Pulling my hair out - blurry designs

[mugg]

I really am at the point where I want to jack it all in. I am getting blurry bottoms of designs regularly. Sometimes every 3 mugs, sometimes every other mug. This morning I printed three that came out perfectly then three with blurry bottoms. See images.

http://s16.postimg.org/ricr2ab85/IMG_20 ... 115611.jpg
http://s23.postimg.org/o1tc9req3/IMG_20 ... 115624.jpg

The design appears at the bottom of the designs whether I press it upside down or not. I have gone through three different types of mugs from three suppliers. I have gone through two types of mug press.
The printer is a Ricoh SG3110DN A4 with Sublijet ink and sawgrass drivers.

I have tried preheating the bottoms of the mugs - sometimes it's fine, other times terrible. It seems so inconsistent.

Is there anyone here dye subbing mugs that can actually get a perfect print EVERY time? Are the mugs crap/inconsistent? Too many variables for my liking!

I've spoken to tech support at two firms who say they've never experienced it. Either that is BS or this is a very odd problem.

Before I bin the whole setup and close my business, WHAT CAN I DO???

[RogerC]

At a guess, considering it is intermittent and the rest of the print is good, it could likely be a heat mat on the way out. As the problem is not every time it is possible the heat mat is suffering from a break in the heat matrix which is brought about when the mat is hot. A you have looked at everything else there's really no other contributing factor......

[mugg]

Thanks. That was my initial thought but according to tech support from the company I bought it from, it was "unlikely" as it would have hotspots (visible element lines on the design) etc.

Could a silicone mat improve things/disperse the heat more evenly?

[RogerC]

Thanks. That was my initial thought but according to tech support from the company I bought it from, it was "unlikely" as it would have hotspots (visible element lines on the design) etc.

Could a silicone mat improve things/disperse the heat more evenly?

If tech support says it is 'unlikely' and you have tried everything else ask them for a sale or return mat to confirm one way or the other. I am assuming the problem is in the same area each time? If it is then it really can only be the mat.

[mugg]

It is in the same place - one side of the mugs near the bottom... but if I press the mug upside down, sometimes it's still in the same place even though it *should* be on the other side of the mat.

All I can think of is that the mug bottom needs preheating, which I have tried.. but even so, that wouldn't explain why one side of the mug is fine and the other blurred.

[Get Canvas & Sublimation]

Only way to see where the fault lies would be to eliminate variables. Have you tried someone elses printouts from their printers? Or got someone else to press your designs? Then you will see if its your press or printers. This should narrow it down for you.

We would be happy to help with this if you would like.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[liannef]

I was just about to post about a similar problem so hope you don't mind me asking on your thread?

I have a Ricoh and adkins mug press and only seem to have problems with ceramic mugs but not every time (polymers are fine). So wasn't sure if it was the mugs or the press? but the problem is top middle on the side facing me when in the press and I can't see any bulges in the element. I bought it second hand but I don't think it has done much more than 500 mugs so surely the element would last longer than that? I pull the paper around the mug as tight as I can and tape in place, would too much or too little pressure cause the paper to crease on that side?

Thanks
Lianne

[mugg]

Another point I failed to mention is that the best temp/time for this pneumatic press seems to be 150c for 130s, which seems a bit low to me considering most recommend starting at 180/180.

[RogerC]

Another point I failed to mention is that the best temp/time for this pneumatic press seems to be 150c for 130s, which seems a bit low to me considering most recommend starting at 180/180.

Temps tend to be horses for courses...my press from BMS works best, after a bit of experimenting, at 170 degrees for 55 seconds so I doubt that temperature has anything to do with it. Is it a new press?

[mugg]

Yes new in January, pressed only about 50 mugs - at least 25 have been blurry!
It's one of these: http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAwMFgxMDAw/ ... 880000500F