Full Version: OEM..What is it?
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#1]
26 Dec 2006
To: ALL
Hi all,
I see references to OEM periodically and was wondering if anyone could point me to a thread or a site that describes this process. Is it a sublimation type process? Is there special equipment involved? What advantages does it bring to the table over other processes? I would like to learn more about this so if anyone could point me in the right direction, I would be very grateful.
Thanks as always
Becky
EDITED: 26 Dec 2006 by DGL
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#2]
26 Dec 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#1] 26 Dec 2006
Here is a link to my article on the OEM transfer and some additional info.
http://engravingetc.org/forum/index.php?webtag=EE&msg=2366.1
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#3]
26 Dec 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#1] 26 Dec 2006
OEM is an acronym for Original Equipment Manufacturer, which in the case of the laser toner imprinting method, means the toner that's included (stock) with the printer is used, in conjunction with a special transfer paper.
EDITED: 26 Dec 2006 by DGL
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#4]
26 Dec 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#3] 26 Dec 2006
Dave-
So, what your saying is, if I understand this correctly, I can use my laser printer and special paper designed for transferring images from a laser printer, and my heat presses similar to the sublimation inks with my Epson C88? Am I getting that right? In other words, could I make the same mugs etc. with my laser printer that I do with my Epson C88?
Thanks
Becky
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#5]
26 Dec 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#4] 26 Dec 2006
It depends what kind of laser printer you have. Printers such as the Konica-Minolta and others, which don't use "magnetic" toner (Hewlett-Packard Laserjets use magnetic toner) will work.
Edit: We have one forum member claiming successful use of magnetic OEM toner and a special transfer paper, with an HP printer, in the following thread:
http://www.engravingetc.org/forum/index.php?webtag=EE&msg=4497.1
EDITED: 26 Dec 2006 by DGL
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#6]
26 Dec 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#5] 26 Dec 2006
Dave-
Well here is why I am inquiring (other than just being curious) I recently had to refer a job to a screen printer because I couldn't do sublimation on the colored shirts they wanted. Don't know if I would have been able to do it anyway with the time frame and budget they wanted. But it was the first time I have had to tell someone flat out "no I can't do it" Granted, though it was the first, I'm sure it won't be the last.
I was at the NBM show in Baltimore and saw the Powerful Papers booth. It certainly seems as though their products add a lot more possibilities if you have the right kind of printer. I have a Dell 3100cn so I have no clue if that would work or not.
I am going to keep searching. Thank you all for the help!!
55 days and counting!!!! Woo Hoo!!
Becky
From: UncleSteve [#7]
26 Dec 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#6] 26 Dec 2006
Why not "search" for a screen printer to farm out the work to instead of just turning over the customer to them?
There are also companies like Ace Transfer ( www.acetransco.com ) that will print the transfers for you. You keep the customer AND most of the profits... :D
From: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#8]
26 Dec 2006
To: UncleSteve [#7] 26 Dec 2006
Well, for several reasons.
#1, the customer is a small non-profit group that needed them in a hurry and had a tiny tiny budget...2 things that mix like oil and water. So, I knew the only way for them to get the price they wanted at the speed they wanted was to deal directly with the screen printer.
#2, the screen printer to which I referred them is a customer of mine. We are "strategic allies" with one another so it was not a big deal. I may have lost that transaction but have still retained the original customer and kept my alliance in tact.
From: UncleSteve [#9]
26 Dec 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#8] 26 Dec 2006
I love stories with happy, happy, happy endings!
:-)
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#10]
26 Dec 2006
To: Becky (KIAIJANE) [#6] 26 Dec 2006
From what you've said in the ensuing posts, I think you made the right call.
There was no money to be had in the job and you made a customer happy.
Besides, at this point, you have no experience with the OEM laser toner process, which means you may have opened up a can of worms, that you may have regretted.
I don't know if your Dell printer would be compatible with the special transfer papers. If it is a compatible printer, I'd suggest getting some of the transfer paper and experimenting.
That way, printing to fabric won't be a mystery and you'll be able to decide if taking on that type of work is desireable.