Newman Roller Master not making a flat screen.

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

The roller master is advertised as making a perfectly flat screen during the stretching process so I feel I shouldn't have to do anything extra when tightening the screens right?

Well today I finally got to mess with my new (bought used but was never used) Newman Roller Master. I meshed two brand new M3 23 x 31 frames but both frames are not flat after the process. I stretch to the desired tension...lock in the roller master....then begin to torque in a clockwise motion....If I am standing at the controls I torque the first bolt on my right then go clockwise.

It seems the one corner that does not have a clamp on it is where the rocking originates....it rocks 3/16" in opposite directions.

Am I supposed to start torquing in a different position maybe?

[dirkdiggler]

after you locked everything down and its a little wobbly, turn the screen to the other side and keep all bolts locked and put wrench on side that's not wobbling a hit it with your palm a tad until everything levels out.

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

ok..i will go try this now...BUT that means the roller master does not work as advertised..I shouldn't have to do any kind of flipping and banging corners. Thats whats irking me. I paid to NOT have to do just that!

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

I think its the table because when flipped the screen around the same locations are rocking.....so that means the metal pads each corner of frame rests on are not level.

[dirkdiggler]

its when you tighten that this happens, I used that same table for over 10 years.  It will not keep screens level everytime.  What I described is the fix for this.  To help prevent this problem, ALWAYS tighten in a downward motion.  If not you will have warped screens.

[DannyGruninger]

We use a roller master that we are constantly checking tension on or re meshing frames and I'd say for every 50 screens I make we get a warped one. Our results are pretty exceptional with it so it might be another issue such as corner sofenting or defective panels if your using them. Is your tension equal around all 4 corners of the mesh? Id just rule at all other variables after only doing 2 frames. Like dirk said make sure your torquing down in one smooth continuous motion until wrench clicks. You will get the occasional warped screen but for our shop its rare with our roller master. Could be the pads like you said but I'd look elsewhere first before changing that.

[gtmfg]

Make sure the knob for air pressure is turned out. I had the same problem. Don't move the pads! Air pressure fixed all my problems

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

Make sure the knob for air pressure is turned out. I had the same problem. Don't move the pads! Air pressure fixed all my problems

What do u mean "turned out" ?

[Rockers]

As  a matter of fact we get the same problem once in a while, mostly if we reach tension levels of over 45N. But that`s in the past since we switched to Murakami Mesh. Apparently there should not be any water inside your frames either but funny enough we have at least one frame that has a fair amount of it in it. But generally the guys at Stretchdevices are very keen on sorting out any issues you have with their products. Even got an email from Don last week offering me to manufacture flash panels that will exactly fit our MZX frames. this refers to one of my earlier threads regarding M3 panels not fitting into our MZX frames even though they should according to Stretchdevices and the company that we bought them of.

[gtmfg]

Where your air hooks up there should be a valve that controls how much air flow is going to your table.

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

Where your air hooks up there should be a valve that controls how much air flow is going to your table.

U mean this thing?...based on the pic it is turned correctly, right? (Im attaching from my phone..i hope it works)

[jsheridan]

If every frame comes off the table not level then there is a chance the adjustment corner is off.

You will notice that the three corners that have wrench heads are machined to the table. The one corner w/out a wrench is the leveling corner.

Put a screen on the table, with mesh in it. loosen the bolts, tension is up and check that corner. The other three corners will produce a flat screen, that last corner is there for the screen to rest on so when you tighten the bolts, it doesn't twist.

As for the bolt torque sequence, it's counter-clock wise from bottom left corner.
It's always best to snug the bolts first then go back around and torque them.

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

If every frame comes off the table not level then there is a chance the adjustment corner is off.

You will notice that the three corners that have wrench heads are machined to the table. The one corner w/out a wrench is the leveling corner.

Put a screen on the table, with mesh in it. loosen the bolts, tension is up and check that corner. The other three corners will produce a flat screen, that last corner is there for the screen to rest on so when you tighten the bolts, it doesn't twist.

As for the bolt torque sequence, it's counter-clock wise from bottom left corner.
It's always best to snug the bolts first then go back around and torque them.

What am I looking for when I check that corner? If the screen is elevated in the corner?

Also...the torque sequence...so you are saying if i am standing at the controls (all my controls are on one side..it is the newer model)....so if im at the controls...the left corner farthest from me is where I begin torquing correct? If so, do I tighten the bolt for the long roller first and go counter clockwise or the short roller first and go counter clockwise?

[Admiral]

We go clockwise, start at the small bar on the right only that 1 bolt in the corner.  This also prevents further tensioning than just tightening it.  Also we hold down the corner that would 'pop up' when tightening down. 

Starting with the bolts that when tightened would move the frame into the table should alleviate most issues...

[jsheridan]

What am I looking for when I check that corner? If the screen is elevated in the corner?

Also...the torque sequence...so you are saying if i am standing at the controls (all my controls are on one side..it is the newer model)....so if im at the controls...the left corner farthest from me is where I begin torquing correct? If so, do I tighten the bolt for the long roller first and go counter clockwise or the short roller first and go counter clockwise?

Yes you want to make sure that adjustment corner isn't to high or to low. If you bought the table brand new, then it's  fine. If you bought it used, then chances are it's been messed with as people tend to blame the table for making twisted screens when the main problem is technic and not using the table correctly.

Standing at the controls, your left hand is the lower left corner. Start on the short roller bolt, snug it then walk around the table counter-clockwise snugging bolts. Then walk around again and torque the bolts.