Laser to Screen (LTS)

[tonypep]

Our Saati is here and still dialing in all the parameters, however, after having a DTS for two years in a previous shop well, I can say all signs lead to gamechanger. No consumables (ink/wax) is really just a plus. High res detail on lower mesh where applicable. Reduced dot gain on process and sim process. We are posed to be better and faster in a very short time.

[zanegun08]

What's your exposure times look like, say on a 156 mesh, and do both screens need to be the same mesh or can the settings be controlled independently?

How many screens do you typically produce in a shift?

What resolution does it expose at and what dot size halftones do you typically print?

It's a cool tool, how much did it cost and what model did you get?

Post pictures!

[tonypep]

Give me a few weeks for specifics however this is not a plug it in and go piece of equip. Need a tech to install. Must be leveled and dialed in to your emulsion, mesh counts/color etc. Ours laser expose two 23/31s at a time (no bulbs). Halftone settings can be preprogramed to whatever you like (85 excessive for textiles but possible with a click) Helps to have auto coat for uniform EOM. Detail is amazing. Exposure time/speed/power need to be preprogrammed but its not necessarily faster than DTS just much better. This will change how we print... not only faster but better. So much to ponder. Off to meet the tech for final install and programming

[1964GN]

I was just sent a video of a 1 up laser unit coming to market soon (not made in china). It exposed a 23x31 screen in 1 minute. Still waiting for more details but a 1 up machine makes more sense to me given everything thing I have heard about the Saati unit.

[GraphicDisorder]

Which Laser did you get?

[tonypep]

SAATI LTS 6080 holding most of 2% dots 55 dpi 305 mesh. Not long before I came along it was a struggle with 45/5% using white mesh/vellum/flourescent bulbs so.......!!!
Phase two will be 55 dpi high mesh DC UB w/ plastisol top colors.

[blue moon]

SAATI LTS 6080 holding most of 2% dots 55 dpi 305 mesh. Not long before I came along it was a struggle with 45/5% using white mesh/vellum/flourescent bulbs so.......!!!
Phase two will be 55 dpi high mesh DC UB w/ plastisol top colors.

make sure it's calibrated. Not sure about laser, but the inkjet CTS tends to make the dots much, much bigger then they are supposed to be. Stuff I've seen was that 2% was actually over 10% in some cases!
pierre

[Rockers]

SAATI LTS 6080 holding most of 2% dots 55 dpi 305 mesh. Not long before I came along it was a struggle with 45/5% using white mesh/vellum/flourescent bulbs so.......!!!
Phase two will be 55 dpi high mesh DC UB w/ plastisol top colors.

make sure it's calibrated. Not sure about laser, but the inkjet CTS tends to make the dots much, much bigger then they are supposed to be. Stuff I've seen was that 2% was actually over 10% in some cases!
pierre

What might cause this. Printhead distance to the screen?

[ericheartsu]

SAATI LTS 6080 holding most of 2% dots 55 dpi 305 mesh. Not long before I came along it was a struggle with 45/5% using white mesh/vellum/flourescent bulbs so.......!!!
Phase two will be 55 dpi high mesh DC UB w/ plastisol top colors.

you can work with erik klein at saati, and he'll help you dial it in. I know of some friends that are doing tests, sending it to him, and he's tweaking the curves.

[tonypep]

It was preset at the factory base on our emulsion, We can work with Eric/tech to dial in (not necessary so far) and SAATI is only 45 min away so they have offfered on site assistance if nec

[GraphicDisorder]

How are you liking that Laser Tony? Or anyone else got one? I am considering moving to a LTS8012 Saati.

[tonypep]

Loving it but as stated above calibration should be done on site with a tech. It is not a speed demon, and it takes some getting used to not having film, but resolution is amazing. I would say that, if you're dts/cts and its not causing any issues, I wouldn't rush out and swap for laser. We went from film to no film and don't burn hundreds and hundreds of screens per day (app burn time 2 screens 90 seconds) so this the best leap for us. It has had zero issues since install. We now dont use reg marks as the pre reg Roq pallet works 98% of the time. And of course no bulbs and consumables. Lasers don't print dots so dot size is zero issue. You can adjust DPI to whatever you like but 55 and 65 is all we need. 9.5 out of 10.

[tonypep]

Left this out.....this was part of a package. Auto coat, auto reclaim, and LTS. Screen tech can perform any two, or possibly three I suppose, of these functions simultaneously. Had a part time guy coming in to reclaim but when he leaves we will not need to replace him. So labor reduced by app 35%.

[GraphicDisorder]

Loving it but as stated above calibration should be done on site with a tech. It is not a speed demon, and it takes some getting used to not having film, but resolution is amazing. I would say that, if you're dts/cts and its not causing any issues, I wouldn't rush out and swap for laser. We went from film to no film and don't burn hundreds and hundreds of screens per day (app burn time 2 screens 90 seconds) so this the best leap for us. It has had zero issues since install. We now dont use reg marks as the pre reg Roq pallet works 98% of the time. And of course no bulbs and consumables. Lasers don't print dots so dot size is zero issue. You can adjust DPI to whatever you like but 55 and 65 is all we need. 9.5 out of 10.

Sales guy says on our emulsion we should be able to do easily more than 20 screens a hour. that Would be great for us. Our single head i-image could not do that speed. The one we are looking at is 2 Up as well, i think yours is 1 up isn't it?

[tonypep]

2 up however you have to expose the same mesh count for both. The unit is calibrated for each mesh count and color (yes dyed mesh makes a difference) Or you can select single screen option. Auto coat is also 2 up. Units are on opposite sides of the room about five ft apart so operator pulls files/burn/rinse/coat all at once without breaking a sweat. If you really want to show off you can fire up the auto reclaim and do a little dance. Setup is pretty slick. The screen room is a pretty enjoyable place to work.