nipControl device

[cementary]

Do anyone using nipControl device for setting up rollers and/or cheking cylinder nip pressure?
Can you give any feedback on how it really works and have you get any benifits from using it?

 

[Cornishpastythighs]

Used it for setting nip pressure on infeed/outfeed rollers for our web presses. Was not impressed with the results using it for printing rollers as I like to set stripes with ink on rollers and it makes a hell of a mess of the 'tongue' I prefer the old methods for setting inking stripes.

 

[aqazi81]

Easiest and the best method is ink stripes as mentioned above....

 

[cementary]

Easiest and the best method is ink stripes as mentioned above....

So our pressmen tells me...

 

[cementary]

Used it for setting nip pressure on infeed/outfeed rollers for our web presses. Was not impressed with the results using it for printing rollers as I like to set stripes with ink on rollers and it makes a hell of a mess of the 'tongue' I prefer the old methods for setting inking stripes.

And what about rollers in ink fountain? They have a nip width device which shows actual nip width in smth like digital mm. I'm trying to understand is it better for production process or this is another marketing stuff or it actually works but nobody want it?

 

[Cornishpastythighs]

And what about rollers in ink fountain? They have a nip width device which shows actual nip width in smth like digital mm. I'm trying to understand is it better for production process or this is another marketing stuff or it actually works but nobody want it?

On our presses there are only 2 rollers in the ink fountain system. 1. the ink ball and 2 the ink ductor
. I am not sure I understand what you mean.

 

[cementary]

I am not sure I understand what you mean.

There are two devices avialable from nipcontrol 1. Pressure nip indicator 2. Nip width indicator
As far as i understand – these are different devices for different purposes. 1 for checking up pressure level at the nip. 2 is to evaluate actual nip width in spooky "digital millimeteres".
Our presses are mostly manroland sheetfed (900 and 700) with lots of rollers in the ink fountain (hard to reach also)
My goal is to understand if this device would work better than well-known ink stripe test. Nobody in our printshop don't even hear about to setting rollers another way.
So I've read all info from the web about device and come here to ask for actual practice (without marketing) experience.

 

[aqazi81]

And what about rollers in ink fountain?

Are you asking about rollers in ink train? In my opinion, when you are measuring with the nip device or with a paper or film strip, you will get the measurement result for that particular spot, but with the ink strip you can see the result on entire length of the roller. it is more helpful in the case when your rollers are worn out or old and you can spot the difference in roller diameter or a low spot in any area or length of the roller.

 

[Cornishpastythighs]

Dont waste your money. Setting rollers using the Stripe method is faster and more accurate. Some rollers are buried so deep inside the roller train that using a tool like this is impractical.

 

[aqazi81]

When adjusting the 2nd or 3rd form roller with the nipcontrol or a paper strip, you need to remove the 1st or 4th form roller to reach and adjust. With ink strip method you just back up the pressure of the 1st or 4th form roller and then adjust the inner rollers. Saves time and effort.

 

[cementary]

When adjusting the 2nd or 3rd form roller with the nipcontrol or a paper strip, you need to remove the 1st or 4th form roller to reach and adjust. With ink strip method you just back up the pressure of the 1st or 4th form roller and then adjust the inner rollers. Saves time and effort.

My thoughts were: when your rollers wore out a bit they get harder. So you need more pressure to maintain recommended stripe width. So, if you use this pressure-magic-nano-device on the new rollers and record the pressure level – then you can adjust other rollers to same pressure level keeping your ink stripe a bit different from reference.
In this case you don't need to reach 2nd or 3rd rollers and stes will be – adjust 1 with device –> adjust others to same ink strip width as 1st measured.
Somethign like that

 

[Cornishpastythighs]

Documenting the pressures of each roller sounds like a lot of work for very little payback.
Roland 700 for instance has about 11 rubber rollers in each unit times the number of print units you have, lets say 6 print decks that's 66 rollers you are going to have your pressman record pressure readings on each roller on gear side operator side and middle of roller. At least 3 readings per roller that's around 198 readings per press.
You are far better to build a very robust roller maintenance program where you replace all the rollers on a print deck at certain times during the year.
Have the pressman properly trained on the use of a Shore A Durometer guage.
Most roller companies now sell good quality rollers that last a long time if not abused.
Install good manufacturing methods that allow pressman to check/set rollers regularly and you will see more payback. Use good quality wash up solvents that wont attack your rollers.
Sorry if I disagree with you but I think you would be creating procedures that your press guys will not follow through with.

 

[cementary]

Sorry if I disagree with you but I think you would be creating procedures that your press guys will not follow through with.

There is nothing to be sorry with – learn, teach, debate – that's the header of this forum. I would add discuss, actually )))))
I really appriciate your opinion, but to clarify: why measure all rollers. Let's say one 700 Roland with 4 form rollers on every of 8 decks (that's most interesting rollers). Assume that all 4 rollers wore out at same time. So we need to document 1 roller per deck with 3 measurements. That would be 24 measurements. All other rollers would be set up with good-old ink stripe method according to stripe that we have on first roller.
Another thing in my mind – it's documented and measured data to explain to the tops necessity to buy new rollers.

 

[Alois Senefelder]

K.I.S.S.

cementary, I'm a great believer in K.I.S.S. ...... just follow "Cornish's " advice and save yourself lots of Problems !


Regards, Alois