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General Category => CTP - CTF => Topic started by: Slappy on November 11, 2019, 09:33:09 PM

Title: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Slappy on November 11, 2019, 09:33:09 PM
Looking to replace an increasingly moody Screen 4300 (single feed) unit, the powers that be recently saw CRON at the Texas print show, and are looking at one of their auto-feed models. I'm unfamiliar with the brand, apparently it's well established in Asia and they've partnered with ECRM to get into the US market.

I've got some literature and of course the glowing sales pitch but really want some real-world input. I've asked at the Other Forum too, and I have an email out to a shop in TX that has one but haven't heard back just yet.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Slappy on December 03, 2019, 07:52:34 PM
Contract signed, parts have started arriving. I did talk to the one existing user who's had one for about 6 month & they seem pretty satisfied. They're running UV plates, so can't compare there but the hardware sounds resilient, I'm not thrilled about having a processor again (current Screen model uses process-free plates) but the automation will be a huge help. Plus the single-feed Screen 4300 we have now is just killing us with downtime.

I'll reply back once we get to install stage and start calibration etc.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Joe on December 03, 2019, 08:53:36 PM
Never heard of it. Hope it goes well.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: DCurry on December 04, 2019, 10:25:52 AM
I thought the use of process-free plates was more an issue of laser power than particular platesetter model? In other words, why can't the Cron run process-free plates?
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Slappy on December 04, 2019, 12:36:24 PM
It very well may be able to, the new COO possibly decided on "normal" plates to make them more easily measured, QC'd etc.

I'm not planning on being the Processor Cleaning Guy, soooooooo.  :hello:
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: AaronH on December 04, 2019, 01:36:33 PM
Lucky!

We're getting a new processor and crossover unit for our Javelin, both have been on the fritz for the last year or so and the processor can't keep conductivity stable anymore so we're finally getting approval to change them out.

Wish we could go process-free. We tried once, but the pressmen threw too much of a fit, that the owners decided to go backwards.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: DCurry on December 09, 2019, 10:51:40 AM
Keeping the processor just means the pressmen have something they can point their finger at when they have problems on press.

And just because you're not planning on being the Processor Cleaning Guy doesn't mean it won't fall to you anyway! Let us know how that works out for you.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Slappy on December 09, 2019, 08:12:46 PM
Yeah, I fully expect it'll be a Shared Experience.

Quote from: DCurry on December 09, 2019, 10:51:40 AMLet us know how that works out for you.
Install is set for early January, gotta get a room assembled, plumbing etc. and I need to formulate the switchover in XMF, given that we kinda let our Maintenance Agreement lapse since we hadn't really used it and it's pretty $$$.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Slappy on January 19, 2020, 05:51:03 PM
Update: Hardware is all on the floor and hooked up for the most part. Should be doing plate linearization tomorrow & have a call with Fuji setup to remote in & get the CTP onto XMF. They sounded like it might be a little more involved since the there isn't a TIFF-catcher on the unit, I guess it's got to send the TIFFs directly from XMF. Bet that's another $$$ License to add.

Hoping to get the Calibration Guy in by Tuesday/Wednesday too if we can make press time to setup curves. Got a TON of book work in right now, be a perfect test of the CRON.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: DigiCorn on January 20, 2020, 11:10:53 AM
I LOVE the self-squaring setup on that platesetter. The last Screen I used, you had to line it up perfectly, or it'd punch crooked (or possible jam on loading). It had like a ruler on it where we marked it with opaque tape so you could load it centered.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: seratne on January 20, 2020, 11:27:04 AM
We were looking at the CRON machines for a bit. They looked really well made. Almost like all the parts were made on the same line as other machines (a china specialty). Pricing was about 40% cheaper than even the steal we got on a new Agfa unit.

Only reason we didn't go with them was service. At the time there was only one place near Chicago that would service it (where we were buying it from). They only had 2 techs on staff, and they were already spread thin with being a 3rd party service provider for Agfa/Kodak/Heidelberg, everything, and also being a reseller. The times previous we used them to service a platesetter they weren't the quickest, but they were competent. We went with Agfa with a service contract because being down for 2-3 days would kill us.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Slappy on January 21, 2020, 11:09:32 PM
Quote from: DigiCorn on January 20, 2020, 11:10:53 AM
I LOVE the self-squaring setup on that platesetter. The last Screen I used, you had to line it up perfectly, or it'd punch crooked (or possible jam on loading). It had like a ruler on it where we marked it with opaque tape so you could load it centered.
Heh, we used Sharpie™ on ours!  :rotf:

Got some plates out this afternoon, they're supposed to get 'em on press 1st thing tomorrow before the craziness starts. I sent a few sigs of a job we already ran last week, no sample left for the pressman so he should just run to the numbers and we'll see how close we get.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Slappy on January 21, 2020, 11:13:38 PM
Quote from: seratne on January 20, 2020, 11:27:04 AM
We were looking at the CRON machines for a bit. They looked really well made. Almost like all the parts were made on the same line as other machines (a china specialty). Pricing was about 40% cheaper than even the steal we got on a new Agfa unit.

Only reason we didn't go with them was service. At the time there was only one place near Chicago that would service it (where we were buying it from). They only had 2 techs on staff, and they were already spread thin with being a 3rd party service provider for Agfa/Kodak/Heidelberg, everything, and also being a reseller. The times previous we used them to service a platesetter they weren't the quickest, but they were competent. We went with Agfa with a service contract because being down for 2-3 days would kill us.
It appears they've ramped up the Support staff and are growing. We had 3 guys onsite for the install, at least one of them local. I think the 3rd guy is in training, fairly young and the CRON Tech said he was learning fast so I'm optimistic. Time will tell though.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Slappy on January 27, 2020, 09:22:00 PM
Well, the Honeymoon sure didn't last long.  :shoots_self:
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Joe on January 27, 2020, 09:34:22 PM
 :lmao:

Some things never change.

:facepalm:
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: DCurry on January 28, 2020, 08:05:22 AM
That wouldn't have happened with a processless plate!
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Tracy on January 28, 2020, 01:54:04 PM
Looks like you have an auto feeder?
Seems putting the punched side in first could be a problem
I never worked with feeders tho
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: wonderings on January 28, 2020, 02:11:05 PM
Quote from: DigiCorn on January 20, 2020, 11:10:53 AM
I LOVE the self-squaring setup on that platesetter. The last Screen I used, you had to line it up perfectly, or it'd punch crooked (or possible jam on loading). It had like a ruler on it where we marked it with opaque tape so you could load it centered.

We had a Screen 4100 and have a similar/identical AGFA unit at my new place. Never had an issue with crooked punches. We have a bit of marker showing the edge for our QM and 74 plates. I never have to be perfect, just close and it makes the adjustment needed.

The idea of going back to a process system just seems backwards to me. Maybe there are benefits but I do not want to deal with chemicals anymore, plus all the fun clean ups and filter changes. They brought it up here and the idea lasted about 5 seconds before everyone spoke up saying how bad an idea that would be.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: DigiCorn on January 28, 2020, 02:47:43 PM
Quote from: Slappy on January 27, 2020, 09:22:00 PM
Well, the Honeymoon sure didn't last long.  :shoots_self:
That's a funny way to make a plate
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: DigiCorn on January 28, 2020, 02:54:34 PM
Quote from: wonderings on January 28, 2020, 02:11:05 PM
Quote from: DigiCorn on January 20, 2020, 11:10:53 AM
I LOVE the self-squaring setup on that platesetter. The last Screen I used, you had to line it up perfectly, or it'd punch crooked (or possible jam on loading). It had like a ruler on it where we marked it with opaque tape so you could load it centered.

We had a Screen 4100 and have a similar/identical AGFA unit at my new place. Never had an issue with crooked punches. We have a bit of marker showing the edge for our QM and 74 plates. I never have to be perfect, just close and it makes the adjustment needed.

The idea of going back to a process system just seems backwards to me. Maybe there are benefits but I do not want to deal with chemicals anymore, plus all the fun clean ups and filter changes. They brought it up here and the idea lasted about 5 seconds before everyone spoke up saying how bad an idea that would be.
I don't remember what model Screen we had... it's ancient history to me; I'm never going back there again. It was "processless," but it would punch before loading onto the drum and then it would dump out onto a conveyor and go through essentially a wash and gum and then it was ready to hang. You could clean the processor, one guy, in about an hour and a half if you knew what you were doing. We ran the Agfa plates, but it was a special version of those... TS if I recall. Blue emulsion. Only once in 7 years there did I have to ever hit the "panic" button when a plate didn't mount properly to the drum and flew off inside the machine. I had some kind of vacuum system that lost it's air tight seal over time and attracted dust on the drum that resulted in "hot spots." I'm pretty much almost all digital now (we do shoot occasional paper plates and sometimes poly) and I don't deal with that side of it at all.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: mc hristel on January 28, 2020, 06:53:36 PM
I think you are going to have some problems getting that plate hung on a press.
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Slappy on January 29, 2020, 11:18:42 PM
Quote from: Tracy on January 28, 2020, 01:54:04 PM
Looks like you have an auto feeder?
Seems putting the punched side in first could be a problem
I never worked with feeders tho
Yeah, my suspicion is that when the tech was out earlier that am (adjusting the plate punch) he left bridge down, we put it back in position and maybe was just a little bit off, and that one fed crooked. Not much, but it doesn't take a lot to get off-square into the processor and boom. Nice practice removing that bastard, really helps to have every asshole in the place come by & make "clever" comments too.  >:(

Quote from: wonderings on January 28, 2020, 02:11:05 PM
The idea of going back to a process system just seems backwards to me. Maybe there are benefits but I do not want to deal with chemicals anymore, plus all the fun clean ups and filter changes. They brought it up here and the idea lasted about 5 seconds before everyone spoke up saying how bad an idea that would be.
Wasn't MY idea, for sure but here we are - funny how that happens, eh?  :hangme:
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Tracy on January 31, 2020, 02:45:18 PM
 :laugh: That one was pretty crumpled!

I took a crumpled plate out to the pressroom once and said "Here's your plate"  :laugh:
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: born2print on January 31, 2020, 02:58:57 PM
te-he!
I may have, once or twice back in the day, handed someone blank / clear film for the job they gave me with no specs and no lasers.
That's wrong? How do you know??
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Tracy on January 31, 2020, 03:16:44 PM
Hee hee!
The good old days! when we had fun!!
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: born2print on January 31, 2020, 04:09:21 PM
craft©
Title: Re: CRON Platesetters
Post by: Torix on May 19, 2020, 06:07:15 AM
Yeah, I fully expect it'll be a Shared Experience.