[JPD]

Hey all!

In the past I have avoided DTG printing on hats because the ROI just didn't make sense. Recently, one of our bigger clients approached us to add hats to their online store that we print and fulfill for. So, I'm back in the market for a DTG cap platen.

I did a quick Google search and capplaten.com came up. It seems simple and inexpensive. In fact the first small order of 36 hats will pay for it, so ROI is damn good. Also, being that we will be printing black ink on a tan or loden colored cap, this process should work well.

I'm wondering if anyone is using this one yet on their Brother? This video shows a pretty simple set-up, which was something I was concerned about before.

Thanks in advance!

Eric

 

[simpex]

I am getting one looks like Mark who sells the other platens that I got from Brothers . I have to make sure it works with my Gt541 $350. is more in my range the other guy wants $1650. thats why I dont have it. thanks again for sharing the info. Sam

 

[JPD]

It looks like it works with all three versions of the Brother printers. I'm in the same GT-541 boat as you, so it was the first thing I checked.

Hopefully someone will chime in with more info!

Thanks!

Eric

 

[MauiCustomTshirt]

I just ordered the GT cap platen from Brother. It should arrive today. I can't wait to start printing on hats! After I print some hats I will let you know how it works.

 

[DAGuide]

Hello Guys,

Yes, this is a product that I created. It does work on the GT-541, GT-782 and GT-3 printers. (The same pin setup that is used on your GT-541 printers is the same exact setup used on the new GT printers as well. So all your other platens will work on the new GT-3 printers.) There are pictures on the website that show the cap platen on the different GT printers as well.

After turning down requests for developing a cap platen for the past couple of years for a variety of reasons, I decided that there were four things that I wanted to make sure would be present before I would bring a cap platen to market:
1. Has to be easy to use for most users.
2. Should not require any modification to the GT printer and must use the platen height adjustment lever.
3. It will work on most styles of structured and unstructured caps. (Wish I could say it would print on all styles of caps, but some caps have so stiff of a crown that it is impossible to get it to lay flat enough to print using a GT printer.)
4. It had to be priced similar to other GT platens that just does one thing in order to make sure people could get a good return on investment.

After working off and on for about 11 months (and going through a ton of different concepts), I ran by the last couple of concepts before several GT users and even Brother (just to make sure that there would be no negatives to the printer) before coming to a final product design. I tried to put as much info about the product on the website. If anyone has additional questions, please feel free to ask them here.

Enjoy the weekend!

Mark

 

[DAGuide]

I just ordered the GT cap platen from Brother. It should arrive today. I can't wait to start printing on hats! After I print some hats I will let you know how it works.

Hello Ruben,

There is a flyer inside the box that explains the components and instructions. However, there are visual instructions listed on this web page - Instructions for GT Cap Platen for Brother GT-541, GT-782 & GT-3 Printers.

You can also download the artwork templates (including the print grid file which I recommend you print so you can really see what your printable area is based on the riser / spacer combination being used. I posted a video on YouTube on how to use the artwork templates - Using the Artwork Templates for GT Cap Platen - www.CapPlaten.com - YouTube.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them.

Have a great weekend!

Mark

 

[MauiCustomTshirt]

Hi Mark, Can any of your platens be used as a shoe platen? Or do you plan on designing one any time soon?

 

[DAGuide]

Hi Mark, Can any of your platens be used as a shoe platen? Or do you plan on designing one any time soon?

Ruben,

Based on what research I can find on US Patent and Trademark Office website, there is a patent application filed by Converse in 2009 on the shoe platen (#20110109686). I attached the application to this post. There might be even a different application or granted patent that I could not find in the two databases as well. Since I also have a legal background, I fully understand the cost of responding to a patent infringement claim and I have no where close to the resources that Converse has. So my organization will not be making a platen specifically for printing on to shoes. (The risks do not outweigh the rewards.)

As far as other platens, I specifically created the Touchdown Platen to allow GT users the ability to print on a variety of substrates. We provide a variety of platen inserts that come with the kits, but it would be very easy for GT users to create their own platen inserts for printing on a variety of substrates. I have been told by Touchdown Platen users that they are using it to print on to some type of shoes, but I don't ask for any additional questions for obvious reasons (see above). What they do is their business at that point.

Does that answer your question?

Mark

 

[martinwoods]

Did you get the platen, have you used it yet? any good?

 

[MauiCustomTshirt]

No, not yet. I'm still waiting for it to arrive. I'll keep you posted.

 

[martinwoods]

No, not yet. I'm still waiting for it to arrive. I'll keep you posted.

sorry, thought it said it was to arrive that day, 3 days ago. Keep us all posted. How does the clips not hit the printhead or how does it clear without getting the beeping sound? just want to make sure it is not too far away from the head to get a crisp image?

Thanks

 

[DAGuide]

Hello,

If my memory is correct, I believe we meet at one of the recent trade shows (i.e. ISS Atlantic City, ISA Expo,...). I answered your questions below and have updated the FAQ page so that others can find the answer later as well.

How does the clips not hit the printhead or how does it clear without getting the beeping sound?

The clips attach to the back of the Cap Platen Base. Since you will have riser (and possibly a spacer), the silver handles of the clips are below the printable area. I have attached a picture showing where the clips would go and also a picture showing the clips actually holding a cap. This should give you an idea as to how the clips are able to pass under the obstruction bar on the GT printer.

just want to make sure it is not too far away from the head to get a crisp image?

I recommend printing the Print Grid (provided with the artwork templates) so you can see exactly what portion of the cap is printable and whether you need to run in unidirectional mode depending on the cap you are using. Unidirectional print mode allows you to print at a much larger gap from the bottom of the print head to the top of the substrate with good detail, but it takes approximately twice as long to print. I recommend unidirectional print mode when printing on most structured caps because the extra backing in the cap prevents the cap from laying as smooth as an unstructured cap.

Martinwoods, if you have any more questions... please feel free to ask them.

Mark

 

[martinwoods]

Thanks Mark
Yes we did meet at the ISA show in FL

 

[martinwoods]

Have you got to try this out yet. very interested in whether you like it or not. pics please Thanks

 

[WholesalePrint]

You guys this platen is the BEEZNEEZ! We will be posting videos soon. THe landscapers our loving it.

 

[MauiCustomTshirt]

Sorry, I haven't had a chance try it out yet. Been doing some remodeling at the shop in between jobs. Making room for my new Roland 54". Did manage to take it out of the box though. Seems very sturdy and well made. I'll post back as soon as I can.

 

[martinwoods]

You guys this platen is the BEEZNEEZ! We will be posting videos soon. THe landscapers our loving it.

That is great, so it easy to install and to use?
Thanks so much for the reply

 

[martinwoods]

Anyone have pics of the caps they have done with the new cap platen? kind of wanting to get one but heard that it did not print as big as the other platen. would love to see samples of ones that were done using the new platen Thanks

 

[simpex]

I havent unpack mine . hopefully this week Ill post some.
Sam

 

[DAGuide]

Chris,

Below are some pictures that were printed with the cap platen. The actual printable area on a cap depends on the following factors:
1. Type of cap - structured vs. unstructured.
2. Riser selected - small riser (primarily used for structured caps) and large riser (used for structured caps)
3. Whether or not you are using the spacer.
4. Print direction - bi-directional or uni-directional

I certainly did not try to create the same cap platen that already existed. All the people that encouraged me to create one were already aware of the other cap platen you spoke about - either before they spoke to me or I told them myself. So there are definitely going to be some differences. When I was doing my research as to what people really wanted, cost for the platen came up in every conversation. Most people don't print caps as their primary profit generator. It is an add-on to their existing business. So understanding that getting an return-on-investment on the cap platen as an add-on platen was very important.

The printable area was also important. As I mentioned above, several factors can affect the printable area. This is why I encourage people to print a test grid based on what they are using (i.e. cap, riser, spacer) to determine where to the artwork can be placed. (There is a picture of this below as well.) I don't hide the fact that the printable area is less on a structured cap. The picture of the wicker cap (about the stiffest cap I think of) shows that it is still possible to get a good printable area on it.

Feel free to ask additional questions. If you want to bring some caps to the NBM Indy show, you are more than welcome to use the cap platen first-hand to see how it works on the caps you specifically want to use.

Hope this helps.

Mark