Screen printing Troubleshooting

[sweetts]

Anyone have a good screen printing troubleshooting book or chart to recommend?

[screenxpress]

theshirtboard.com

[ebscreen]

I did see an awesome chart one time, I think it was specific to emulsion problems though.

You'd need like 75 billion charts for the whole enchilada though, so yeah, theshirtboard.com.

[mk162]

A flow chart might work better.  Because half the time there are several "solutions" and usually combo of them work.

Better yet, hire tony.

[aauusa]

here is one that I have on my wall.  I am not sure where I cam across it but it has several situations you might run into.  It is a pdf file so you can zoom in a see the writing clearly.

[sweetts]

here is one that I have on my wall.  I am not sure where I cam across it but it has several situations you might run into.  It is a pdf file so you can zoom in a see the writing clearly.

thanks

[tancehughes]

I know this isn't quite the reply you may be looking for, but when troubleshooting your problems always be sure not to "band-aid" your problems. Pre-engineer your jobs so that you don't run into problems when you are printing!

[tonypep]

The issue with a "Troubleshooting Guideline" manual or such is that it is difficult if not impossible to correctly address the mutually interdependent variables and their exponentially positive and negative affects upon one another. If put under a microscope and scientifically analyzed one would find that a properly constructed flow chart would branch out to infinity. This is often the root cause of why outside consultants often fail. They take an assembly line business model approach to a mass-customization process. They often fail to predict where an implementation of improvement in one area can cause ripple negative affects in others; essentially backfiring the entire process. As owners, operators, managers, and printers, most of us experience this almost on a daily basis. We get it.
Often we can exactly replicate an entire project form soup to nuts in two different facilities and achieve different results. Conversely, we can also approach and produce the same project differently and achieve the same outcome. Chaos Theory? Perhaps.
So ask questions here. You will most likely recieve informed, and yes opinionated, responses. Then go out there and make some mistakes. Observe, reflect, and make improvements.
I officially apologize for getting so wordy at such an early hour.
tp

[Gilligan]

Well, for guys like me something like the chart provided helps to give me things to look at before I come pester you guys.

[sweetts]

The issue with a "Troubleshooting Guideline" manual or such is that it is difficult if not impossible to correctly address the mutually interdependent variables and their exponentially positive and negative affects upon one another. If put under a microscope and scientifically analyzed one would find that a properly constructed flow chart would branch out to infinity. This is often the root cause of why outside consultants often fail. They take an assembly line business model approach to a mass-customization process. They often fail to predict where an implementation of improvement in one area can cause ripple negative affects in others; essentially backfiring the entire process. As owners, operators, managers, and printers, most of us experience this almost on a daily basis. We get it.
Often we can exactly replicate an entire project form soup to nuts in two different facilities and achieve different results. Conversely, we can also approach and produce the same project differently and achieve the same outcome. Chaos Theory? Perhaps.
So ask questions here. You will most likely recieve informed, and yes opinionated, responses. Then go out there and make some mistakes. Observe, reflect, and make improvements.
I officially apologize for getting so wordy at such an early hour.
tp

So no  then eh?

[sweetts]

Well, for guys like me something like the chart provided helps to give me things to look at before I come pester you guys.

That's what I was going for.

[alan802]

I've never seen a chart like that in my life.  It's got some decent info on there I must admit, but man, there are some funny things on there as well.

[prozyan]

I love that sheet.

Problem:  Mesh tension too low.
Solution:  Use higher tension mesh.

Problem:  Screen mesh too coarse.
Solution:  Use finer screen mesh.

Genius I tell you.

[jsheridan]

I love that sheet.

Problem:  Mesh tension too low.
Solution:  Use higher tension mesh.

Problem:  Screen mesh too coarse.
Solution:  Use finer screen mesh.

Genius I tell you.

Said before I could..

Oddly enough.. that 1-2 combo solves 90% of the industry's problem.

Notice on that chart.. the first solution to every problem is to use higher tension