DSF

Hello,

I'm currently trying to use the ST3042 machine with Sawgrass SG400 printer for phone cases but quite disappointed from the heat press and hope that here I could find help from you!

The issue is not in corners, its normal that corners are not perfect, the issue is consistency and resolution. So the process I'm using is heating up the jig for around two 7 minute cycles of 190 degrees and what happens is that usually the first case comes up okay, but the next one or third one comes very blurry and I find it almost impossible to control this. Also at times the phone cases don't shrink enough and customers complain that they are too loose on their phones.

Do you experience similar issues and how do you overcome them?

Thanks,
Ilian

Do a search on this forum and you will find threads about how to achieve perfect results every time with the kit you are using

Hopefully they have improved since I was using them then. I really like the Ink Express guys. Great prices, really good inks and above all really good customer service. Those three things are a very rare breed in ink suppliers.

It's quite possible they have improved SG. I've been using CIE inks for about 3 years now so can't really comment on what they were like before that. What I can say though is that their own paper is superior to the 'Anne' type papers they used to sell, with a higher release factor.

socialgiraffe;131871 wrote:Do a search on this forum and you will find threads about how to achieve perfect results every time with the kit you are using

Well I searched through many posts but couldn't find the solution so I was hoping someone could give an advice ...

I was hoping someone could give an advice ...

Can only give advice if we know all your settings (times, temp, inks, paper, top oven or both etc etc).

Yes I missed clarifying that. Settings:

1. Time to preheat the jig - 14 minutes.
2. Temp - 190 degrees, both ovens.
3. Cooking time - 7 minutes.
3. Paper S-Race German sublimation paper.
4. Inks - Sawgrass Sublijet HD and Sawgrass SG400 printer.

Issues:
2. Image becomes blurred on second or third or any subsequent cooking. (varies)
3. Sometimes the phone case doesn't shrink enough (appears to happen on select phone models, so could be the blank itself)

Okay matey, try the following:

Warm up puck for 25-30 minutes
Temp and time are fine but only use the TOP oven, do not use both ovens as that is probably what is causing the blurring

I note your comment about corners, do a search as there is a really easy way of making sure your corners are perfect

With regards to the cases not fitting. Assuming you are using a very good fake phone to "remold" and the item is being allowed to cool then it should be fine. Like you say, it could be that the blanks are not up to scratch. The key thing is to allow the item to reshape on a physical dummy phone which obviously must be the exact dimensions.

Thanks socialgiraffe, I will now try these settings and reply back!

Corners are not so crucial for me at the moment, they are good enough And in terms of dummy phone I couldn't find someone selling them, looks as if they were only available for iphone 4 and iphone 5 old phones, not sure if people use these anymore.

Try ebay for dummy phones. That is where I used to get mine from.

You really need a dummy phone otherwise you have no idea if they are going to fit properly (as you have found out )

Yes, and regarding blanks, where do you buy yours from? I guess buying more expensive ones from Sunfly would be the best bet one could make (PolyClassic model).