PANELFrame system

squeegee · July 26th, 2011, 06:45 PM

I can't begin to remember how many times I've heard a supplier say, or someone on a forum talk about keeping all their mesh at the same tension level in one job. I remember more than one story about how registration is faster, printing is faster, I've even been told you can't hold registration unless your screens are all within a few N of each other.

But we all know that a 305 to a 230 to a 110 at manu's specs are not the same in tension, so how could one do a job if mixing meshes then?

It's a case of over simplification, you just can't run the same mesh in every screen on every job, nor can you hold exactly 35 N or whatever on every mesh if you mix up different meshes. Definately an urban legend in my book.

musterdbom · August 10th, 2011, 11:17 AM

My PanelFrame kit from One Stroke should be here today with a 6 pack of 180 mesh. What kind of tension levels are you guys getting with the newer batch of meshes?

middletownink · August 10th, 2011, 11:50 AM

We have been seeing at least high thirty's. Don't be afraid of the loud "snap" the first time.

srimonogramming · August 10th, 2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by middletownink

We have been seeing at least high thirty's. Don't be afraid of the loud "snap" the first time.

You're getting high 30's on what mesh counts? Is that first stretched? Our shurloc ez's start that high and in the 40's on some mesh counts but they relax down to the mid to low 30's. I'm very surprised at those tension levels being had with the panel frames.

musterdbom · August 10th, 2011, 09:17 PM

Put all four frames together. One Stroke sent 230 mesh instead of 180, it is sefar though. Tightened them down and measured and I'm getting 20-22 newtons on all four frames, bleh. Should I print with them a few times then attempt a double roll on a short side?

Overall, quality looks nice, still tighter than my statics but I was hoping for a bit higher out of the gate.

srimonogramming · August 11th, 2011, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musterdbom

Put all four frames together. One Stroke sent 230 mesh instead of 180, it is sefar though. Tightened them down and measured and I'm getting 20-22 newtons on all four frames, bleh. Should I print with them a few times then attempt a double roll on a short side?

Overall, quality looks nice, still tighter than my statics but I was hoping for a bit higher out of the gate.

I certainly don't want to not believe Brian and his tension numbers, but I have heard from several others who are using them and they weren't getting anywhere near the 30 newton range with theirs. 230's first stretched and they are 20-22 means that they'll be 15 newtons in a few weeks after a couple uses. I think you'll have no choice but to try double rolling them to get anywhere near the tension a 230 needs to print correctly.

musterdbom · August 11th, 2011, 11:17 AM

I'm going to test them again today after letting them rest overnight. We'll see what they're at, then I may try an idea that is marinating in my brain to get a little more tension without a double roll.

Binkspot · August 11th, 2011, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srimonogramming

I certainly don't want to not believe Brian and his tension numbers, but I have heard from several others who are using them and they weren't getting anywhere near the 30 newton range with theirs. 230's first stretched and they are 20-22 means that they'll be 15 newtons in a few weeks after a couple uses. I think you'll have no choice but to try double rolling them to get anywhere near the tension a 230 needs to print correctly.

You got me thinking last night so I pulled some screens out this morning and here is what I had. We have the green frames and using Sefar mesh 160, it actually has green written in the corner of the mesh. I assume that means it is for the green frames.

I had 3 screens not coated yet and put the meter on those. All three we have had since June and have been printed and reclaimed several times. One was 22, next was 15 and last was 18.

I popped two new panels in a frame. One was 36 and the other 35.

Maybe my high thirties was an exaggeration but still happy with the numbers we have. Rarely do I check tension unless we are running a job that requires it and most of those jobs I use roller frames or use new panels.

To replace statics I think the panel frames are great and the price of the mesh panels makes them a cost effective alternative. But I don't think they will ever replace roller frames for high mesh tension. Like I said in the past we went to them because of cost and no one else in my shop can remesh the rollers. So if i'm out of town and they need tight screens they have to wait for me to do them or they can pop new panels in.

musterdbom · August 11th, 2011, 03:00 PM

Checked one frame again just now, 17 in one direction and 16 in the other.

So I decided to try the thing in my head! I have a roll of 2mm air tube here, cut a piece for the length of the short side, wrapped it inside the first roll butting it up against the stitching and plastic strip then rolling the mesh to hold it in. Retensioned and went from 16 to 20 in the long direction. Cut a strip of tubing for one of the long sides and retensioned and back up to 22.

Going to let it rest and see if the tension drops. May try adding the tubing to all 4 sides to see what happens!

musterdbom · August 11th, 2011, 06:16 PM

Meh, tension didn't last, back down to 16-17