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screen printing => General Screen Printing => Topic started by: Shanarchy on November 30, 2015, 04:49:07 PM
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I'll be printing on the new press this week. Any pointers, tips, or random info I should be generally aware of?
Also, any of you have, or have an opinion, on the Smart flash as opposed to the Eco 9000?
I'll be using the green (medium?) squeegees that the press came with for now.
Thanks!
Shane
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Green medium squeegees are good all around squeeges. The flashes, the "ECO" line are nice because of their basic-nes, the "EVO" or Smart Flashes are VERY NICE for fleece, poly and tri-blends. If it is not one of those three items we usually turn the temp probe on the EVO to normal, making it a regular flash.
Aside from that I don't know if there are things you need to be aware of, it has become second nature for us. There is some weird terminology used in the control panel at times, mainly in deciding if you want to print and end on a flood or a print stroke. Inverted, if I am remembering correctly will let you print backwards, front->back.
On the YOU, look at where your heads lower to and make sure they don't come down on the flash. Happened to us and the press was shaking after head lifting/lowering, spent probably 2 hrs freaking out that the floor couldn't handle the weight of the machine, then out of the corner of my eye I saw the flash moving! The heads were lowering onto the flash! Gave the handy height adjustment dial on the flash 1/2 turn and things were just fine!
If you freak out and think that something is wrong because the machine just sits there and a head won't print, make sure you have the print carriage at one of the front or rear sensors. That has gotten us a time or two, new machines have a light on the head to let you know.
Don't be afraid to ask if you have questions! We are damn near up to double digits on the board here! ;)
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On the YOU, look at where your heads lower to and make sure they don't come down on the flash. Happened to us and the press was shaking after head lifting/lowering, spent probably 2 hrs freaking out that the floor couldn't handle the weight of the machine, then out of the corner of my eye I saw the flash moving! The heads were lowering onto the flash! Gave the handy height adjustment dial on the flash 1/2 turn and things were just fine!
Nailed it! Mine was bouncing like crazy. We assumed being on wooden floors of an old mill. I did notice the head was coming down on top of the flash and mentioned it to the tech. I had no idea that was the issue. Neither did he. Later on it started to run smooth as hell. We had no idea why. Now I know. haha
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On the YOU, look at where your heads lower to and make sure they don't come down on the flash. Happened to us and the press was shaking after head lifting/lowering, spent probably 2 hrs freaking out that the floor couldn't handle the weight of the machine, then out of the corner of my eye I saw the flash moving! The heads were lowering onto the flash! Gave the handy height adjustment dial on the flash 1/2 turn and things were just fine!
Nailed it! Mine was bouncing like crazy. We assumed being on wooden floors of an old mill. I did notice the head was coming down on top of the flash and mentioned it to the tech. I had no idea that was the issue. Neither did he. Later on it started to run smooth as hell. We had no idea why. Now I know. haha
I actually made it as far as going down in the basement cutting 2*8's to re support that portion of the floor! :o
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Dumb question number 1 :-[
How do you raise the squeegee and flood bars to change them? I am currently in the down position pressed against the screen. I'm sure it's something real obvious.
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Scratch that. I just found a youtube video. You need to remove the screen first I guess.
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We do squeegee/flood changeovers without taking screen out all the time. I'll see if I can send you a quick video tomorrow
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Ya, there is no need to drop the screen, it makes it a breeze if you do, but not necessary at all.
Only thing I can think is maybe if your manual squeegee height was at 0 and you had a steep angle along with lots of off contact...
Provided I don't have another 2.5hr drive in to work tomorrow I'll try a video also. I got a whole hour on Danny... Those mountain time zone slackers! ;D
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I'll be psyched if I can do either or. I love the idea of being able to swap the white screen from job to job without removing the squeegee/flood bar only to put it right back. But I hate to think if ever I want to swap squeegees after set up I have to reset the screen.
I'm not at the shop now, but think the squeegee was set at 15 degrees and and I believe at 6 for height. Flood bar I want to say was 25 degrees and maybe a hair higher? Don't quote me on this.
Is this similar to how you guys are running?
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I'll be printing on the new press this week. Any pointers, tips, or random info I should be generally aware of?
Also, any of you have, or have an opinion, on the Smart flash as opposed to the Eco 9000?
I'll be using the green (medium?) squeegees that the press came with for now.
Thanks!
Shane
We have a YOU 12/16 XL
We started with 1 Evo and 1 Eco and ended up trading in the Eco for another Evo. For us, the pallets tend to cool down quickly so every time we stopped to adjust things, add ink, etc we found we had to go hit the Eco (flash 2) once just before restarting. Forget and you have issues. The smart flashes well are worth the $$$ if you can swing it. The Eco's are nice flashes, for us that second flash always seems to bite us. It wasn't the flashes fault :)
Don't forget to raise the flashes when doing polos. We get 14 shirts in before we realize that a button/collar/etc is getting caught on the flash. Not pretty LOL
Our flood bars are at 25 but I don't remember the height at the moment. I think that are at 1.5 on the scale of 0-2
We didn't like the rubber that came with the press (to soft I think?) and now use triples exclusively (70's and 75's) and the occasional 65.
We use the Pin system so we drop the screen to replace squeegees and flood bars and have had zero reg problems doing so but I can see it being an issue with out the pins. As others have said, you can remove them with out dropping the screen.
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OK, Here you go sir!
https://youtu.be/yaHUwAukbJs (https://youtu.be/yaHUwAukbJs)
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Ok, it seems a little snugger on mine but I can do it. Thanks for the video! Huge help.
Next dumb question, how do you turn on the lasers? I'm not seeing it in the manual or seeing where it is on the control panel.
-Yes, I truly am helpless.
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I think the switch for them is up on the lasers themselves? I could be wrong though. (Trying to remember what I saw from the sgia show)
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Ok, it seems a little snugger on mine but I can do it. Thanks for the video! Huge help.
Next dumb question, how do you turn on the lasers? I'm not seeing it in the manual or seeing where it is on the control panel.
-Yes, I truly am helpless.
If you have a YOU, the laser switch is on the right side of the control panel (black switch)
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That's it Danny. I swore I tried that before.
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Ok, it seems a little snugger on mine but I can do it. Thanks for the video! Huge help.
Next dumb question, how do you turn on the lasers? I'm not seeing it in the manual or seeing where it is on the control panel.
-Yes, I truly am helpless.
After watching the video, quick question- are the roq floodbars angled to properly fill the ink well ? as oppose to the "standard " angle of floodbars which typically just drag ink across the top of the stencil?
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I'm looking at the flood/stroke menu. Is it possible to set it up to flood, print, print? As opposed to flood, print, flood, print?
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no. I asked when I first got it and they said no. doesn't mean they won't do it at some point, but as of now, no
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no. I asked when I first got it and they said no. doesn't mean they won't do it at some point, but as of now, no
That's too bad. With all the different flood functions on the menu you would think that would be an option.
I just finished printing my first job on the press. Just a simple one color black ink job. Runs really smooth. I really like loading and unloading with the pallets not coming up and down.
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I really like loading and unloading with the pallets not coming up and down.
That is almost addicting if you ask me. After getting use to that, I honestly don't think I would ever buy another machine that raised and lowered the tables.
As far as the double print thing, you can kind of do it... You can lower head and print, flood(with head lowered), print again, and fold and lift the head after.
I don't think there is really a machine out there that could flood, print, print. After a print stroke the print carriage needs to return to the front to print again. On that return it kind of floods by default.
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I'm looking at the flood/stroke menu. Is it possible to set it up to flood, print, print? As opposed to flood, print, flood, print?
Hi, good morning,
At least for us here in Portugal.
Well I looked at your question and just went down to the assembly and asked about it.
It is possible. I am sorry for the quality of the video, I just had my cellphone with me. If there is the need I can send the steps in the menu to do this.
You can do flood, print, print, or print, print, flood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzTN4Y2cAgM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzTN4Y2cAgM)
I hope this helps and if any other question arises please contact me.
Keep ROQing!!!
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I'm looking at the flood/stroke menu. Is it possible to set it up to flood, print, print? As opposed to flood, print, flood, print?
Hi, good morning,
At least for us here in Portugal.
Well I looked at your question and just went down to the assembly and asked about it.
It is possible. I am sorry for the quality of the video, I just had my cellphone with me. If there is the need I can send the steps in the menu to do this.
You can do flood, print, print, or print, print, flood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzTN4Y2cAgM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzTN4Y2cAgM)
I hope this helps and if any other question arises please contact me.
Keep ROQing!!!
That's awesome!
The video is set to private.
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I'm looking at the flood/stroke menu. Is it possible to set it up to flood, print, print? As opposed to flood, print, flood, print?
Hi, good morning,
At least for us here in Portugal.
Well I looked at your question and just went down to the assembly and asked about it.
It is possible. I am sorry for the quality of the video, I just had my cellphone with me. If there is the need I can send the steps in the menu to do this.
You can do flood, print, print, or print, print, flood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzTN4Y2cAgM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzTN4Y2cAgM)
I hope this helps and if any other question arises please contact me.
Keep ROQing!!!
That's awesome!
The video is set to private.
It was... my bad!
Fixed!
Keep ROQing!!!
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@ nvenda, very neat action there but would not printing in both directions cause a misprint or out of registration? I do like the concept of getting two print strokes in one stroke if that is what I thought I saw or seeing in the vid.
darryl
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I don't think that is the way "WE" want it. I think (at least what I wanted way back) was FLOOD - PRINT - flood stroke without actually flooding - PRINT. essentially a 2 complete strokes (front and back) but only flooding 1 round and not the second.
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I don't think that is the way "WE" want it. I think (at least what I wanted way back) was FLOOD - PRINT - flood stroke without actually flooding - PRINT. essentially a 2 complete strokes (front and back) but only flooding 1 round and not the second.
Humm, ok, @Ryan I see your point and it kinda goes with the idea of @3Deep.
So let me see if this is more of what you are looking for:
https://youtu.be/5Js4HxQU5y8
Let me know if this is what you are looking for.
Keep ROQing!!!!
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That setting is there. I think we are trying to do so its not actually flooding ink on the second pass, just a second print. You would have to program the squeegee/flood carriage so that it its raised to a neutral point where neither the flood or the squeegee is at the mesh. the carriage would just move back to the print location and just print again. Does that make sense?
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That setting is there. I think we are trying to do so its not actually flooding ink on the second pass, just a second print. You would have to program the squeegee/flood carriage so that it its raised to a neutral point where neither the flood or the squeegee is at the mesh. the carriage would just move back to the print location and just print again. Does that make sense?
@Ryan: So if we understand what you want to do is, flood, print, move back the carriage with out flooding or printing and print a second time without ink on the screen.
Being so, and as I am not a printer I do not understand the theoretical advantage of doing this process. Can you help me understand what are the advantages/objectives of this technique?
Keep on ROQing!!!
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I am not sure I understand the need for that either. Am I missing something?
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second print to clear the screen...sometimes. Not so much to put down more ink, but at times to just clear what might not have cleared the first time. I am assuming that is what Shane is looking to do, I could be wrong, but I was inputting my thoughts as to the question that was asked.
Ryan
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second print to clear the screen...sometimes. Not so much to put down more ink, but at times to just clear what might not have cleared the first time. I am assuming that is what Shane is looking to do, I could be wrong, but I was inputting my thoughts as to the question that was asked.
Ryan
Well in our machines if you configure them correctly you really don't have the need to clean the screen. But I agree, let's wait for @Shanarchy to see what he meant and if there is another answer with a function in our machines.
Keep on ROQing!!!
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Ryan nailed it. A second stroke to clear the screen.
Agreed, the right way to do it is to set it up so you are single stroking everything. Double stroking is usually more of a bandaid for something that isn't set up correctly (mesh count, pressure, angle, etc). But sometimes you do end up double stroking. I'm pretty sure that in most cases, you probably don't really need to double stroke, but just throw the extra dry stroke after to clear the screen without putting down more ink. Just thinking aloud.
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Ryan nailed it. A second stroke to clear the screen.
Agreed, the right way to do it is to set it up so you are single stroking everything. Double stroking is usually more of a bandaid for something that isn't set up correctly (mesh count, pressure, angle, etc). But sometimes you do end up double stroking. I'm pretty sure that in most cases, you probably don't really need to double stroke, but just throw the extra dry stroke after to clear the screen without putting down more ink. Just thinking aloud.
Hi,
We are looking into your words and it sounds as you work mainly manual. Is it the case? or do you run an automatic? For our machines, from our experience and the feedback from our customers, you really don't ever need a second stroke to clean the screen. It's super easy to configure and easy to find the right combination for pressure and/or angle. And I believe it is so for most automated machines in the world. Well it's the basic for any decent automatic machine. If you go into a run of 100.000k or a Million or 1.000 or 100 pieces, you can't really be worried if the screen is clean or not. You just need to make the proper setup and load the shirts on the machine and in the end, count the ca$h :D
Keep on ROQing!!!
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They would need to add a line to the PLC to make that happen. Essentially what they want is to flood then print and then come back for a second print without the floodbar actually lowering to flood
Ross