Custom build fabric printer

[megoscott]

How-to: DIYDTG - Hack a Day

This kind of thing is way beyond me, but some handy person here might be able to rig one of these up and start making some interested printed fabrics.

[Meule]

Wicked cool, but way beyond my skills

[JediJaida]

Tres inventive! But alas, way beyond MY skills as well.

[Tothiro]

HMmmm. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. I like it.

[LonnieFisher]

The materials they use are way too thick and so too heavy. I'd have used the pressboard that the old video cabinets were made out of. Way lighter so there would be less stress on the motor. Looks simple enough to make. I was looking at used printers today at goodwill and the cheapest I found was $15.00. It was an Epson C80. I'd really like to make one.

[almitysufx]

Too much work! Instead, take a sheet of card stock, spray one side with glue. lay your fabric over the sheet, do not stretch out the fabric just smooth it out. Cut cloth to the shape of the card stock. load it into your EPSON printer (epson uses an alcohol based ink that doesn't run if it gets wet easily) pull up the suit you have designed and print it. I use the photo setting but not best, best sometimes smears a bit. You may have to run it through more than once to get the colors rich enough. I always use the centering option to help thing get lined up if I need to re-print the same thing over to darken it. Last, it's best to iron your cloth after to help set the ink. Good luck. PM me if you need any help.

[jimsmegos]

Too much work! Instead, take a sheet of card stock, spray one side with glue. lay your fabric over the sheet, do not stretch out the fabric just smooth it out. Cut cloth to the shape of the card stock. load it into your EPSON printer (epson uses an alcohol based ink that doesn't run if it gets wet easily) pull up the suit you have designed and print it. I use the photo setting but not best, best sometimes smears a bit. You may have to run it through more than once to get the colors rich enough. I always use the centering option to help thing get lined up if I need to re-print the same thing over to darken it. Last, it's best to iron your cloth after to help set the ink. Good luck. PM me if you need any help.

Excellent tip! I'll have to give this a go. What type of glue and how much do you use?

[almitysufx]

I use whatever spray glue is on hand. the edges are the most important part. I spray lightly though, only enough to keep it in place as it goes through the printer. If you use too much you may have a hard time removing the card and you may have sticky residue left on your suit.