Potential DIY registration system

[Shanarchy]

Thinking out loud.

It seems the most important part of the registration system is to make the bump stops used during film alignment match identical to the ones on you press jig.

So why not eliminate that and make it the exact part used for both.

Action Engineering sells a 25x36 pallet for $300 (you can do a smaller one for a little less for manual use).

Drill and mount your 3 bump stops. You should be able to lay this out so they don't interfere with your press clamps. You can have your local machine shop do this if you're not confident in your abilities. You can even add a couple of spring tabs for securing/locking in the frame.

Using a thin permanent marker and a t square draw your layout template on. Make sure it is parallel to how your bump stops got mounted.

Use the two sided tape rub method to avoid the need for carrier sheets.

This would go in your pre-registration area when making screens, then it would mount on press for screen set up.

Am I missing something? or is this potentially a $500 pre-reg unit?

Someone build this and tell me if it works.

[ZooCity]

I think that would work great for a small 1-3 person shop, nice and simple. 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[mimosatexas]

I'll blow your mind if I get some free time.  I built mine for about $125 bucks.  Most 4-5 color jobs I don't touch a micro...

[Binkspot]

You mean something like this.

[Shanarchy]

Brian, is yours one piece or two separate pieces (pallet and pre-reg board)?

[Binkspot]

Two but same basic idea. Just not carrying a 25x33 pallet around the shop.

[Shanarchy]

Two but same basic idea. Just not carrying a 25x33 pallet around the shop.

Yeah, the pallet would be a little weighty.

Great job. But I wouldn't expect less from you.

[screenxpress]

or like this? 

Which I've posted here at least 3 times.

Probably cost about $40 for MDF, Formica and a little simple hardware.

1 piece - used for film registration for exposure and on-press lineup to print.  And yes, I leave it on press, but can be removed if needed.  6 heads with 4 stations but only really use 1 station as 1 man shop.

[Gilligan]

I'll blow your mind if I get some free time.  I built mine for about $125 bucks.  Most 4-5 color jobs I don't touch a micro...

We keep waiting.

[mimosatexas]

Haha, I know!  I promise I will find a camera that works and get photos asap...

[Shanarchy]

That seems like what I was thinking Wayne. How precise does it work for you? And why do you inly use one station? Even if you have to PFP?

[screenxpress]

Sorry for the confusion.  I only tied up the PLATEN on the 1 station.  Nothing is lost on the heads.

Here's my complete write-up from the past -  Let me know if you have any questions -

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I have no problem making new platens out of MDF with a Formica covering, it was pretty easy to make a new larger platen for my needs and fasten a platen clamp to the underside.  Yes, it's semi-permanent (can be removed) and does take up one of my 4 stations, but being a one man shop, I almost never need to use more than 1 station anyway.  I still have the 6 screen heads for printing.

The measurements on my registration platen is 18 wide by 22 deep with a 3 inch deep section removed so it can slide up under and past the screen clamp.  I got 3 metal brackets (home depot) that I flattened and drilled a hole to accept a bolt (with the head cut off and rounded down).  Two brackets are on the inside such that pins are on both sides of the screen clamp when it's dropped down in the notch.  Then I took a bracket (#3) and mounted it on the right side about 3/4 of the distance to the front.

I made a master film (13x19) with registration marks to accommodate 11x17, 13x19, vertical/horizontal/pocket prints and taped it solidly on the platen.  All art gets done (usually 11x17) with registration marks that will match the master depending on the job. 

Art film is done one at a time.  Taped down just barely on the front and back edges after lining to the registration marks on the master.  Light taping is necessary so when screen is lifted, it won't pull the film back off when lifted (next).  Then apply a small strip (1 inch) of double sided tape to the near and far edges.  Slide the screen lightly into the 3 points and press down on the double sided tape to affix the film to the screen.  Lift up gently and set aside for exposure.  Do all the screens for the image the same way.  Expose all the screens, washout, dry and take back to the press. 

Lets say there are 3 films to the job and all 3 screens have been lined up on the master, exposed, washed out, and dried.  Drop head 1 into the notches on the platen , slide the screen into the 3 stops, tighten the clamp, raise the screen, rotate the next head, drop down, slide in screen, clamp, and repeat for head 3. 

If you think about it, since the film lineups stay constant from the registering to the platen master to exposure and then back to press for print head line up, they all stay in very close registration to each other requiring very little tweaking if any at all.

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[Wildcard]

I'm in the process of putting together my own pre-registration system and i think I've explored every conversation on the topic on this forum.
One question in my mind that hasn't been covered is working with different size frames. I figure this is because most organised shops here use standard size frames throughout, but unfortunately I have a wild assortment of frame sizes. They can be roughly categorised into 600mm wide and 550mm wide, which means that to have a FPU that works with both would need multiple centre lines and layout grids which could get confusing/annoying. Is a variable frame width issue covered well by any existing pre reg system (other than the roq pin option)?

Another question is if there is a best system for positioning multiple prints on a screen. I print a lot of infant gear and so i always place 2 prints of 180x180mm (7×7") on a 760 - 800mm (30-31") length screen, facing opposite directions obviously. Currently I print both on one film and tape it as is, but I figure I'm going to need to cut and place them on screen separately to the opposite bump points on the frame if I'm going for the best possible rego accuracy on press.

Am I correct in understanding that all the commercial FPU systems require the user to visually align and tape films one at a time to a grid or to each other using carrier sheets?

I'm so keen to get this project done and shave precious time off my setups.

[mooseman]

I'm in the process of putting together my own pre-registration system and i think I've explored every conversation on the topic on this forum.
One question in my mind that hasn't been covered is working with different size frames. I figure this is because most organised shops here use standard size frames throughout, but unfortunately I have a wild assortment of frame sizes. They can be roughly categorised into 600mm wide and 550mm wide, which means that to have a FPU that works with both would need multiple centre lines and layout grids which could get confusing/annoying. Is a variable frame width issue covered well by any existing pre reg system (other than the roq pin option)?

Maybe an over simplification but why not simply make a "spacer piece" that registers off your system like your larger frames and compensates for the size difference. So to use it instead of placing your screen against the stops yo place the spacer (filler piece) against the stops and register the smaller screen against the inner second set of stops on the spacer piece


Another question is if there is a best system for positioning multiple prints on a screen. I print a lot of infant gear and so i always place 2 prints of 180x180mm (7×7") on a 760 - 800mm (30-31") length screen, facing opposite directions obviously. Currently I print both on one film and tape it as is, but I figure I'm going to need to cut and place them on screen separately to the opposite bump points on the frame if I'm going for the best possible rego accuracy on press.

Again possibly an oversimplification but why not simply run films that combine all your gang designs onto one sheet by color and simply register it as if it were one bigger design?

Am I correct in understanding that all the commercial FPU systems require the user to visually align and tape films one at a time to a grid or to each other using carrier sheets?

I'm so keen to get this project done and shave precious time off my setups.

[screenxpress]

Mike,

That looks similar to mine (above a few posts).  I like to have the 2 pins on the clamp side and then 'slide' right to the 1 pin on the side.  I can control smaller/larger frames by sliding the pallet in or out.  I only have 2 sizes of frames - Neuman and  some old wood 18x20s.  For the 18x20, I have a smaller pin that I can 'turn up' on the right side to stop/accommodate centering the smaller frames.

Looks like you're on the right track though.  More than 1 way to skin that cat, lol.