here are a few issues i have, i own a single color all aluminum machine with a closed cup system. i set the job up and it seems like i loose a lot of ink onto the plate where i have to clean it constantly and the ink gets onto places on the printed items where it should not be. i call it pooling from the cup. i think the magnet on the cup is as tight as possible, i cant stop the leaking therefore i can only do a few items and then i have to almost breakdown and start clean. any thoughts please
Without a pic it's a stab in the dark, but ghosting on the plate after doctoring is most commonly due to ink being too thick. Add small amounts of thinner step by step, mix well by doctoring for at least 10 strokes or more then print 5 prints on paper to clear the image and then see if it's any better. If not add some more thinners and eventually it sould docor cleanly. It's a blaancing act, add too much thinners and you will get other issues. You are aiming for a good doctor and a good transfer off the pad at a reasonlable print speed (the holy grail of pad printing and often elusive when learning). If you go overboard with the thinners (easy to do) slow the press down and put a hair dryer blowing at the pad when it is over the product to dry the ink a bit so you get transfer.
Be aware of the speed of your thinners, if you are using a slow ink system (such as Printcolor Series 750) and you use slow thinners you will get trouble before you get a good doctor, faster ink systems such as Printcolor 752 or 711) can be run thinner, but there is a limit.
The other possibilty is the plate type you are using, what colour are they?
The magents are never the issue.
Don't forget that the temperature and humidity are big factors - if it's hot and humid it adds a whole raft of possible issues, but we can and do print regularly in 90% humidity and 30-35 degrees C heat - it just takes practice.
Experience is the best teacher, get in, get dirty and experiment. It takes a while to get a handle on the whole ink viscosity balance issue. Have a go with adding thinner and report back.
I would be happy to help via a Skype video call if time zones allow - we are on Australian Eastern Standard Time
