Uneven inking on polymer plates
I’ve been reading threads and I’m not sure if this is the same issue others have been having. I’m using a KF152 plate from Boxcar with a deep relief base—new plates—and I’m running into issues with inconsistent inking. First few pulls—fine. Slowly the ink refuses to sit on certain areas of the plate. (SEE PHOTOS—progression shots) This area changes. I’ve tried switching rollers, changing trucks, taping & untaping rails, changed inks…but with no avail. My 2 thoughts are 1) something is amiss with the plate (but I’ve actually had this happen with other polymer plates or 2) the temp in the studio is affecting the ink consistency and therefore it isn’t taking to the polymer? Anyone?
I’ve already spent the money on the plates, so I’d like to try and work with what I have, rather than purchasing mag. plates.
Thanks! Shelly
Hi Shelly,
I’m really new to this but your post caught my eye because I am also having trouble with inking on boxcar plates (I’ll post this in a new thread). Looking at your photos, it seems to me that the part that is losing ink the fastest is the flower design. Is this true? Maybe the larger surface area of the flowers needs more ink than the text? Maybe it would help to cut the flowers out of the plate and print them separately?
Again I’m new to this but it’s the only thing I can think of.
Looking forward to seeing how this gets resolved!
Karen
Answer me this…
Do you use morgan expansion trucks? If you do that might be the issue. I have had to release the tension in my trucks a time or two and reset my roller height be cause for some reason the become just the slightest bit out of round. Releasing and retightening the trucks helped me to bring mine back into round. I noticed that at a certain point the roller on the right side of my press would align up in a way that the rollers would miss a horizontal band like that.
There might be other causes to you problem but check that along with your other trouble shooting.
cody
Hi guys…I had a similar problem in the past…mine was from using Morgan expansion trucks… the rubber wheels were being ever so slightly mis shapped by the pressure of sitting on the rails. I bought a new pair of plastic trucks from NA Graphics…problem solved.
I’m currently experiencing this exact same problem with so much grief. Every job. Without fail.
Prints fine for up to 30 impressions, then 12 or so bad ones, where they progressively get worse, like your photos here.
I have metal trucks on my rollers. Rollers ink up evenly, and for the good prints, the photopolymer plate is inked evenly.
I’m not convinced the problem is caused by your Morgan expansion trucks (if you have them), because I’ve got metal with the same issue.
HELP!
I’ve got some great jobs coming in soon, but don’t want to spend up to 3 hours more on each job just because of this issue. I’ve tried everything, and the only other thing I think it could be is that my rollers have an ever so slight flat spot.
Roller Bearers save the day!
All three of my C&P presses are lawn ornaments without them. After years of abuse of metal on metal, all of my roller rails are worn wavier than the North Atlantic.
Place a straightedge against yours and you’ll see the problem.
The Morgan trucks only amplify the issue, because they add another level of variability.Taping the rails can help, but the tape will compress mid-run, and it won’t completely level out the rails.
I have experienced the frustration of all of this, so I know exactly what you’re talking about. You add tape, figuring you’re evening the rails. Then, it seems there isn’t enough ink. So you add ink, but it’s splotchy and textured. The rollers are only making contact because they are coated with such a thick layer of ink. Arrgh!
The solution is new Delrin trucks from NA Graphics, and a set of roller bearers which are slightly larger than your form. I have a set that locks up with the job, sitting over the edges of the chase and outside of the printable area.
If you can’t find those, a line of big type locked up on each side of the chase will work in a pinch, but it will result in an inky mess on your tympan.
Roller bearers are wonderful.
If I ever have access to a machine shop, I will start making them out of steel or aluminum L bar. They are virtually a requirement as the presses pass the century-old mark.
It looks like the above folks have offered some good advice on the inking problem… so I won’t rehash what’s already been said.
HOWEVER…. I am very interested in the “Chicken Oscar” dish that is on the reply card. It sounds really tasty. Do you happen to know of any parties that will be serving that dish in the near future? Since you are the printer of the invitations, could you slip me one or two?