Automatic - optimal off-contact...

[jvanick]

I'm getting started with my ancient Javelin here, and I'm trying to figure out the optimal off contact for typical 6oz black shirts...  anybody have any pointers?  Does the old 'quarter coin' on top of your shirt rule still apply?  Or should I be looking to do something different?

Thanks!
-J

[ScreenFoo]

I think the easy way is to look at how the ink releases from the screen--if the mesh is sitting in the print, and slowly releasing, it's too low--or your tension is low--or your squeegee's dull--or... well... you get the picture.   

[Inkworks]

Ditto to what ScreenFoo said, but as a starting point if you have half decent screen tension and sharpish squeegees, 1/8" off the bare platen should get you close to what you want, and then you fine tune from there.

[spotcolorsupply]

Keep in mind... If the machine is old, the pallets are quite likely warped a little. I find they are often twisted in the direction the operators most often turned the press by hand. Once you find a setting that you like (Most people opt for 1/8th of an inch when I set up presses) mark the pallets/arms and keep the pallets on the same pallet arm when you switch to youth or sleeve (if you have those) otherwise you may find the off contact changing as you switch pallets

[mk162]

I know this might sound funny, but I numbered the standard 16x22 platens on my old gauntlet to coincide with the platen arms.  That way once they were leveled, I didn't have any problems switching between different size platens.

Just an idea in case one is more warped than another.

[jvanick]

I only have 1 set of platens right now, but that's a great idea.  Luckilly all the platens are new from action engineering, and don't seem to be warped (yet)...

I already numbered all the arms.. helps when we're doing start and stop, since this machine is so old that it doesn't have a start/stop production button... gotta keep track of what print head to turn on and which ones to turn off as I go...  I'll make sure that I number the platens to match, just in case...

-J