TSB

screen printing => General Screen Printing => Topic started by: Hey Monkey on May 06, 2015, 09:16:28 AM

Title: Print problems
Post by: Hey Monkey on May 06, 2015, 09:16:28 AM

Printing one-color T's on my Vastex 2000. No matter what I do the center of the print does not lay down well at all on the T. New squegees, new screens, new ink.

Off contact? I find setting the off contact on this press confusing as hell. ANy other ideas? WHen I pull the print on paper - looks perfect.

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: GraphicDisorder on May 06, 2015, 09:33:38 AM

Quote from: Hey Monkey on May 06, 2015, 09:16:28 AM

Printing one-color T's on my Vastex 2000. No matter what I do the center of the print does not lay down well at all on the T. New squegees, new screens, new ink.

Off contact? I find setting the off contact on this press confusing as hell. ANy other ideas? WHen I pull the print on paper - looks perfect.

Are your screens coated uniform?  Maybe your thicker on the middle of your screen coating? Have you tried changing your hand position on the squeegee?

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: Frog on May 06, 2015, 09:38:13 AM

A picture could help

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: Doug B on May 06, 2015, 09:47:07 AM

  Warped pallet.

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: Colin on May 06, 2015, 09:56:10 AM

Yep, my guess is a warped pallet or two...

Put a t square or something else that is very straight across your board and look for inconsistencies.

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: Frog on May 06, 2015, 09:58:20 AM

HeyMonkey, does it do the same on all pallets?
With all screens?


Like I said, some pictures could only help.

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: IntegrityShirts on May 06, 2015, 09:59:12 AM

I thought his Vastex was brand new? Also check ink viscosity, if it's too thick it won't mat down the fibers or release from the screen correctly. Is it white ink? Try a push stroke.

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: Frog on May 06, 2015, 10:00:38 AM

So, to the warped pallet voters, why would the paper be so much more forgiving that it appeared to print okay? Could it be the fact that the ink is all on top instead of some being driven into the fabric?

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: GraphicDisorder on May 06, 2015, 10:01:50 AM

Same results on all pallets?  If so that takes off the warped pallet theory unless they all are warped. 

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: Frog on May 06, 2015, 10:08:19 AM

Question to those with more screen print physics knowledge than me "Can too much pressure on a softish squeegee distort it so much that the center would print way differently than the ends?"

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: blue moon on May 06, 2015, 10:57:39 AM

post pictures of everything. this could happen if the print is too big for your screens too. . .

most likely culprits:
off contact
adhesive
warped platen


pierre

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: Hey Monkey on May 06, 2015, 11:17:39 AM

Wow... You guys are awesome. Thanks you for chiming in!

Got it figured out and it was a combination of things, all of which you each told me to chk. White ink, incorrect push angle and pressure and some off-contact issues. Dialed in and experimented with each and got it working. Somewhat new to push stroke (and already in love with it) so that probably explain some of the inconsistencies in my angle and pressure.

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: IntegrityShirts on May 06, 2015, 11:18:22 AM

I totally won that one.  8)

Title: Re: Print problems
Post by: Hey Monkey on May 06, 2015, 11:28:09 AM

Quote from: IntegrityShirts on May 06, 2015, 11:18:22 AM

I totally won that one.  8)

The check is in the mail!!