hey folks. been on the site periodically and thought id make a post for a press a friend and i are making.
just like the title mentions, its a table top press capable of printing multiple colors. it uses a screen bracket and pin lock type system to lock each screen in place when you print it.
theres still a LOT of work to be done, and surely more design changes, but for now we are pretty happy with it and hope to test it before the end of the month.
yep. while its more work than a traditional manual press, it allows for multiple colors and less space, which is what i was going for. in theory, i could print as many colors as i have brackets. while its not practical for large runs, im going to use it primarily for sampling my own designs.
Why wouldnt you flip the platten so you can load and unload shirts without unscrewing. You should include micro reg on your brackets and make sure the have no play!
there is no unscrewing. the screen brackets are only locked onto the screen itself, it sets on the base and the four locating pins. its designed so that the screens can easily be lifted off and replaced fairly quick.
as for the registration, you set the brackets in place and float the screen over the platten until you get it registered and screw each side down to lock it in place. youd do that for each screen/color youre going to print.
its a little hard to show without an actual screen in place. as for what the pictures show, the screen brackets are resting on the press without a screen.
there is no unscrewing. the screen brackets are only locked onto the screen itself, it sets on the base and the four locating pins. its designed so that the screens can easily be lifted off and replaced fairly quick.
as for the registration, you set the brackets in place and float the screen over the platten until you get it registered and screw each side down to lock it in place. youd do that for each screen/color youre going to print.
its a little hard to show without an actual screen in place. as for what the pictures show, the screen brackets are resting on the press without a screen.
I know how it works but you still need to be able to adjust the brackets to be able to register the screens. you cant only depend on your film lining up. I was commenting about unscrewing the t-platen not the screen brackets.
you cant only depend on your film lining up. I was commenting about unscrewing the t-platen not the screen brackets.
i guess im missing your question. when the screens/brackets arent in place, the pallet isnt obstructed by anything. you simply load the shirt like you normally would. here is an earlier picture of the press minus the pallet. it also doesnt have the screen brackets laying on top.
Last edited by devalle graphics; November 18th, 2009 at 01:20 PM.
The unit mentioned above uses the same principal but is made a bit differently. Here is one that is made out of wood that demonstrates what the OP is referring to.
Scroll down to the second video "Setting Up your SP Multi" It is made a bit differently but allows you do as many colors as you have screens and give you an idea of how the press is used.
Too time consuming if you ask me but to each his own.
The unit mentioned above uses the same principal but is made a bit differently. Here is one that is made out of wood that demonstrates what the OP is referring to.
Scroll down to the second video "Setting Up your SP Multi" It is made a bit differently but allows you do as many colors as you have screens and give you an idea of how the press is used.
Too time consuming if you ask me but to each his own.
Katrina
the printing concept is the same but the bracket system is pretty different. it was designed to use aluminum, wood or roller frames and it doesnt require any drilling. the brackets we made more or less sandwich the frame on both ends to lock it in to place. it should be as easy to register as a standard press. the press itself has off contact adjustments at each corner
as i mentioned in a previous post, it is more work than a standard press, but it was designed to print as many colors as the industry allows as well as fit in the corner of my garage :0)
the printing concept is the same but the bracket system is pretty different. it was designed to use aluminum, wood or roller frames and it doesnt require any drilling. the brackets we made more or less sandwich the frame on both ends to lock it in to place. it should be as easy to register as a standard press. the press itself has off contact adjustments at each corner
as i mentioned in a previous post, it is more work than a standard press, but it was designed to print as many colors as the industry allows as well as fit in the corner of my garage :0)
I will say that yours look much more professionally made than the wooden one but if you are happy with your press that is all that matters. Good Luck and happy printing.
post a pic with a tshirt loaded? what about flashing??
dont have in my hands yet. the friend thats building it lives in washington ill try and get him to snap a pic. at any rate, its supposed to be in my hands next week. ill post a pic and vid when its given the workout.
as for flashing, the final version with have a custom mounting bracket for a flash unit. it will swing into place when needed, and away when its not, similar to the automated type.
with this being the prototype, i will simply wheel a flash unit over the pallet when needed. like i mentioned, theres a ton of things to go through and this is the first design of many. but i think its a good start.
my custom multi color table top press :0) 
ill try and get him to snap a pic. at any rate, its supposed to be in my hands next week. ill post a pic and vid when its given the workout. 
