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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: inkbrigade on February 23, 2012, 07:01:04 PM
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We're doing tons of "Tag" prints for customers and we're thinking about getting a pad printer to do the job. Seems like a good idea but then i hear about people buying them and not using them for some reason.
So does anyone here actually do this? Print tags with a pad printer?
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Same boat here, bro. We will be hitting that pad printing shop in a couple of weeks so I will let you know how it goes. And thanks for the shop tour the other day, that was a nice, pleasant day. The drive home was nuts though!
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Seems to me that it would be more practical to print the tags as x amount laid up on an sheet of fabric or whatever else flat substrate, screen print them and cut apart as you would any flat stock. Of course a vacuum table works best if you have one. Pad printing is best served for small 3 dimensional substrates.
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We do a ton of labels too. I did little research and found Ink cups to be a solid setup. I didn't look too far into it. I'm curious as to how well white on black would turn out. We do need to figure something out so that it doesn't tie up a press anymore.
Here's a link to their machine. Check out how fast this guy gets them done.
http://www.inkcups.com/equipment/tagless-printing/Default.aspx (http://www.inkcups.com/equipment/tagless-printing/Default.aspx)
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Pad printing tagless labels has pros and cons:
Pros:
- Fastest process I've seen to date by a good margin.
- Zero "dry" time, no need for conveyor dryer, process box to box.
- Shirts can be processed folded or even bundled.
- 1 person operation.
- Small footprint/shop space requirement
Cons:
- Solvent based inks, somewhat stinky, even with closed (inkcup) systems.
- Clean-up requires solvent, you really should have ventilation for this.
- Print opacity on a woven cloth will never really be as good as screenprinting, but that can be fine for tagless prints, particularly on white or light shirts if you don't want to see the print showing through.
- Learning curve for good padprinting is tougher than screenprinting.
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Pad printing tagless labels has pros and cons:
Pros:
- Fastest process I've seen to date by a good margin.
- Zero "dry" time, no need for conveyor dryer, process box to box.
- Shirts can be processed folded or even bundled.
- 1 person operation.
- Small footprint/shop space requirement
Cons:
- Solvent based inks, somewhat stinky, even with closed (inkcup) systems.
- Clean-up requires solvent, you really should have ventilation for this.
- Print opacity on a woven cloth will never really be as good as screenprinting, but that can be fine for tagless prints, particularly on white or light shirts if you don't want to see the print showing through.
- Learning curve for good padprinting is tougher than screenprinting.
Thanks for the pros and cons. Do you do pad tag printing?
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Learning curve for good padprinting is tougher than screenprinting
This might be an understatement. I haven't done tags, but I have done some on odd shaped
objects. Just think that if it instantly drys after printing, you will have the same issue with the
printing plate. Also, no matter how much you know it will still take 3-4 times as long to make a plate
as a screen. It might be worth the effort if you are doing a long enough run.
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Alright now. This is just SO over the line!
http://www.inkcups.com/equipment/inkjet-printers/edible-ink-printer/Default.aspx (http://www.inkcups.com/equipment/inkjet-printers/edible-ink-printer/Default.aspx)
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Crazy right? This is what cake decorators use. The print quality is killer too! It's amazing how this can be possible.
Paul
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Thanks for the pros and cons. Do you do pad tag printing?
Yes, but we're small potatoes compared to some of you guys down there. Heck we're just small potatoes period. ;D
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Learning curve for good padprinting is tougher than screenprinting
This might be an understatement. I haven't done tags, but I have done some on odd shaped
objects. Just think that if it instantly drys after printing, you will have the same issue with the
printing plate. Also, no matter how much you know it will still take 3-4 times as long to make a plate
as a screen. It might be worth the effort if you are doing a long enough run.
Not if you include screen dry time, block-out and/or tape-up. Pad printing plates can be stored in the job docket, with the film. An etched metal plate is good for 100,000 - 250,000 impressions. you're right though, acid etching is trickier than burning a screen, and a plate a couple of microns too shallow or too deep can give you endless grief on press.
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I have a Trek thermal labeling machine that you may be interested in..... it is what is used by most relabelers in central America. Irt is easy and fast. 2 seconds per garment. New it cost $7k. iwould let it go for 4k.