Getting alot of questions about adding a auto load platen so here is an option and my opinion on the subject, i touched on this subject in the other thread also...
you can add an actuator motion control electronic system to it..(google for info) (they use photo sensors for placement amongst a variety of others) there are many different options versions of this hardware some with limit switches you can set.. but it needs to be in sync with begining of print and end of print by placing the photo sensors and or limit switches. if you have ever set limits on a auto garage door opener or dealt with there saftey photo sensors its the same concept,there is no difference just in a small package some offering more settings or features, some with there own motor, some using your existing pf.. it also is its own power source..
we fooled with this a bit an opted to forego this option. we wanted to use the printer as its designs intent, multiple shirts one after the other being rear feed with multiple platens as it does with paper.. we thought if we incorporated a power load it would limit its ability to single print& loading with additional firmware not to mention other issues.. so why not have both options (manual front load for single to short runs or rear feed multiple platens-multi platen for larger runs?) with this design it is a removable platen and with all removable platens they are manually set in place, we thought add a registration mark (start point) and rear load the platen-(this is according to the printer itself orientation)the printer will automatically pull the platen to the start position of the graphic or design on the shirt...just like it does with paper. so you can simply reverse the printer at its work station and the rear of the printer can be considered the front..the bases dementions are the same and the printer is set at center of the base!!!!
as you study it a bit you will understand its capabilities this way, so we actually consider the rear of the printer the front not the orientation of the printers front being the front as it is mounted on the base.. this is where you have to start thinking outside the box a bit from what you are normally used to seeing in most designs, and this is what slowed me up also on bringing the printer to fruation (trying to add firmware to front load a platen when its not necesary...)
the bottom line is you have to load a shirt anyway..so what is the exact time advantage to this? none imho with exception to doing (SINGLE RUN)two pass color or dark- black shirts which i have a solution for using the cover open sensor to stall the print between layers and manually placing the platen on 2 pass color or single run black or dark shirts, however if you are doing multiple shirts i think its far better to print the # of shirts in white ink first then refeed for the color over(leaving the shirt in its position on the platen before refeeding) just my opinion with my printers functions.. i would rather operate this way using the conveyor to its advantage , run 3-5 shirts through at a time by simply setting registration marks on the platen-base or use a 3 or 5 shirt acrylic platen or even just keep feeding it with multiple platens. if you are doing large runs it will print them one after the other like printing paper just keep feeding it platens...and if your doing dark or black shirts run all your white ink prints then run the color over after, this will also allow white ink drying time.. i designed it with multiple prints in mind, hopefully we can grow enough so i can make an army of these printers.. the conveyor gives you a ton of options and light weight delivery
i still dont think any power return or loading will ever be faster than a good designed manual set up with the 1900 or any epson printer for that matter-sorta a cross between dtg and screen printing this way..lol
, just design around how the printer normally functions...power loading is more of a luxury feature like power windows to a car vs manual, imho..if you get my drift
i think the only printer that will be faster is simply a faster epson printer, and im not sure that the 4800 prints any faster?, i know its a wider print. anyway there is no additional firmware that it has to run through so it will print at the epson designed speed with no delay of reading additional firmware or intializing on start up... not a big concern until your in a production setting, then its a value..
as more people start thinking outside the box of what there used to seeing, some amazing diy dtg will start poping up.. key for multiple large runs is a rear loading conveyor design.. ie just like it does paper..
just like my printer is set up, but you can also manually front load it aswell.. its really not rocket science the printer is already designed to do this, just incorporate the conveyor to accomodate it and shirts and modifying the paper delivery mechanism and its sensors...
alot of diydtgs coming out now, its awesome
