Need help troubleshooting Diamondback

[Squeeky]

Hey guys

Short back story, I have been printing for about three weeks with my new to me 2010 Diamondback R, all air everything, (been printing since 2007). Everything on the press is all level, it prints great, everything functions normally. When I used my new youth shirt boards for a large print on small t's, I noticed half of the prints were off center, even though the shirts were carefully center loaded; I marked the off center boards. When I finished the job, I measured all the new youth boards. Except for a couple minor flaws, they were pretty close; 1/16" off parallel here and there.

Next I marked a center line on a blank Newman and loaded on Head 7 with a center line on on a centered pallet (all my pallets are marked with center lines and half inch tabs at top). Results:

Pallet Arm:              Proximity:               Table Indexing On:
1                             Center                    3,7,10
2                             Off Center 1/8"L      1,4,8
3                             Off Center 3/16"R    2,5,9
4                             Center                    3,6,10
5                             Center                    1,4,7
6                             Center                    2,5,8
7                             Off Center 5/16"R    3,6,9
8                             Off Center 1/4"R      4,7,10
9                             Off Center 5/16"R    1,5,8
10                           Off Center 5/16"R    2,6,9

Moved marked screen to Head 6, 5, 4 with same above results. Looked for a pattern for mechanical adjustment. Haven't come up with "the idea" yet to correct issue.

I speak excellent mechanic and am not afraid of any machine. I am looking for the easiest fix for some of my pallet arms being off center. Someone out there has been there done that. If print was an 1/8" off or so, I wouldn't even consider changing set-up, but "she who must be obeyed" has noticed the flaw and it's not perfect enough for finished product to go out the door.

A few big runs (for us) coming up this week and looking for any advise (besides call a tech).

Thanks guys!!!


Jack

[Binkspot]

Measure the distance from pallet arm to pallet arm, if there is a difference the arms need to be centered. You can also confirm it by doing the same process using the adult pallets. If measurement is the same and the adult are fine the brackets are not centered on the youth pallets.

[Lizard]

Use arm 1 as your starting point.  Put a flood bar in head 7.  Remove the pallets and use the bolt on the three point pallet leveling (outer bolt) system as your reference.  Adjust the flood bar to a close distance to the bolt with the carousel up.  Mark a center line on the flood bar at the center of the bolt.  Turn the carousel to each arm, loosen the outer arm support bolt and center each arm to the center mark on the flood bar. 

[alan802]

I'd be willing to bet that most machines are "out" when it comes to actual pallet center and I've even seen a few new installs that were 1/2" off from pallet to pallet.  Not that it isn't a concern, most humans can't consistently load straighter than 1/4" consistently and I'd actually bet money it's much closer to 1/2" once you get over 400-500/hr.  So if one can't load a shirt that straight I wouldn't be all that concerned with the measurements you gave.  And if someone needs a shirt to be THAT centered on a pallet then you'll have to spend the time to go back and loosen all the pallet arms and center them according to your tolerances.  There are some designs that need to appear more centered than others so I'm not saying everyone should just ignore the issue but am rather saying it's VERY common and perhaps a good laser system is in order for those who need to load each shirt perfectly centered.

[Squeeky]

Thanks Lizard
Sounds simple enough