[sykoshingo]

I have been unsuccessful in finding a small foot print 4-6 color screen printing machine. Does anyone know of any machines that are designed differently than the standard rotating arm type of design? Something designed to take a small amount of space yet be able to produce 4-6 colors? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Kime]

Ryonet has the lowrider, which has the conveyor dryer under the press. The press is the usual size, but you don't need extra space for your dryer. They say you can use it in a single car garage.

 

[kylerogers]

Brown makes presses that mount to the top of their six foot conveyour dryers. So a 6/4 press and the conveyour dryer fit in a 6'x6' footprint. You also save about a grand on the press compared to similar stuff from other brands, since it doesn't have it's own base.

 

[sykoshingo]

Do you have a link to any of that equipment? I tried searching for brown silk screen equipment and couldn't really find anything. Thank you both for your assistance. This has been very helpful.

 

[tpitman]

You can look here: Middle Frame scales

These are the presses that were mentioned.

Here's another system:

Screen Printing Equipment & Systems - Printa Systems, Inc.

They're still a carousel design, but it's a small footprint. The downside is they're expensive, and generally considered hobby level as far as getting any real production out of them.

 

[purple72]

We have someone local that has a 770 system for sale. If you're interested, I can put you in touch with them.

 

[Kime]

You can look at a video of the lowrider here:

Low Rider Screen Printing Package Compact but High Production

 

[kylerogers]

Here is a link to their all in one equipment. Brown is the about the only company that actually prints prices for all their stuff in the catalog. Some of the other companies are maddening. They won't print any prices, and they'll quote you different figures at different times.

At the SGIA show, Brown was wheeling and dealing too. So if you go see them at a show, you can save hundreds.

Middle Frame scales

I financed a ponyexpress at the SGIA show this past week. The conveyour dryer I'm getting will have forced air too, so I can do Discharge inks.

They also have some cheaper entry level stuff, but the presses don't have any micro-registration.

With the ponyexpress printer you get x-y-z registration. Non-adjustable sideclamps designed for 20" screens. Metal on metal registration (whereas a lot of the other stuff in this price range has metal on nylon/plastic).

You can also get a forced air version of the conveyor dryer for a couple hundred extra.

I looked at the lowrider conveyour dryer at the SGIA and it is really cool. It may be a lot more dryer than what your looking for though. I think it's around $5,000, which is about the same price as the Brown PonyExpress combo units. You use the lowrider with the Riley Hopkins Aero series (that is their next step up from the WIN series that you see on ebay all the time). I don't know if their are other presses you can use it with.

But the lowrider is pretty high-capacity. It's designed to keep up with two printers at the same same. It is probably more dryer than you are looking for.

Printa makes that 770 system. I've actually seen a lot of used ones on ebay. I don't know if that is a good thing or bad thing. There are lots of people who open screen printing shops only to close down a few months later because they have no idea what they are doing. I've been watching one in town here that keeps re-opening and then closing down again. So it could be that the Printa systems are attractive to first time equipment buyers, who are the same people to be most likely to call it quits a short time later and want to sell the stuff.

I examined most of the different presses at the SGIA show, but printa wasn't there. Printa makes some bold claims on their website that I can't really see how you would do it just from the pictures.

Do you have a link to any of that equipment? I tried searching for brown silk screen equipment and couldn't really find anything. Thank you both for your assistance. This has been very helpful.

 

[kylerogers]

Oh, here is are some close up pictures of the Printa 770.

Screen Printing Equipment & Systems - Printa Systems, Inc.

This shows how their registration system works. You actually have to add pieces to frame which line it up with the exposure unit and the print head. It looks innovative, but I'd be concerned about how well it holds up. It doesn't look all that sturdy.

 

[GlennC]

Funny you asked. I just started searching myself this weekend. I have a vinyl cutter, heat press. But there are some things with lots of letters/detail I would like to screen.
So far I've found the machines at Signwarehouse. They have some good videos of the equipment, if nothing else you can see the process if you are not familiar. Youtube also has a ton. But I really did not want to spend that kind of money. At least not till I have more room and do this more than part time. I also found this website for a homemade one Screen Printing | Silk Screening | Screen Printing Equipment
But he also led me to the Livingston site.
Livingston Systems screen printing Home Page

So if anyone has any starter systems that don't cost $Thousands$ or any experience with these systems, good or bad,
please post.
Thanks,
Glenn

 

[sykoshingo]

Thanks again for all the info. This has been a big help. I don't think I'm going to need equipment to do high volume. I don't plan on printing orders for other people. We are trying to establish our own brand and currently use a vinyl cutter and heat press, but are looking At other options because the heat press is not looking so good with our vendor. The feel is very plastic like and we are getting some peeling, which is completely unacceptable. Maybe our vendor is the issue, which is a shame because he's a reply great guy and I value working with people like that. Anyway, we wouldn't be doing runs over say 200 at a tim since we are gearing ourselves for web and not wholesale to other stores. Again thanks fornthe great info. Now if only someone could find great info on how to ship to Hawaii without doubling the cost of the equipment.

 

[Jamey]

Here is a link to their all in one equipment. Brown is the about the only company that actually prints prices for all their stuff in the catalog. Some of the other companies are maddening. They won't print any prices, and they'll quote you different figures at different times.

At the SGIA show, Brown was wheeling and dealing too. So if you go see them at a show, you can save hundreds.

Middle Frame scales

I financed a ponyexpress at the SGIA show this past week. The conveyour dryer I'm getting will have forced air too, so I can do Discharge inks.

They also have some cheaper entry level stuff, but the presses don't have any micro-registration.

With the ponyexpress printer you get x-y-z registration. Non-adjustable sideclamps designed for 20" screens. Metal on metal registration (whereas a lot of the other stuff in this price range has metal on nylon/plastic).

You can also get a forced air version of the conveyor dryer for a couple hundred extra.

How is this working for you. Any regrets?