Re: Purchasing a screen printer.. any suggestions?

I'm going to purchase a screen printer. I've looked at the SMTech/Sigma 500 (also called Quad AVX500). Has anyone any comments to this machine or production experience? Anything would be appreciated. I'ld like to hear any other type of machines anyone can recommend. thanks.

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DEK printers are OK, but if you're a company that runs during the weekend, forget DEK. Their customer service is terrible on the weekends. Basically, you end up stumping a guy in England who ends up telling you ".. you'll have to talk to someone else on Monday morning." FYI. Kenny | I'm going to purchase a screen printer. | I've looked at the SMTech/Sigma 500 (also called Quad AVX500). | Has anyone any comments to this machine or production experience? | Anything would be appreciated. | I'ld like to hear any other type of machines anyone can recommend. | thanks.

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| I'm going to purchase a screen printer. | I've looked at the SMTech/Sigma 500 (also called Quad AVX500). | Has anyone any comments to this machine or production experience? | Anything would be appreciated. | I'ld like to hear any other type of machines anyone can recommend. | thanks. I am currently working with the DEK 265Lt. It is expensive, has very sharp top side board clamps, and does a fine job. It's probably out of most average person's $$ reach but you must look at it and other DEK machines. I always have been an MPM user. They and DEK don't "own" half the stencil printing business for nothing. MPM has a couple of "lower" end printers that are above most everyone else in industry (those "Havard/MIT Grads" have to do something with their time). Earl Moon

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I have 2 SMTech Sigmaprint 400s. They are easily the best screen print buy for the dollar. They perform like machines costing 50K more. They are probably the best kept secret in printing. My machines are 16 mil. capable, can be optioned to go beyond that, and are extremely reliable. The windows based interface is one of the best and most thought out I have ever used. Comparative DEKs and MPMs have greater capability, but if you will not be doing 12 mil printing, you can not afford to ignore this printer.

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We've had our SigmaPrint 500 machine since March 98. After two months of what seemed like being a beta site, SMTech (at that time) took care of all our issues (software) and now we are very happy with the machine. We haven't had a problem with it since and haven't had to call Quad for any servicing issues.

We tested the machine down to 16 mil pitch but production is at 20 mil pitch on boards up to 16"x20". The programmable pin supports were a key feature for our company as we are a contractor doing high mix work. The other companies wanted 3x the $ for the same feature in their machine.

Hope this helps. pw

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Kenny, I am horrified to hear of your experience with DEK's Global Hotline. Please contact me or send me your contact details so I can call you and close any gaps that exist here. Thanks Jon Howell jhowell@dek.com DEK Customer Support Manager

| DEK printers are OK, but if you're a company that runs during the weekend, forget DEK. Their customer service is terrible on the weekends. | Basically, you end up stumping a guy in England who ends up telling you ".. you'll have to talk to someone else on Monday morning." | FYI. | Kenny | | I'm going to purchase a screen printer. | | I've looked at the SMTech/Sigma 500 (also called Quad AVX500). | | Has anyone any comments to this machine or production experience? | | Anything would be appreciated. | | I'ld like to hear any other type of machines anyone can recommend. | | thanks.

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