Scaling up press times

[GoonerGary]

I usually print my chromaluxe door plaques one at a time as I don't sell that many. I'm thinking of doing a run, but was wondering, how much extra time under the press do I need to give if I want to print 6/ 12 at a time etc. I don't want to waste expensive blanks experimenting!

[technick]

If you have a decent press with even heat distribution then you shouldn't have to change anything up - i print 12 coasters 190oc for 60 seconds and it is no different to printing one on it's own. You might have an issue if the plaques are thick (ie have a wooden block) and you have a clam press - the platen might not touch all items evenly.

[logobear]

same time


reminds me of an old story from the very early days of photography
they used 'flash powder' - a line of magnesium powder in a tray to provide lots of light for a second, instead of having to stand still for ages.
Anyhow
A new Pope was elected, and all the worlds photographers turned up for the official press shoot.

the junior in charge of the flash unit counted all the photographers, - and multiplied the amount of power by that number.....
BOOM - think the new pope nearly saw st peter well ahead of his time.


If you do multiple at same time, press might take a little longer to recover, but time should be constant

[GoonerGary]

I think that's where my logic is, put more than one print in the fix tray...give it a bit longer. Multiple items using up heat under the press!

[technick]

If you have a decent press it will take a while to lose temperature, whereas the smaller A4 swing presses may be more prone to heat being lost quicker.

[GoonerGary]

"Moisture can build up when working with larger panels as pressing times are longer"

From the Xpres website stating that you do need to increase times, although these are huge panels. Found this useful info for pressing Chromaluxe...

http://blog.coastalbusiness.com/wide-fo ... xe-panels/