Steve,

The Shandon Casmark I've used  has a series of dials on one side so that you
manually select the number then print it one cassette at a time. The quality
was excellent.

The RAL machine that I used had a series of hoppers for the cassettes (I
can't remember for sure but I don't think it can cope with cassettes with
integral lids - unicassettes) and was connected to a PC to automatically
print cassettes. We found that the cassettes often jammed in the hoppers,
but we only had it on a demo several years ago so we will have to look at it
again as I'm sure it has probably been improved.

I've just had a look at Shandon's web site and it seems like they have
ditched their old machine for the RAL machine. I know the old machine was
manual but the quality and simplicity were it's advantages.

Rob

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Stephen.Eyres@sanofi-synthelabo.com
> [SMTP:Stephen.Eyres@sanofi-synthelabo.com]
> Sent:	07 March 2003 08:49
> To:	LUCAS Robert (RF4) BHR Hospitals; 'Histonet'
> Subject:	RE: Cassette Printer Problem
>
>
> Hi Rob,
>
> There is the Surgipath system, but that only allows one slide at a time to
> be printed. Bayer have a system that will print cassettes and slides but
> neds 2 printers. I think Leica may have one.
>
> We have just bought a RAL carousel printer and are having some problems
> with hopper selection. I am interested in the differences you find between
> the RAL microwriter system and the Shandon Casmark. I thought they were
> both the same systems.
>
> Cheers
>
> Steve
>
>
>
>
>                       "LUCAS Robert (RF4) BHR
>
>                       Hospitals"                      To:      'Histonet'
> 
>                       
>                       als.nhs.uk>                     Subject: RE:
> Cassette Printer Problem
>
>
>
>                       06/03/2003 11:46
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Thank's for all the advice. We have been using Surgipath's ribbons and
> have
> put a new one in now, which is working fine (at the moment).
>
> I still have my doubts about this machine. The reply from Michael
> Fredrickson I find very worrying. I don't like they way it is too easy to
> smear the number on a freshly printed cassette. We will be looking to
> replace our VCP as soon as we can, with more reliable machine. If anyone
> can
> recommend one I'd be interested to know.
>
> I've tried the Raymond Lamb machine and didn't like it, and I have used
> the
> Shandon Casmark which was excellent. Are there any others available in the
> UK.
>
> Till then we are going low tech and writing the number in pencil on the
> side. However we are not allowed to order anymore stationary items till
> 1st
> April so we will have to make them last!
>
> Rob
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:     Dave Low [SMTP:lowman034@yahoo.com]
> > Sent:     05 March 2003 22:15
> > To: LUCAS Robert (RF4) BHR Hospitals; 'Histonet'
> > Subject:  Re: Cassette Printer Problem
> >
> > Hi Robert,
> > We have a Surgipath VCP cassette printer, one clue
> > that I can offer is the ribbon may have to be changed.
> >  Is it alot or just a few cases?  I know for the few
> > cases  was due to a tech accidently smearing the
> > accession number.    I always make sure the numbers do
> > not look faded before grossing because during
> > processing the alcohol (is your first alcohol solution
> > grey) will decolorize the numbers a bit.  Good luck!
> >
> > Dave Low HT(ASCP)QIHC
> > Elmendorf Med Ctr, AK
> >
> > --- "LUCAS Robert (RF4) BHR Hospitals"
> >  wrote:
> > > I wondered if anyone else has encountered this
> > > problem and has any ideas?
> > >
> > >  We have a Surgipath VCP cassette printer in our cut
> > > up. This morning when
> > > we took our cassettes out of the processor the
> > > numbers had come off  two of
> > > the cassettes that were next to each other (In fact
> > > they were so feint as to
> > > be completely illegible). The day before when the
> > > cassettes were loaded they
> > > were checked to insure the cassettes were labelled
> > > and no problem was seen
> > > ( I saw them myself). Fortunately we were able to
> > > identify which cases the
> > > casettes belonged to but we are worried that if this
> > > happens again this may
> > > not be possible. The cassettes were printed in
> > > advance because with this
> > > kind of printer the ink takes a little time to dry.
> > > In fact some cassettes
> > > were printed out during the cut up and the numbers
> > > were clear the following
> > > day. The printer is set to two passes. We routinely
> > > process overnight
> > > through formalin, 70% IMS, 90% IMS, IMS, xylene and
> > > paraffin wax.
> > >
> > > So for the time being we have changed the tape and
> > > are writing the number in
> > > pencil on the side till we feel confident that the
> > > printer is reliable. (I'm
> > > going to take some convincing)
> > >
> > > Rob Lucas FIBMS DipCompOpen
> > > Cheif BMS
> > > Histology
> > > King George Hospital
> > > Goodmayes
> > > Essex
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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>
>