Wierd streaking problem....PLEASE HELP!! :)

[Circleville Signs]

OK - let me preface this by saying that I am ONLY having this issue with gloss banner material. Not with any of my vinyls, or with matte banner.

See the attached picture. The streaks (which look like head strikes, but that makes no sense) are running perpendicular to the platen.

Any idea what could be causing this? I'm blowing through banner material trying to get this job done and it's causing me massive headaches (and wallet-aches).

 

[PUFFERSIGN]

Headstrikes

These are head strikes. Are you running the head up or down?
What heat seatings are you using and what is the material (brand, type)?

 

[Todd M Castle]

Too much heat causing the material to buckle in those spots causing head strikes?

Also are you printing with the head in High? (you should if not)

 

[Jeff South Florida]

They sure look like very low head strikes to me.

 

[J Hill Designs]

+4 head strikes - I find turning pre-platen temp down solves this, as well as straight loading/take-up

 

[Circleville Signs]

OK - that makes sense.

Yes, running with the head in high position (VJ1304), and the settings are as follows:

pre-heater - 42 (C)
Platen - 48 (C)
Dryer - 42 (C)

It's Fellers PEAK 13 oz gloss banner...

Why isn't it happening on matte banner? The settings are the same....

 

[J Hill Designs]

I run my heaters at 20/30/50 with gloss scrim...

 

[Circleville Signs]

I will try that for sure. THANKS!

 

[randya]

head strikes for sure.

I run my banners starting at 35/38/50

 

[Jeff South Florida]

I second Randy. You can fine tune and get a little more heat but that is a safe starting point.

 

[Gino]

Also, try taking some of the weight off the machine by unrolling media so the rollers aren't pulling so much weight. Regardless of the media, heat and whatever else is going on.... relieving strain on the pull motion will prevent 90% of all of your buckling and thus stop head strikes.