thing about the M&R today. It does make lining the shirt up a lot easier. I would just keep at it. I loaded/unloaded and spray tacked every platen, every time on a run of fleece today. Sucks, but it had to be done.
Still ran at over 300 pcs an hour. They are such a pain, I had to have a folder and boxer to keep up. Also, I had the backs that I ran earlier to stack for front prints.
It comes with time. Just keep pushing yourself. I used to be able to load at around 80 doz an hour. I can't do it anymore. It's aweful on the back.
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Until you find it.
Drop the shirt, square it...and watch the weave of the shirt as you pull it on the table...before long you won't even think about it anymore.
Old vid
loading (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLSTZ-Wda8I#ws)
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It was frustrating because I felt like I coulda got it done faster on the manual lol.
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Remember the good old days when there were center lines on the shirts?
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There still are center lines. If you have a loose definition of center.
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Center lines? What are those lol. Their is a line but it is definitely not center. I think getting used to the long square platen will be a breakthrough for me. Also getting used to the platen height as well. It sits a bit higher than my manual.
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your back will thank you.
get some comfort matting from Global industrial. Your legs will thank you as well. A lot more rocking back and forth on an auto. Actually, the same amount, it just happens faster.
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I have a foam anti fatigue mat and it does make a big difference but I'm not sure if that was the reason I was getting static shocked like crazy.
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I find it much earsier to flip as I load. then you can stick both hands in with the shirt flat, pull it toward you and load it on. doing it that way I can average 400 a hour loading and unloading by myself.try it.
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What do you mean by flip? Like having your shirts stacked opposite of the side you are printing on?
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Until you find it.
Drop the shirt, square it...and watch the weave of the shirt as you pull it on the table...before long you won't even think about it anymore.
Old vid
loading ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLSTZ-Wda8I#ws[/url])
nice vid Johnny, I always enjoy your vidz! I need to watch more and pay attention to techniques.
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I can do 400 an hour regular, but with sweats and having to spray tack each shirt, it was tough. I HATE spray tack too.
I actually did about 250 an hour. I normally can go around 360-420 per hour on short sleeve tees.
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If you clock it the vid is 300hr on a semi auto and that is as fast as it will print on a double print.
I'm much faster on a full auto. ;)
Man it was hot that day.
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I find it much earsier to flip as I load. then you can stick both hands in with the shirt flat, pull it toward you and load it on. doing it that way I can average 400 a hour loading and unloading by myself.try it.
Same here Rick. :)
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What do you mean by flip? Like having your shirts stacked opposite of the side you are printing on?
yes, once you get the hang of it you will never go back.
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hey nathan, would you post a short vid of you loading with that technique. I can hardly record one :) let alone post it.
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practice practice practice
that is the way young jedi...
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the first 2 million were the hardest... I always pushed the shirt forward over the plate all the way to the shoulder seams, then grab the same shoulder seams and pull the shirt back into the proper place. 400 an hour easy peasy, with a puller, 600. I don't quite get the flip thing either, post a video, I always like learning something new.
Steve
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Same, if practice made perfect, I would be a jedi master in the sack. 8)
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I don't quite get the flip thing either, post a video, I always like learning something new.
Steve
Maybe the flip thing is a better quicker way for the fall. Me, when in a rush, I go straight from stack to pallet and don't drop.
I went and found the World Record M&R vid and he does it?
2010 World Speed Record Set on Challenger III (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyPzDsg0QIg#ws)
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Same, if practice made perfect, I would be a jedi master in the sack. 8)
I am a jedi master in the sack..
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That world record video is what you are aiming for. Not necessarily that fast, but homeboy has got the mechanics down pat.
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I load like the world record guy, with the print side down and I am much faster that way. I used to load the print side up and it's just not as good for me and I'm at least 200 faster an hour.
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i believe people under six feet tall performs better at loading and unloading
than guys over six feet tall
i used to work with a 5 feet dude he could out perform the burrito champion
at the video
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That's a reasonable assumption, I'm 6" 2", and my back does complain about it. I gotta check out the world record vid; Alan do you have a vid of that? I know Frog likes them upside down so he can see if there are any defects on the side he isn't printing to avoid rejects after the fact.
Steve
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As a matter of fact I do. I don't remember how fast this was but it wasn't machine maximum speed at all, probably around 700 an hour if I had to guess. I can load our press at about 1080 an hour but it's not easy for me to keep up for very long.
Loading Shirts.MPG (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okQFUEHS-KI#ws)
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Nice vid Brother.
Must truly be something to work in a shop you can move around in. :'(
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Nice vid Brother.
Must truly be something to work in a shop you can move around in. :'(
I don't take it for granted, that's for sure. I'm extremely proud of the production area and how it runs. And to answer your other question about the dryer, that thing is unbelievable. I got an in depth tour of it when Rich was in town and M&R has done such a good job on their dryers that "I don't think" there is nobody on earth that can duplicate that type of quality, engineering and productivity, just my opinion though. I'd love to get a good look at other brands of dryers like Interchange and there is a new one just installed here in town so I may see if the shop will be kind enough to let me look at it. From what Rich taught me about the Sprint, I can't imagine another manufacturer going to that extreme on what essentially is a simple piece of equipment. I'm running our first discharge job through it in about 5 minutes, I got the donut probe out and got the temp and belt speed settings where I think they need to be and I'll know in about 400 shirts how well it handled the job. I'm sure I won't be disappointed one bit.
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1st or not, cause I know you know what you are after beforehand...do a discharge vid. ;D
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Thanks for the vid Alan. How tall are you? My platens sit much higher it seems or you are one tall SOB! lol.
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YO @Alan
I guess you can load t-shirts better if not faster without that compresors
noise knocking in the shop
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Thanks for the vid Alan. How tall are you? My platens sit much higher it seems or you are one tall SOB! lol.
6-1 in the morning and down to 5-11&3/4 by the afternoon.
YO @Alan
I guess you can load t-shirts better if not faster without that compresors
noise knocking in the shop
Yeah, the compressor is a PITA, but luckily it doesn't cut on very often. Couple times an hour when we are running, if we are running 1000/hr it will come on about 6 times.
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I'm thinking the RPM is set lower than cause I'm 5-11 and still it seems high on the javelin
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that`s not too bad
i used to have the compressor inside my previous job
running an old ten color all pneumatic press
when using all head the noise was full time
that`ll did it for me LOL
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I'm thinking the RPM is set lower than cause I'm 5-11 and still it seems high on the javelin
How high are the pallets? Mine are at 37 inches from floor to top of the pallet. I can raise it but i have it almost bottomed out. I also have a half inch matt I stand on. If I remember the Jav is high. You could be able to lover it at the feet to make it not so high, Just keep it level.
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With the table down its at 39.5 so yeah it is high. It looks I have soom room to adjust it.
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2.5 inches is a big deal. You will save alot of wear and tear on your shoulders to bring it down as much as you can. You should also increase speed.
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thanks for the vids Johnny and Alan, now I see, I'm gonna show our folks to see what they think. Have a good weekend everyone.
Steve
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I have told people this for years.
A press is made on an average person.
If you are the one running it most of the time...be it manual or auto...customize it and raise or lower the tables...to your hip bone.
Work tables too. Many have said that it helped bunches...but I already knew that. ;D
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Here's a vid of my guy breaking 900 no sweat 3,000 pieces after work under 4 hours packed
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I just tried a little dry run using the flip technique and I have to say I'm digging it. Much easier but I have to practice more, I also dropped the press about an inch and a half which feels alot better.
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Take your hand and sort of mess up/ruffle the bottom of the shirts. This should loosen them up so they don't stick together. Get yourself into a smooth rhythm and don't rush to keep up with the press. I usually throw the shirt on then pull back with the shoulder seams and then check the armpits. It works for me.
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I just tried a little dry run using the flip technique and I have to say I'm digging it. Much easier but I have to practice more, I also dropped the press about an inch and a half which feels alot better.
And once again I will say that stacking upside down and flipping increases the chances to catch defects on both sides (for those who care)
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I am running without the foot pedal now with an 8 second delay (I hear laughter). Some times I needed the full 8 seconds and other times I didnt. With shirts sized small it is tough with my 17" platens.
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Starting with shirts stacked print side-down is the bomb. I still remember the day a tech showed me that trick and immediately realizing a significant jump in loading efficiency.
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I timed it today and I was at 250 an hour. Could've went faster but my dryer is not placed ideally so I'm taking a step to the dryer and a step to the stack of shirts.
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taking a step to the dryer is a definite no no
you want the auto placed so that the unloader just pivots a bit but doesn't step to place the shirts on the dryer belt
I have this issue if I use an unloader because we have a 1 open station auto....which sucks
I do the flip technique and can easily do 35doz/hr sometimes up to 39. Just did over 2400 prints myself today...what a nightmare(and no it wasn't an 8 hour day).
Make sure you aren't adjusting the shirt much, just load very close to center and pull back into position.
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we have our press slightly angled where the corner of the pallet in the unload station is 32" from the dryer. this prevents any steps and only requires a half of body turn. It also allows enough room to slide the table up into the normal load area for the layed out shirts. works great for loading and unloading in the same station or if its a long run we just slide the table back to allow room for a loader and a unloader..
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My layout is so cramped that if I move the dryer or press closer to each other I would not have any room to get to the roll up door! I guess I could move it back and forth when running it.
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we have our press slightly angled where the corner of the pallet in the unload station is 32" from the dryer. this prevents any steps and only requires a half of body turn. It also allows enough room to slide the table up into the normal load area for the layed out shirts. works great for loading and unloading in the same station or if its a long run we just slide the table back to allow room for a loader and a unloader..
we have just made the exact same set up. our dryer used to be quite far (i needed to take two steps to reach it) and it wasn't the most efficient way to work. just did 250 shirts in just over one hour this way (one unloader, one loader). alone I would probably have made 200. It's a dramatic change for our shop
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can someone tell me what the "print side down" method is? never heard of it.
tom
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Stick your fingers in the shirt, flip and load. I can load siginafantly faster flipping.
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I started with the non flip technique for a year then converted to the flip ( print side facing down) and it should b faster for most but maybe not all. It is faster and easier for me physically to flip. Plus you get to see both sides of the shirt even I'd it's only briefly for the side facing up. I've caught quite a few defective shirts before printing them with the flip. I think you even load straighter using the flip. My printer on long runs where he's running fast will start loading crooked and it's consistently the same direction and angle and he loads traditionally with print side up. He can load as fast as I can but it's not as straight and consistent with the. Vertical placement. I'd recommend everyone trying the flip for at least 2 weeks and I'd bet money that the majority would continue using it forever. I'm sure there are people out there that can load faster and better with the traditional load but I think most would be much better off with the flip.
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I started with the non flip technique for a year then converted to the flip ( print side facing down) and it should b faster for most but maybe not all. It is faster and easier for me physically to flip. Plus you get to see both sides of the shirt even I'd it's only briefly for the side facing up. I've caught quite a few defective shirts before printing them with the flip. I think you even load straighter using the flip. My printer on long runs where he's running fast will start loading crooked and it's consistently the same direction and angle and he loads traditionally with print side up. He can load as fast as I can but it's not as straight and consistent with the. Vertical placement. I'd recommend everyone trying the flip for at least 2 weeks and I'd bet money that the majority would continue using it forever. I'm sure there are people out there that can load faster and better with the traditional load but I think most would be much better off with the flip.
I do the flip. It is faster because during the flip action the shirt gets opened up. This make the shirt slide on the board much easier. One tip when doing the flip: When you get the shirt flipped line it up at the front of the board and pause a second before sliding it on the board. This pause will let the shirt straighten out and finish opening up. This will make you faster and more accurate. I load and unload my press and with the flip load I can do 500 an hour.
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can someone tell me what the "print side down" method is? never heard of it.
tom
I too had to look it up but I finally found it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mRrryhyE_Q (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mRrryhyE_Q)
Will give it a go this week.
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I'm on a manual, but I have always stacked with the intended print side down and also appreciated the added benefit of one more chance to catch defects which may otherwise sneak by until the other side is being printed (if indeed it is being printed)
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Tried it on a small run today and found it to be easier. On a second attempt my hands were all over the place, my mind wouldn't process the change lol.
I'm going to give it another go tomorrow if I have time to run into production but seems better!