MDP hot flex vinyl not sticking

[pw66]

Hot Flex applies at 160C.

If you are only getting the temperatures you are saying then it looks like the press is not working properly. Try wacking it up to 200C to see what temperatures you get.
Some cheaper presses don't hold heat between presses, and in some cases the heating element only kicks in when the press is open. So if you are printing a longer run of garments the temperature drops of considerably simply because there is not enough time for it to return to the correct temperature.

[Bob700]

It might be my eyes but the number 5 on the pic you sent looks a bit on the thickish side to me

[T&T]

Bob700 - I know what you mean, but i think its just shadow. definitely hot flex vinyl.

I have done a temp check, and i am thinking the heating element is not the same as the reading on the screen.
PW66 - i did up the temp and here's the results.... again, not sure what i am expecting the variance to be between the temp on the plate and temp reading on the display.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7428[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]7427[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]7429[/ATTACH]
I suppose if the element is on the way out i will need to go off the gun temperature and not the digital display, so for hotflex, set the machine to 195 maybe and check the plate with a gun until i am getting 160 degrees C.

[pw66]

That is all you can do. There is obviously a mismatch between the thermostat and the element somewhere - it could be the element failing or just a faulty thermostat.

Have you checked that all of the terminals inside the plug or even in the wall socket are screwed in tight? (turn the power off first!) I had a similar problem with a screen printing flash dryer not heating up properly some years ago. It turned out that there was a slightly lose connection in the wall socket. Try using a different socket and see if that makes a difference.