Glass Coaster Printing Problem

[GoonerGary]

I did some test prints on square glass coaters from The Transfer Press yesterday and they were all great.

Today, I thought I'd get stuck in but nothing is printing right at all.

I've tried heavy pressure through to light pressure but keep getting these same bad patterned edges when printing four at a time. That's the only thing that has changed since yesterday.

The coasters should all be the same height and the press should have an even height even when four are added. Any thoughts?

[Paul]

Extend the time for another minute.

[pisquee]

Hi Gary,
240 seconds at 200 degrees - we do 12 at a time with no problems
Is your press swing away or clam?

[GoonerGary]

I think I've got it, after trying every combination and introducing new problems, I flipped the coasters over. So now printing sublimation side on top rather than sublimation side at bottom (heating through the clear glass). The coasters have better contact with the top of the press.

It is also heating right through the heat tape which I used for the sub paper envelope without a problem....that's odd! Let's see if I can get three in row now.

[GoonerGary]

Insta swing away, but 180 degrees at 3 mins is perfect with Inktec and Trupix, nice and pin sharp images. Medium to heavy pressure.

I reckon I had two problems, printing through the clear glass and the other was press related..it only likes printing in the centre of the platen to keep things even.

[pisquee]

We get batches of 12 done on our PressMechs with very high consistency (at Christmas we had 3 members of staff each on PressMech churning out 100s of them to keep up with demand)
We print through the glass, so the transfer is on the bed of the press facing up, with the coasters on top facing down, four mins, 200 degrees, InkTec ink and paper.

[GoonerGary]

Do you use a spray adhesive on the transfers or tape them on?

[pisquee]

Nope - one sheet printed with 12 coaster transfers on, the coasters then sit on top of this - they are easy to line up, and their weight enough to keep them in place.
12 coasters printed in 4 minutes gives an average of 20 seconds per unit, so a nice easy profitable item

[Andrew]

We have always printed through the glass so transfer is at bottom with added time. Often seemed more consistent.

Pisque - do you get your coasters in UK or import? I like the glass coasters but hard to get past unique as they can be under 40p.

[GoonerGary]

Extend the time for another minute.

OK then, sorry Paul for ignoring your suggestion since I trusted the times on my press. An extra minute would have blurred the print.

So following The Transfer Press' times of 200 degrees and 4 mins (another minute) along with your previous recommendation of the blue silicone sheet on ebay. The silicone sheet allows for an increase to 4 minutes and also helps to even out the platen!

So four coasters at once, printed through the clear glass at 200/ 4 mins, supermarket greaseproof paper either side of coasters to catch gaseous ink and a thin layer of silicone on top....perfect. Give yourself a pat on the back.