Author Topic: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?  (Read 3696 times)

Offline Stinkhorn Press

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #15 on: April 06, 2017, 12:49:00 PM »
MAKE sure everyone in the shop KNOWS that the depth adjusters adjust depth AND to never ever again call them pressure adjusters. (sure they can adjust the pressure, but so can off contact settings and no one calls off contact "pressure."

A depth stop is a depth stop.


Offline Colin

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #16 on: April 06, 2017, 02:39:31 PM »
We will never change the depth of the squeegee blade.

We will change the pressure according to the mesh/ink type/type of print (halftones vs. spot)/etc..

I will go up to 40-50 pounds for sim process work.

I will go up to 50-60 pounds for "vintage" thin ink deposits.

I will be at 20-30 pounds for some top colors.  But sometimes I need to go up to 40... it depends on how the ink is behaving...

We are all a part of a craft industry.  There is no  Absolute right or wrong way to make things work.  But only sticking to one way of doing things will lead to failure.

Go with the flow and be in the moment. Ink is zen :)

What? there is no absolute one best way to do everything? Blasphemy I say

 ;D
Been in the industry since 1996.  5+ years with QCM Inks.  Been a part of shops of all sizes and abilities both as a printer and as an Artist/separator.  I am now the Ink and Chemical Product Manager at Ryonet.

Offline alan802

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #17 on: April 06, 2017, 04:27:19 PM »
I've locked our depth adjusters with the set screws.  We haven't touched those on the RPM in 5 years and once I had the G3 dialed in they won't ever move.

As far as the PSI settings, we print as fast as possible which means our pressure settings will vary a great deal from one job to the next.  With the different inks and mesh counts our squeegee speed also changes, but I've learned that when using high shear speeds you can get away with using more pressure (you kind of have to).  A print done at 4"/sec and 18 psi doesn't have near the opacity and smoothness as the same print done at 30"/sec and 45 psi. 
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Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it -T.P.

Offline Maxie

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #18 on: April 07, 2017, 02:36:56 AM »
I'm not sure I understand.
Do you lock your squeegees at the lowest point and adjust the pressure with the air gauge and this works on all substrates, T shirts, sweatshirts?
Maxie Garb.
T Max Designs.
Silk Screen Printers
www.tmax.co.il

Offline Maxie

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #19 on: April 07, 2017, 02:38:42 AM »
Dan I like your questions.     Soon you'll be able to publish a guide to printing on a automatic based on the answers.
Maxie Garb.
T Max Designs.
Silk Screen Printers
www.tmax.co.il

Offline alan802

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #20 on: April 07, 2017, 10:24:59 AM »
I'm not sure I understand.
Do you lock your squeegees at the lowest point and adjust the pressure with the air gauge and this works on all substrates, T shirts, sweatshirts?


Not it's lowest possible distance, just low enough so that it is always going to travel far enough to bring the stencil into contact with the substrate.  Imagine if the pallet wasn't there, I don't want the squeegee to travel an inch or two further than where the pallet would have stopped it, but rather far enough so that the squeegee will do it's job.  Maybe that distance is 1/2", or 1/4", I'm not real sure, but I know that it doesn't have to be set to it's maximum distance to be effective.
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it -T.J.
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it -T.P.

Offline 244

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #21 on: April 07, 2017, 10:47:06 AM »
I'm not sure I understand.
Do you lock your squeegees at the lowest point and adjust the pressure with the air gauge and this works on all substrates, T shirts, sweatshirts?


Not it's lowest possible distance, just low enough so that it is always going to travel far enough to bring the stencil into contact with the substrate.  Imagine if the pallet wasn't there, I don't want the squeegee to travel an inch or two further than where the pallet would have stopped it, but rather far enough so that the squeegee will do it's job.  Maybe that distance is 1/2", or 1/4", I'm not real sure, but I know that it doesn't have to be set to it's maximum distance to be effective.
this is the correct thought process. As long as the cylinders do not bottom out on full stroke the front regulated will do its job.
Rich Hoffman

Offline Dottonedan

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #22 on: April 07, 2017, 05:04:28 PM »

I'm not sure I understand.
Do you lock your squeegees at the lowest point and adjust the pressure with the air gauge and this works on all substrates, T shirts, sweatshirts?



Not it's lowest possible distance, just low enough so that it is always going to travel far enough to bring the stencil into contact with the substrate.  Imagine if the pallet wasn't there, I don't want the squeegee to travel an inch or two further than where the pallet would have stopped it, but rather far enough so that the squeegee will do it's job.  Maybe that distance is 1/2", or 1/4", I'm not real sure, but I know that it doesn't have to be set to it's maximum distance to be effective.
this is the correct thought process. As long as the cylinders do not bottom out on full stroke the front regulated will do its job.


RICH,

Our new guy here reminded me that it was older presses where you would adjust the depth adjusters to adjust squeegee pressure. (back last time I worked in a shop was at Disney) and was seeing people cranking on those top depth adjusters. That was 15 years ago (and those presses weren't brand new either. In fact, that's when I first met you. It was my error in assuming we still did that. (much has changed since then.).  LOL.
Artist & high end separator, Owner of The Vinyl Hub, Owner of Dot-Tone-Designs, Past M&R Digital tech installer for I-Image machines. Over 35 yrs in the apparel industry. e-mail art@designsbydottone.com

Offline docsscott

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #23 on: April 08, 2017, 09:16:09 PM »
This is an interesting topic.
We have a Tas and only ever adjust squeegee pressure by winding knobs that heighten or lower the squeegee and flood bar. Is there a difference between this and pressure from regulators (if that's what you call it)? If at all adjustable on a TAS  they are not in a user friendly position to give you the impression they should be adjusted.

Offline 244

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #24 on: April 08, 2017, 09:47:06 PM »

I'm not sure I understand.
Do you lock your squeegees at the lowest point and adjust the pressure with the air gauge and this works on all substrates, T shirts, sweatshirts?



Not it's lowest possible distance, just low enough so that it is always going to travel far enough to bring the stencil into contact with the substrate.  Imagine if the pallet wasn't there, I don't want the squeegee to travel an inch or two further than where the pallet would have stopped it, but rather far enough so that the squeegee will do it's job.  Maybe that distance is 1/2", or 1/4", I'm not real sure, but I know that it doesn't have to be set to it's maximum distance to be effective.
this is the correct thought process. As long as the cylinders do not bottom out on full stroke the front regulated will do its job.


RICH,

Our new guy here reminded me that it was older presses where you would adjust the depth adjusters to adjust squeegee pressure. (back last time I worked in a shop was at Disney) and was seeing people cranking on those top depth adjusters. That was 15 years ago (and those presses weren't brand new either. In fact, that's when I first met you. It was my error in assuming we still did that. (much has changed since then.).  LOL.
That old oval didn't even have angle adjustment. Much easier prints back then!
Rich Hoffman

Offline heray11

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #25 on: April 17, 2017, 10:33:19 PM »
 Guys. some printing problems have nothing to do with the type of ink or what your printing on. Sometimes it's just good ole maintance.
 It could be anywhere from a slightly warped platen to a warped squgee and metal fatigue.
 Water sometime gets into the air supply lines, causing the volume of air to fluxate ever so slightly, that is almost impossible to notice.
 Its not always pressure, but volome also. Unless its an all elec press. But even motors get weak.
  Just food for thought.
  anyways...I am here for you   Howard Ray  713 344 8604
  So, after saying this.. keep a eye on your press also, espically more mature ones( its better than saying old ones_))
  Also..different temps inside your shop causes printing problems
Experienced on Tuf olys,Javs,freedoms, Sabres elec dryers f/b and exp units
 For quoays em man6of10@yahoo.com of call 713-344-8604
   Happy New Year

Offline Orion

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #26 on: April 17, 2017, 11:03:18 PM »
That old oval didn't even have angle adjustment. Much easier prints back then!

I ran an old electric Precision oval in early '90s. We had squeegee holders that had the blade mounted in a slotted cylinder. That cylinder could be rotated to change blade angle.

« Last Edit: April 17, 2017, 11:06:01 PM by Orion »
Dale Hoyal

Offline tonypep

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #27 on: April 18, 2017, 07:28:07 AM »
I remember those!

Offline RICK STEFANICK

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Re: Press pressure setting and Squeegee pressure settings?
« Reply #28 on: April 18, 2017, 08:08:51 AM »
I remember those!


We are getting old Tony.
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