"He who marches out of step hears another drum." ~ Ken Kesey
If I do that I will probably need to downgrade the compressor from the used rotary screw to a 5hp single stage compressor.
Quote from: Prosperi-Tees on July 05, 2011, 10:17:10 PMIf I do that I will probably need to downgrade the compressor from the used rotary screw to a 5hp single stage compressor.I can't reccomend a single stage air compressor.... it won't hold up to long term usage.An all air machine really needs a two stage compressor.
You can come in on a new IR 2 stage 7HP 80 gal for under $2000. Check Northern Tool. They even have free shipping. You can pickup a used chiller for around $500.Bill
Nothing to offer about printing with an auto but, while I've seen pics of shops running those shorty Vastex dryers with an auto, I don't see how in god's name they do it without undercuring shirts. We have an EC-I, 30" wide and it can't keep up with me, printing solo, on the manual, it's not even close. Next to color capacity I'd wager the dryer is the next bottleneck you'll hit, or maybe sooner. Run some gas up in there and you'll still have the amps you need on the panel. Unless you have 3 phase in a shop space, I don't see big electric dryers being very attractive. Then again, we have one going into ours but we have the 3 phase to handle it. Northland, your comments intrigue me. My assumption has been that we need no less than a 10/12 due to the nature of our work but, then again a 7/8 could get us to scrill to get that big 'ol press. Has this worked for you running 5 colors? It just seems so limiting to me. But then again, I'll bet a servo machine that small indexes lickety split so you could probably just revolve it with one flash or one of those "color saver" units anatol makes and leave 4/5 open color heads. I'd imagine some jobs are just really slow on it?Great thread by the way, I'm getting more dug in and ready to get an auto every day I print until 2am or later. Speaking of, off to do it again...
My thought was with my current dryer capable of 150 shirts an hour even though they claim 200 I figure if I could double the belt width I could double my capacity to at least 300 an hour. I cant run gas it is a leased space without a uncooperative landlord.
Quote from: Prosperi-Tees on July 06, 2011, 09:36:45 PMMy thought was with my current dryer capable of 150 shirts an hour even though they claim 200 I figure if I could double the belt width I could double my capacity to at least 300 an hour. I cant run gas it is a leased space without a uncooperative landlord.I also was a little shocked at the dryer configuration for an auto. That's a small large dryer, or is it a large small dryer?I don't think that you will be able to double the listed capacity. That rate is assuming that their are two machines, with two un-loaders placing the shirts as if they each had their own dedicated belt.But, I thought that you were attracted to the modular nature of this dryer, and merely thought that your first few thousand shirts may be run at less than optimum speed, while your earning while learning and can then expand it.But then you may start running into your supply issue again.You may need some more service in the shop.
Northland, your comments intrigue me. My assumption has been that we need no less than a 10/12 due to the nature of our work but, then again a 7/8 could get us to scrill to get that big 'ol press. Has this worked for you running 5 colors? It just seems so limiting to me. But then again, I'll bet a servo machine that small indexes lickety split so you could probably just revolve it with one flash or one of those "color saver" units anatol makes and leave 4/5 open color heads. I'd imagine some jobs are just really slow on it?