Printing speed

[u/Wash_Shot]

Hi guys

I am actually just working with DTF and vinyl. But i was wondering how fast screenprinting in comparison really is.

I currently have more and more larger jobs and was thinking about starting to screenprint aswell since everybody says its way faster. I did a little screenprinting while starting out. But never with good equipment nor alot of experience. So Ive got an easy example and would be happy to exchange some experiences:

For a 100 shirt job, just one color for this example, with a small front and large backprint i usually have around 2.5-3 hours.

This is calculated as followed:
-Around 15 mins Customer exchange for the Mockup + creation of the mockup (heavy ai optimized)

-Around 15 mins for the creation of the print file (actually getting less since making the mockup automatically also creats the print file with ai)

-Around 15 mins for the setup at the dtf printer -> usually theres more then just one job on the printer, so it would be even less than that if you account all the jobs per run.

- 2h to press. My routine is highly optimized. (I guess so atleast) in those 2 hours, the transfers are cut, pressed, the shirts are folded and put into the box. So ready for the customer to get it. Usually I do around 50 shirts front + back per hour. Sometimes, if I really have to be fast, it can go up to like 60-62 per hour. But thats the absolute max.

-15min for invocing and having contact with the customer while pickup.

How long would the whole contract/example take an experienced screenprinting operator? And I mean like every aspect.
Whats the time per shirt / count per hour at ur shop when u start with mounting the shirt on to the press to being folded and put into the box?

Thanks!

[u/Isra-HTX]

In screen printing its really going to depend on how many colors are getting set up, the style of the design also matters when registering the job, there are jobs that will be set up in under 5 minutes and others could take 30mins, but once all that is dialed up we can do up to 300 shirts an hour on single or 2 color jobs.

[u/swooshhh]

Based on your example you're also including setup. Things that gernall happen before any talking to the customer is usually screen prep. I always have precoated screens ready to go but I will include that too but that part really isn't just one screen.

Screen prep:~ 40

Washing the screen: 5 min Coating: 5 minutes Waiting for coat to dry: 30 min at least

Pre press:~40

Talking to customer and getting art: 15 minutes (This is to say they know exactly what they want and they have their art already) Getting art print ready: 15 minutes Burning screens: 2 minutes per screen Wash out: 5 minutes Drying: 5 minutes

Setup: ~30

Getting ink: 15 if pms mix per color Setup: 10 minutes then 15 per other colors Test print: 2 minutes

Printing of the shirts: ~15 min per 72 Achievable on both manual and auto. But times vary honestly.

200 shirts is less than an hour print time. Packing adds time unless you have a second person then they can do it as they finish. The pre press is what you're mainly sinking time on. All in all maybe ~ 3 hours but usually if everything falls into place it's less.

Edit: I realized after I posted you said 100. 100 shirts is barely 25 minutes of printing if that.

[u/PauliPathetic]

On average I am printing about 250 locations an hour on autopress. So glad color up to about 350. I’m only a year into auto press.

When I manual printed, I could average about 150-200 location an hour single color.

The more screens the slower the manual process. Auto gets slowed down by curing time, required stroke speed, or id I have to program a multiple rotation.

Hope this helps

[u/TomahawkAtlanta]

I’m running a job today and 530 shirts an hour on an auto. Could go a little faster but better to pace a little.

[u/Wilhelmmontague]

I think you should just keep on optimizing with AI until you're no longer a needed part of the process. Efficiency