Print and Cut Phototex

[caracal_77]

Hello, new here...
We use VP-540. When printing & cutting on phototex 54'' rolls, we need to set a drying time of about 20min between printing and cutting. If we set less drying time or none at all, we usually end up having roller marks on the dark/more saturated sections of the prints (as if the phototex isn't dry enough when the roller rolls on it when cutting).
Wondering if any others had a similar problem? maybe there are some settings we can tweak to make this better? (obviously this massively effects our production rate).
We use VersaWorks and recommended (by the manufacturer) profile for Phototex.
Any help will be appreciated!

 

[jasonx]

I put masking tape on my inner pinch rollers.

 

[caracal_77]

Thanks Jason. Can you give a bit more information? A pinch roller with masking tape on it will not leave a mark when traveling over high saturated "just printed" Phototex?

 

[jasonx]

Well I print and load into a separate cutter and cut straight away and it doesn't leave a mark.

 

[caracal_77]

Thanks Jason. This is a bit different scenario than ours, as we do it on the same machine. Just wondering if there's anything I can do to get the Phototex dry faster? Does someone do 54'' wide print and cut without a middle pinch roller (just the two side ones)?

 

[jasonx]

Don't see the difference. I could do the same thing on my XC.

Problem without using the middle pinch rollers the backing paper of phototex is paper thin and you risk cutting right through.

I spoke to the guy who designed phototex and it was never really designed for print and cut applications. It was more for rectangle jobs.

 

[caracal_77]

Jason, how do you put the masking tape on the pinch roller? just wrap a small piece around it? Do you run it like this all the time? Thanks.

 

[jasonx]

I cut a strip the width of the pinch roller and about an inch and a half long and just tape it on and advance the material so the pinch roller rotates. I take it off after I'm doing cutting phototex.

 

[TheSnowman]

Mine won't cut dead on if I don't have rollers smack in the middle of it. I just print it one day, and cut it the next. It never leaves any marks long as it's dry. If I print it an cut it only leaving an hour or so to dry, it will have marks down the middle of it every single time.

 

[caracal_77]

Thanks guys. I was hoping more to get suggestions on trying to get the Phototex to dry faster. I'm using only Phototex, all day long...
Kraig, just to make sure I understand - the machine won't let you do print & cut 54'' roll without a pinch roller in the middle, or is it just causing the cutting to be not as accurate?

 

[TheSnowman]

Well, first, it won't let me...I have three rollers, and when doing something 54" on my Mimaki cutter, I HAVE to have all three in use. But my cutter PMS's so bad if those rollers aren't digging in good. It'll be off by 1/16" at the end if they aren't all rolling tensioned well.

 

[caracal_77]

Thanks Kraig.
Wondering if there's someone doing 54'' print & cut on a Roland machine without ANY middle pinch roller?
If I can get the middle pinch roller not to leave mark on a freshly printed Phototex, or get rid of the middle pinch roller - it'll increase my production rate X2-X3 easy.

 

[jfiscus]

I hear that with any solvent ink, the drytime is cut down by pointing a fan at the output of the printer while printing. This may help cutdown dry time for you on phototex also?

 

[TheSnowman]

Your production should still be ABOUT the same. You just have to plan 24 hours in advance. You would have to have a ton of spare rolls though. Do you have trouble w/ it leaving marks even after it's set 24 hours?

 

[caracal_77]

I hear that with any solvent ink, the drytime is cut down by pointing a fan at the output of the printer while printing. This may help cutdown dry time for you on phototex also?

Thanks, will try that.

 

[caracal_77]

Your production should still be ABOUT the same. You just have to plan 24 hours in advance. You would have to have a ton of spare rolls though. Do you have trouble w/ it leaving marks even after it's set 24 hours?

No. it's fine if I just give it 20min dry time (between print and cut) on the printer itself. I would just like to cut this time or eliminate it completely if possible.

 

[Sticky Signs]

Don't know if this will work but try adding a 5 or 10 minute dry time in Versaworks and slow your printer down. You're probably still going to end up taking the same amount of time (+/-) but at least the machine is still working.
Or - Shouldn't have a problem removing the middle pinch rollers but you may loose some accuracy when cutting.

 

[jc1cell]

You should do a search here for home made heat source or infrared dryer. That may be your ticket if I'm remembering a thread correctly.

jc

 

[caracal_77]

Appreciate the suggestions guys. Will try to run without any middle pinch roller. I'll report back how that goes.

 

[vikcho]

I suggest you to turn the head speed to 250. It will give good quality prints and will also allow the inks to dry by giving extra time on heater.