screen printing > Separations
Why 600ppi instead of 300?
inkman996:
--- Quote from: GraphicDisorder on November 24, 2020, 09:10:08 AM ---Knock on wood, our i-Image is still on its original print head. 2014 Model.
--- End quote ---
We are two years in and have some missing spots, but it still prints well enough. My guess one more left in it.
Dottonedan:
--- Quote from: inkman996 on November 24, 2020, 09:28:27 AM ---
--- Quote from: GraphicDisorder on November 24, 2020, 09:10:08 AM ---Knock on wood, our i-Image is still on its original print head. 2014 Model.
--- End quote ---
We are two years in and have some missing spots, but it still prints well enough. My guess one more left in it.
--- End quote ---
.
The thing about “missing spots”is that you do have to address those when you see them. Same day. Clear those out. How to do that...is in your manual in the Maintenance section about (Daily maintenance). A nozzle check should be done (every day) to assure there is no issues with a few blocked. When you see them, do a couple auto cleans and test again. If still there, Switch the black ink...to the PINK cleaning solution and follow the instructions step by step to flush that line to get black ink out...fill with pink ink the lines till the entire line turns pink. Then, with the pink filled, set ink valve to print...and then do a couple more auto cleans (using the pink through the heads). This is a degrading solution and will help break up any dried ink in the jet. (be sure to follow the procedures in the manual exactly).
It’s possible to continue on with your day, and it will print and cover looking and exposing just fine...but it’s not covering 100%. What happens over time, is that (those few spots) get harder and harder to clear out or become clean. The first few days, it may just be an air bubble blocking those few jets. So you let it go, assuming it may work it’s way out. A few wks later if you’ve not done anything about those, “they spread” into the adjacent jet, and then perhaps ink lays on top of that bubble, but it’s not going anywhere, and begins to dry and become not just an air block, but a dried jet. If this sits in the head, it can get worse and worse, and spread and spread...and this is why a head can go bad in a year or two.
Typically, you can bring most clog issues back to life with the pink cleaning solution. It’s been my experience that I’ve been able to bring them back. Some very easily, and some take more time with repeat procedures. I think I’ve had to replace print heads at about 4 of my 300 shops.
inkman996:
--- Quote from: Dottonedan on November 24, 2020, 01:35:55 PM ---
--- Quote from: inkman996 on November 24, 2020, 09:28:27 AM ---
--- Quote from: GraphicDisorder on November 24, 2020, 09:10:08 AM ---Knock on wood, our i-Image is still on its original print head. 2014 Model.
--- End quote ---
We are two years in and have some missing spots, but it still prints well enough. My guess one more left in it.
--- End quote ---
.
The thing about “missing spots”is that you do have to address those when you see them. Same day. Clear those out. How to do that...is in your manual in the Maintenance section about (Daily maintenance). A nozzle check should be done (every day) to assure there is no issues with a few blocked. When you see them, do a couple auto cleans and test again. If still there, Switch the black ink...to the PINK cleaning solution and follow the instructions step by step to flush that line to get black ink out...fill with pink ink the lines till the entire line turns pink. Then, with the pink filled, set ink valve to print...and then do a couple more auto cleans (using the pink through the heads). This is a degrading solution and will help break up any dried ink in the jet. (be sure to follow the procedures in the manual exactly).
It’s possible to continue on with your day, and it will print and cover looking and exposing just fine...but it’s not covering 100%. What happens over time, is that (those few spots) get harder and harder to clear out or become clean. The first few days, it may just be an air bubble blocking those few jets. So you let it go, assuming it may work it’s way out. A few wks later if you’ve not done anything about those, “they spread” into the adjacent jet, and then perhaps ink lays on top of that bubble, but it’s not going anywhere, and begins to dry and become not just an air block, but a dried jet. If this sits in the head, it can get worse and worse, and spread and spread...and this is why a head can go bad in a year or two.
Typically, you can bring most clog issues back to life with the pink cleaning solution. It’s been my experience that I’ve been able to bring them back. Some very easily, and some take more time with repeat procedures. I think I’ve had to replace print heads at about 4 of my 300 shops.
--- End quote ---
We do a test print every date, date it and throw it in a folder so we have a good record of what is happening. The couple jets that blocked up happened back when we were super slow due to covid, I tried to keep the machine active every day but missed a few for sure. I will give the pink solution cleaning a shot and see if that gets those few jets cleared out thanks.
Dottonedan:
--- Quote from: inkman996 on November 24, 2020, 08:36:41 AM ---
I am not a fan of using an arbitrary number such as years for guesstimating the life of a print head. Years does not mean anything if one shop barely uses the machine or another shop uses it 8 hours straight every day. Just like in commercial equipment they use hours not miles or years, the hours are based on actually running time, excluding the time the machine is not running. I would prefer to see a counter system that counts the actual amount of time the print head itself is firing, that would give a far more accurate life expectancy to then be able to better compare the life of a print head from one shop to the next.
A salesman could easily tell a potential customer that he knows of one shop that got 7 years out of his print head but neglect to tell you that shop used the machine a couple times a week. What he will not tell you is that another shop he knows that uses the machine 8 hours a day only gets one year out of each print head.
--- End quote ---
• Personal preference really.
I remember that about you. You made a reply post years back, about me using percentages as examples that were not facts.
I am a fan of averages or rounded figures to give or receive and educated guess. (when the work to get an exact or real figure) is too difficult or time consuming for the need of the answer. For example, if the answer being and average would not hurt the end result. We can say that many shops or a large portion, or 60% of the industry uses SAATI mesh. It could be pretty accurate to say, "very few or less than 2% of the industry uses Tektomi mesh from my expereince”. Here, you are quoting an individuals personal experience. That alone, is subjective but the info could be coming for a good source so we have to look at that. Here, one is implying or illustrating the idea that very very few are using Tektomi mesh. How few? If I had to guess, it would would be like 2%. Not literally, just an educated guess.
When you know, the majority of shops were and are, still running the same print heads, then you can make an educated guess at the longevity M&R now reports that their heads will last (on average) or approximately at least a year or more. That to me, is a legal and corporate answer, trying to avoid anyone assuming a guarantee. (To error on the side of caution), but is by my own experience, not a close representation at all and now, aside from my own experience, we still commonly hear of shops having print heads that are in use over 5-6 years when asked. The negative things are often overshadowing any good. When a head doe snot last, everyone hears of that.
• Yes, indeed each shop is different and the more savvy printers will know that each shop is different and will show different usage results.Having said that, there are still "averages”. For example, "How many prints can you get from a gallon of ink"? A ink supplier can give you and average base don X and X. As we all know, that depends on how it is used, what mesh, how many strokes, etc.
• On your machine and all M&R I-iMage machines, there is a counter. This is on the LCD panel just under your keyboard. Use the arrow keys to see just how many prints the print head has printed. This also counts any and all prints such as (while at the factory during testing). A brand new printer from the factory, may have 30-60 prints on the counter. This counter will count the number of total prints and the number of total exposures separately for the life of the machine.
inkman996:
Using a year is still to inaccurate even if you try to use averages. Our industry is not really all that big and the sample size to determine an average is lacking. A year is simply based off of age and not actual usage, I could have a 30 year old Volvo 160 excavator with low enough hours on it that I know the under carriage is not ready to be replaced, or have a 5 year old 160 with so many hours on it I know an under carriage is due to be replaced.
I do see the counter and even that is not close enough in my opinion. there is many sized prints being printed. The most accurate would be like I mentioned actual in use time. Its really not all that important because print heads are not the same in price as under carriages on an excavator, I just mention it because I feel it is to easy of a thing for a salesman to take advantage of when they are one on one with a customer. What the company lists is one thing but what the salesman will tell you is always going to be padded to their favor. I know M&R says 1 year on the print head, but I was also told based off of our screen turn over per week we should expect 4 or 5 years.
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