Newman Roller Master 7700 Screen Stretcher
Stretching roller frames has never been what most people would consider fun and easy. Ripping screen mesh, busting your knuckles or, our favorite, getting smacked in the forehead when the wrench slips can lead to the occasional throwing of the screen against the wall out of frustration (not an uncommon sight in many screen departments).
Enter the latest development from Stretch Devices: the Newman Roller Master 7700 pneumatic screen stretcher. The 7700 series has replaced the old 7000 series, with many improvements.
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Higlights Surface ground flat aluminum plate tabletop Heavy-duty steel base Patented cam wrench heads for even and constant pressure Tool-free adjustment for different screen sizes |
Next is the table framework. Constructed from heavy-duty steel, the base of the 7700 proved solid and stable. Unlike the 7000 series where the base was covered by panels on the sides, the 7700 series is open on the sides. We found this made working around the table a little more comfortable as we didn't bang our knees on any panels, which did happen on the older unit. In addition, the open base provides much needed storage underneath for tools and supplies, and gives you free and unrestricted access to the mechanics of the unit for maintenance and service.
The next innovation on the 7700 is the newly designed and patented wrench heads. The physics behind the design are a little complicated, so we will simple that here. The wrench works somewhat like a cam. On the curved side of the wrench, a cable is attached to the top. The other end of the cable is connected to the air cylinder underneath the tabletop. When the air cylinder is engaged during the stretching operation, the cable pulls down on the wrench with even and consistent pressure, which gives you even pressure across the screen mesh during stretching.
When we stretched an 86-count mesh screen during testing, we were able to bring our mesh up to 50 newtons/cm evenly across the entire surface in a matter of seconds.
The other unique feature of the 7700 series is the placement of the wrenches. The 7000 series placed a wrench in all four corners of the stretcher. The 7700 series places four wrenches in three corners. If you have ever stretched a roller frame, then you have witnessed the corner of the screen rising up opposite of the corner you are tightening. With the new configuration of the wrenches, the opposite corner is pulled down during the stretching process, thus giving you a flat screen.
The final significant change on the 7700 series is the ability of the stretcher to be adjusted for different screen sizes. The 7700 series took us about 30 seconds to adjust the stretcher from using a 36" x 25" frame down to an 18" x 20" frame, and required no tools to do so.
The 7700 series is well built, user-friendly and a precise and accurate stretcher. We tested the 7700-C2 model
The Press Magazine - PRESS REPORTS - November 1998
PRINTWARE MAGAZINE
Spotlight On: Don Newman - October 1993
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part I - Tuning Up Tension, November 1993
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part II - Spaghetti with Rubber Bands, December 1993
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part III - The Cheese Grater, January 1994
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part IV - The Double-Cantilevered, Feburary 1994
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part V - Like a Rolling Stone, April, 1994
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part VI - Controlling the Stone, June 1994
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part VII - Out of the Stone Age, August 1994
THE PRESS reports
Newman Squeegees - June, 1998
Stretch Devices, L.O.C. Gauge - July, 1998
Newman Floodbars - August, 1998
Newman Roller Master 7700 Screen Stretcher - November, 1998
Screen Printing