Possibly going CTS

[inkman996]

Yep I know I am probably one of the last persons on here you would think would go CTS.

Heres how it is playing out. It is the owner not me that got interested in the tech. He really likes it and since we had an amazing year so far the cash is their to buy. He understands it is not an ROI that will happen in one year but looks at it as more of a future investment and the ability to remove all the steps between art and screen. I am certainly excited for it since it will make my job easier and hopefully improve printing quality.

As with anything he expects to know all the available units out there and their pricing, what is included and what isn't, who offers the best warranty, tech installation pricing included or not etc etc.

We have it narrowed down to three units. The Douthitt CTS, the Spyder, and the M&R CTS ST. I actually think the Spyder is crossed off the list.

Douthitt is wax based and is a very proven application, I have so far talked to three owners that have great reviews of wax. Next week we are heading to a shop in state that has been using the Douthitt for quite a while.

The M&R is an Epson engine. A couple people I know from here have complaints about the ink and issues with its reaction with the emulsion, something about soaking in. The best route is to go with the STE of course and not have that issue. I guess?

The Douthitt is rough quoted at $57K full install included. This system does not expose so we would keep our MSP3140.

The M&R CTS single head is $49K and I do not know if this includes install or not. This unit does not expose but I am concerned with some of the complaints I have heard about the ink.

We like the sound of the STE but for another $12K wow! Not sure where that value is at, the STE is exactly the same machine except it has an LED light bar installed. If the machine was similar to the Douthitt then it would be a no brainer. As it is we already have a basically new $7K MSP3140.

As said we will be checking out a Douthitt in action next week, hopefully we can find a close location that has an M&R unit we can check out Rich any ideas?

[mk162]

I think the M&R ST is not epson based.  I am pretty sure they are Ricoh industrial heads.

The Douthitt unit is impressive in my book.  I think you can't go wrong with either one.

I love ours.  I wouldn't go back.

[inkman996]

Epson/Ricoh I think it is a concern with inkjet, what unit are you running Brad?

[screenprintguy]

I screen and I-Image slant are the only Epsons. The ST models are all Ricoh print heads, way better machine! I have not had any ink soak in issues in 2 years, I'll actually image screens at the end of the day and shoot the following morning or later the next day. If there is an ink soak in issue, that is easily fixed by properly setting channels used, and dot size that the print head uses in the rip. The ST models have total control of the print head where as the Epson based machines, any brand, have zero control of the print head and basically use the printer as a printer mounted on the machine.

[jsheridan]

Douthitt CTS here..

my thoughts

[Orion]

I like our wax based unit. Never have heard of issues with the ink M&R uses. The M&R has beat the pants off of the competition in CTS, but rumor has it the next gen KIWO will print insanely high line counts.

[mk162]

we put down so little ink that is almost dry by the time it's done printing...

i haven't heard a disappointed owner yet.

we have the I-Image CTS, the slanted one.

yeah, the M&R prints insanely high line counts too, but good luck with moire.  That doesn't go away with CTS...it's lessened, and you can probably get higher on each mesh count(i haven't tested it)

Part of me wants to see if FilmMaker would work on a CTS...just drop the ink usage WAY down and see what it does.  I tried downloading the trial, but it errors out and Cadlink just sends me the same link to download it.

[Printficient]

How about the Kiwo Ijets?  They are reliable and the newer versions print in both directions.

[GraphicDisorder]

First things first, congrats....you wont regret it I can tell you that much regardless of brand.

[Orion]

The KIWO is reliable, but quirky, you learn to deal with it. Bi-directional yes, but not when printing halftones. The unit is vertical so gravity comes into play there.

[DannyGruninger]

Our M&R I Image STE is not epson.... Nothing about it

Ricoh industrial print heads..... I believe the i image like mike, dirk, brandt have uses an epson print head..... But the ST/STE/STE2 use a industrial ricoh head

[DannyGruninger]

And for the record the shirt we won 1st with at impressions....... That was printed on our DTS using High speed/BI DIRECTIONAL printing........ We could easily improve if we ran low speed/uni directional but not many people will know the difference. I can't speak for the other units you've mentioned but we have zero issues with our m&r, it will let us win awards, and it's way faster then a wax machine.....For us the STE has really made life easy around here, only handling the screen ONE time has been key. My 3140 exposure unit has been collecting dust ever since we got the ste, don't think we've even turned it on.

[mk162]

my understanding is that is what they will be putting in their next gen DTG as well.

Epson has really cracked down on people that mod their printers from what I understand.

[jsheridan]

And for the record the shirt we won 1st with at impressions.......

and the shirt we won with back in 04 or 05 was from films off an Oyo Techstyler

CTS machines don't win awards

[GraphicDisorder]

i-Image is for sure Epson, and you can still tell its a inkjet printer because it has some similar quirks many printers have.  However nothing super bad or anything and over all the change in flow in the shop has been dramatic for us even with the i-Image.