Ink build up (what is causing this?)

[Shawn (EIP)]

Something like this happens to me when I'm flying through an order too fast, my screen will come down and instead of coming down between the the 2 nylon bolts (not sure how an antec works) I'll bring the head down and lay it on top of one of the nylon regi bolts and I'll make the print. This is on my RJennings press.

[mooseman]

well here comes that tension issue again, if your screens are loose and you push (or pull) with too much force you will actually "push-stretch" the mesh in a way that it actually shifts in the same direction as your print stroke printing the image a little off. You can check this by looking at the upper part of the design print closest to you starting point of the print stroke. Compare that to the lower part of the design print at the end of your print stroke. If the "off print" image is greater at stroke end than stroke start then you are "push-stretching" the mesh as it is too loose. If the print is equally off all arount , that is top & bottom then your equipment, screen, head, pallet, shirt or something is just plain moving bending or flexing .

You image looks like it is not very tall but you should still should be able to make a judgement as to the  off print image relative to the intended actual image.
Hope this makes some sense......I am not know for making too much sense too much of the time
mooseman

[Gilligan]

Also, if you push too hard you can get the same result.
I tried to show my brother how to push a squeegee (6'4" and 300 pounds) and he got the same result. I was afraid that he is going to break my pallet arms.
Off course, I have told him that he does not need to push hard (I can not imagine what would happen if I did not).

Problem is, I don't know what "too hard" is.  I don't THINK I'm pushing too hard... I've always read about just "kissing" the shirt... and I TRY, but I'm sure I'm doing it much harder than that... but how much I don't know.

anyone mention adhesive yet? could also play a roll.

I use TexTac and rarely have issues... it was getting a little build up on it... but I had just put down some fresh tac before starting the job.

also when your put too much softhand in the ink to make it soft in the winter months
can cause this problem

I'm using straight Union Soft Ultrasoft HS.

Sometimes a flood stroke (bad squeeze angles, etc.) can cause the ink to ooze from the other side of shirt side of stencil.
Does the problem go away after wiping the screen?

No, it seems to consistently come back little by little and in the same direction.  So I'm sure it's a shift of some sorts.

Something like this happens to me when I'm flying through an order too fast, my screen will come down and instead of coming down between the the 2 nylon bolts (not sure how an antec works) I'll bring the head down and lay it on top of one of the nylon regi bolts and I'll make the print. This is on my RJennings press.

Not possible... for two reasons... A. The Antec uses a dual gate system and bearings so if it misses the gate it won't even be close.  B.)  I can't "fly through" anything at this point.   I was able to print a shirt a minute (tiny bit faster) when I was timing myself for a few shirts just to see.


So, to touch on what I had mentioned earlier... I went look at how it was coming up in a strange way and it might be that I need to grease the floating point on that head... it's not causing the problem though.  It comes straight up but then rocks a little (one side slides back then the other of the head).  So obvious there is some consistent shift whether it is equipment fine tuning or human error (at least I'm consistent if it is).

Mooseman, I don't know about tension, these are wooden screens but they are pocono mt screens and they are fairly new.  My understanding is that these are some of the better pre-stretched screens, but I have very little experience with these things.

[Shawn (EIP)]

This is where side clamps could help...maybe? Whipping around screens too hard on a rear clamping system can push the screen out of registration. How smooth does it turn? Maybe you have the center shaft tightened too much?

[Shawn (EIP)]

..

[Gilligan]

It's beautiful... but I'll have to check it carefully.

Maybe I'll shoot some video of me printing so you guys can see.

[Gilligan]

EOM... WOW... just exposed my 2:1 rounded edge coated screens and I'm just blown away of how much of a gasket I have on there.

I can REALLY feel the EOM on the shirt side... my buddy's 1:1 sharp edge stuff doesn't even really feel like there is a difference really.

I'm just amazed at how much difference that made!

Now, I can't wait to print on them!!

Gonna bring home the DSLR and see if I can't shoot some EXTREME close ups of the screens tomorrow.

[Prosperi-Tees]

I do the glisten method and on a 158 mesh that would usually be 3 to 1 coating on the rounded edge. Basically on the shirt side you coat your screen until it shines on the other side and finish off with 1 coat on the ink side.

[mjrprint]

Not enough spray tac, pushing to hard, loose palette, loose micro knobs.

[Gilligan]

Well, I did another set of these shirts (youth and toddler)... at first I had problems and I knew I would.  THAT pallet arm (not the same one) isn't very tight on the bearing gate.  Not sure how I can adjust that.  Might just see if there is some fudge room on tightening those bearing bolts.  I printed essentially one shirt and knew I had to do something.  So I put some aluminum tape on the flange that goes in that gate and that tightened things up well and I never had an issue on the entire run 60 shirts.  So I'm guessing I'm getting a little wiggle on the other arms too.

Not sure what I should do about that as there are no adjustments.  Antec Legend.  Guess I'll have to give those guys a call once I really get setup and have all my arms on and know what is what.

[Denis Kolar]

Well, I did another set of these shirts (youth and toddler)... at first I had problems and I knew I would.  THAT pallet arm (not the same one) isn't very tight on the bearing gate.  Not sure how I can adjust that.  Might just see if there is some fudge room on tightening those bearing bolts.  I printed essentially one shirt and knew I had to do something.  So I put some aluminum tape on the flange that goes in that gate and that tightened things up well and I never had an issue on the entire run 60 shirts.  So I'm guessing I'm getting a little wiggle on the other arms too.

Not sure what I should do about that as there are no adjustments.  Antec Legend.  Guess I'll have to give those guys a call once I really get setup and have all my arms on and know what is what.

The arm should be held by 4 bolts, I do not know how you have any wiggle room.
Mine do not move at all.

[Gilligan]

No, not the arm itself but the flange or tang? that drops into the bearings.  There is space in between the bearings and the metal tang (is that even right?) that slides between them.  Granted not much, but as we know it doesn't take much down there to produce too much further down the arm.

[Denis Kolar]

No, not the arm itself but the flange or tang? that drops into the bearings.  There is space in between the bearings and the metal tang (is that even right?) that slides between them.  Granted not much, but as we know it doesn't take much down there to produce too much further down the arm.

You might need a new set of bearings
Does that "flange" thing look worn out?

Call Dave Paterson @ Antec, he will help you out.

[Gilligan]

Hard to tell... it's definitely seen some wear but there is gunk buildup that doesn't like to come off of that thing.

[ebscreen]

Are the bearings eccentric? IE if you undo a set screw on the mounting and rotate them they offset one direction
or another?