DSF

Hi Im almost ready to start up sublimation, i just need a couple more things, I just wondered if any one could give me their times for pressing ricoh prints i.e mugs, metal,photo slates etc etc so i can make a rough chart for when i start proper as i have read that there is a bit of difference between ricoh and epson. I know it all depends on heat press and that but just after advice on what sort of times people use.

Many thanks

Adam

Hi there

The best place to get this information is on the website that supplied you the items. Most suppliers will advertise the times for each of their products they sell. When printing with a Ricoh, a very rough and general guide is to knock 10 degrees and 10 seconds off the advertised times.

S>

Thanks Social, i have noticed the times on some suppliers web sites but as some say different to others i was just wondering what other people sweet spot was, I have a few different things to test on when im up and running so i will try and find my own best times for my set up, will take the general guide on board to and see how i will get on,

The items on sale on various website may look the same but could be very different, especially mugs. There are so many variables (i.e. coating quality) that it is always best to start with the recommended settings as provided by the supplier.

May I ask where you purchased your blanks from. That will give a good idea to readers whether the times they have provided are about right.

I get most my bits from BMS, I find that in my own opinion they are very helpful and im really happy with the stuff i order and i also use coralgraph to for bits

BMS are a good supplier and they will have the press times on their website which are pretty much spot on where you need them to be. CG I do not know about as I have never purchased from them, however there are loads of good reports about them also so I would imagine they are sopt on also.

http://www.printerowners.co.uk/temperature-details.php

Link above for BMS's temp and times (which is imho quite hard to spot the link for on their site)

socialgiraffe;51834 wrote:BMS are a good supplier and they will have the press times on their website which are pretty much spot on where you need them to be.

Depends on your press. Those times for flat-bed items wouldn't work for me. I typically need to press for quite a bit longer than the times stated there.

I keep a little pocketbook with times and temps that suit me based on trial and error.

Well imho unless the item or ink deforms under heat then sublimation at a given temperature could be for a lot longer with minimal consequences.

So I can see no reason why you couldnt press a mug at say 170c for 3,4,5 or longer minutes as long as you have at least enough heat and time for the ink to sublimate then too much time isnt really an issue.

I would rather press at a slightly lower temperature for longer than a too high temperature.

Thanks for all the info, when im up and running i will try a few of the bms times and as jsr put i will keep a note on the times so i can adjust from there