The 5 Best T-Shirt Printing Machines For Small Business
Custom T-shirts serve as personal statements and marketing tools. They’re gifts, they’re billboards, and they’re unity at events. Ever noticed a crew at a conference wearing the same logoed tee? That’s brand power. Individuals do like shirts with quirky designs.
Are you also intrigued by this trend and considering starting your own T-shirt business? But unsure of which machine to use. Rest assured, we’re here to help.
In the following article, we will navigate through the best T-shirt printing machines for small businesses.
In This Article
- T-shirt Printing Methods for Small Business
- Top T-Shirt Printing Machines For Small Business
T-shirt Printing Methods for Small Business
The type of t-shirt printing machine you choose is crucial, as there are about a dozen methods to print T-shirts, each with its benefits and needs. The popular methods include vinyl heat transfer, screen printing, heat transfer, sublimation, and direct-to-garment (DTG).
Screen printing is ideal for producing many T-shirts with the same design. This makes it ideal for small businesses.
Sublimation is a printing method where the design is first printed on special paper and then transferred onto the fabric, which allows the ink to penetrate the material. The design becomes part of the fabric thus providing a smooth feel. It's ideal for small business looking for colorful realistic prints with soft finish.
DTF is akin to the sublimation technique in that it also supports printing designs with intricate details. It follows this process: the design is first printed on a PET film, then adhesive powder is applied to the image and cured, finally the image is applied to the fabric using a heat press. The prints are on the top of the fabric as an extra layer. It's a versatile option that can print almost all fabrics.
DTG (Direct to Garment) operates similarly to a paper printer but on fabric, offering high-quality prints at a higher cost.
Vinyl heat transfer involves cutting out designs from vinyl and then heat-pressing them onto the T-shirt. It is an excellent option for custom, one-off items.
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Top T-Shirt Printing Machines For Small Business
Now, based on common t-shirt printing methods, we have made a list of the top 5 t-shirt printing machines on the market. From screen printers and vinyl cutters to sublimation and digital printing, the list has something for everyone.
1. xTool Screen Printer
The xTool Screen Printer is a game-changer for those looking to escape the long, traditional screen printing process. It is the world’s first screen printer to employ a laser-engraved stencil for creating designs.
This compact innovation cuts down the time you'd typically spend on stencil preparation, thanks to its pre-coated screens. Simply insert the screen into a laser engraver like the xTool S1, and it swiftly engraves your design at 400mm/s; it’s just a 3-step screen printing process.
Durability meets design with this printer’s robust metallic build. It is equipped with a quick-release clamp that lets you switch screen frames and meshes with ease, catering to a variety of printing dimensions. The printer’s adaptability allows one to manage multi-color prints on both small and large items from one workbench.
With an 11.5 x 16-inch platen, the printer is well-sized for all standard T-shirt printing jobs.
To ensure that the screen remains uniformly stretched, xTool’s advanced stretch frame integrates 4 tensioning bars and 6 quick tensioning wrenches.
Height adjustments are simple with the z-axis press; you don’t need to open it up every time the printing object is replaced. The printer also boasts 3-axis micro calibration for precise screen positioning. This is crucial for accurate multi-color printing and more complex designs.
Beyond T-shirts, the xTool Screen Printer’s versatility allows it to work on various materials like fabric, leather, and even branded cards, making it a valuable tool for a range of creative projects.
Standout Features
- Makes screen printing 6 times quicker than the traditional process
- World’s first machine to use laser-engraved stencils
- A large 11.5 x 16-inch platen area
- 3-axis micro calibration for multi-color printing
- Advanced stretch frame with tension bars and wrenches
2. xTool M1 Ultra Vinyl Cutter
xTool M1 Ultra is the most versatile vinyl cutter you will find in the market. It’s a machine that features not only blade cutting for vinyl, but also laser cutting and engraving, printing and drawing. This means you can tackle a wide range of projects.
With the M1 Ultra, you create your designs, cut them out from vinyl, and then heat-press them onto T-shirts.
Standout Features
- Versatile Cutter: Laser + blade cutting
- Cuts up to 2.5mm thickness with the blade cutter
- Comes fully assembled
3. Epson Eco-Tank ET-3850 Printer
Fan of heat transfer printing? EcoTank is a practical, economical choice for small businesses looking to produce high-quality, customized T-shirts. This model is so popular that Epson has sold over 80 million units.
It comes with high-capacity ink tanks that eliminate the need for buying expensive cartridges. This cost-effective solution is particularly valuable for T-shirt printing, which often requires large volumes of ink.
The ink that comes with the package is sufficient to print 14,000 black-and-white or 6,000 color pages. Normally, you would need 90 regular ink cartridges for printing such a volume. Although its print speed is 15 pages per minute, the EcoTank excels in delivering high-quality prints needed for T-shirt vivid designs.
ET-3850 has a robust automatic document feeder that supports up to 250 sheets (heat transfer or paper). Originally, it is an inkjet printer but can be converted into a sublimation printer with the addition of specialist inks. However, that voids the printer’s 2-year warranty.
Standout Features
- Cost-saving Ink Tanks
- Can hold upto 250 Heat Transfer Sheet
- High-Quality Prints (4800 x 1200 dpi)
4. Sawgrass SG-500 Sublimation Printer
For those who’re new to sublimation printing, Sawgrass SG500 is the perfect option. It’s not a converted sublimation printer, instead, it's originally a sublimation printer, meaning it can directly work with sublimation inks for vibrant and durable results.
The machine’s operation has been made simple. There’s a backlit LCD and simple controls to begin with printing. The printer is also built to minimize paper jams and dust accumulation.
With SG500, you also get access to Sawgrass’s design tool, DesignMate – which offers hundreds of free design templates are available that help you get started.
Standout Features
- Can print at a resolution of 4880 x 1200 dpi
- Supports up to 8.5" x 51" with a bypass tray (add-on)
- Free DesignMate Access
5. HRM Automatic T-Shirt Printing Machine
For people who have the budget and are a fan of direct printing, here comes a DTG printer. With the HRM Automatic Printing machine, you can directly print on the t-shirt.
As you know, DTG printing isn’t well suited for synthetic fabric, so this machine follows suit; it’s great for natural fabric like cotton. Apart from cotton t-shirts, its versatility extends to other items such as socks, sweatshirts, jeans, and even bags.
With a generous printing area of 329mm x 500mm, the HRM A3 ensures that designs maintain their impact on garments of all sizes, including large-sized T-shirts.
It also supports white ink, a boon for those printing on dark fabrics. Plus, it a a viable option for those who might otherwise consider sublimation.
In terms of speed, the HRM Automatic A3 performs impressively, completing light-colored T-shirt prints in 3 to 5 minutes. Darker garments require more time, about 6 to 8 minutes, due to the additional layers needed for a solid color display on dark backgrounds.
We have included this machine for small businesses that are interested in DTG printing. But, remember it’s much more expensive than the other options.
Standout Features
- Supports white ink printing
- Works well on cotton shirts
- Large printing area, 12.95-inch x 19.7 inches
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