Presstek plate wear

[Brunswick]

Hi All

We have an SM52-2 and have started to get issues with our plates.
The image is failing after approx 300 to 400 impressions.
We have checked roller setting packing and blanket,
Drained the dampening and remixed to spec.
Both towers are showing the same wear. Presstek came in and changed a part on the Vector
and it improved for a while but now has returned.
Has anybody else come acroos this before.

Any help appeciated.

Thanks

 

[D Ink Man]

What colors, process or spots? And.....Is it truly plate wear or is it plate blinding?

Check carefully the chemicals used in pre-press that are used in the development of the plates.

These are all good questions and starts to begin to tackle. D

 

[edge2print]

which "Vector" model do you have (Vector 52, Vector TX52, Vector FL52) and which plates?

 

[Brunswick]

What colors, process or spots? And.....Is it truly plate wear or is it plate blinding?

Check carefully the chemicals used in pre-press that are used in the development of the plates.

These are all good questions and starts to begin to tackle. D

Hi

Plate develops in water no chemicals.

 

[Brunswick]

Hi its the TX and freedom plates thanks

 

[edge2print]

What is the paper stock in this situation?

 

[Brunswick]

Hi

All stocks coated and uncoated.
Drained all the press chemistry again today still no joy.
I am sure the plates sre blinding

 

[D Ink Man]

Hi

Plate develops in water no chemicals.

My bad on that one. Water only explains it. Sad but very true. Some may argue and that's OK, especially PT reps.

You need the chemicals to keep the image.

Have encountered this with Presstek plates before.

D

 

[soontobeexkonicauser]

Our issue with our DI has always been premature plate wear. If you have the rest of the unit in spec, you need to look at the plates themselves (try a different lot from the manufacturer) or you may have laser issues. Any building lightening strikes recently? Do you have a low voltage condition to the unit? Unfortunately, there are a long list of variables when you talk about direct imaging.

300 to 400 impressions means a serious out of standard issue. If you haven't changed ink or chemicals (thank God no water to fight with) and this suddenly appeared, the most likely item is the imaging dwell or the plate materials are defective.

 

[D Ink Man]

Simply put, too Green.

It is not chemically active enough.

You can tell PT I said so.

D

 

[Brunswick]

Well

After weeks of troubles...
We washed the rollers with boiling water and not a single problem since.
Runs of 10k, 20k not a problem.
Got to say Presstek UK have been excellent throughout.
They did replace a couple of parts so maybe a combination of cleaning rollers and parts.
But happy to say back up and running.

This has been the only problem we have had since owning the Vector it has been brilliant for us.

 

[Green Printer]

Well

After weeks of troubles...
We washed the rollers with boiling water and not a single problem since.
Runs of 10k, 20k not a problem.
Got to say Presstek UK have been excellent throughout.
They did replace a couple of parts so maybe a combination of cleaning rollers and parts.
But happy to say back up and running.

This has been the only problem we have had since owning the Vector it has been brilliant for us.

Does anybody have any opinions as to what the hot water wash did to the rollers?

 

[soontobeexkonicauser]

It's an interesting "fix". The hot water would change the swell of the rollers and if anything was lurking around in the surface, likely boil it out. The surface tension of the roller will be altered as well, which in a "waterless" press is critical.

It will likely shorten the life of the rollers, but hey, run with it while it works. Hopefully, for a year or so.

DI's are tough to troubleshoot sometimes. No latitude in the ink means you are on or off with very little middle ground.

Did you change the screening routine at the same time?

 

[edge2print]

Apples & oranges?

Brunswick has the Vector TX52 CTP imaging Freedom plates which clean out in warm water.
Glad you got things sorted out with that interesting technique of boiling water on the rollers!

Soontobeex refers to DI presses.
Two different scenarios.

 

[soontobeexkonicauser]

edge, thanks for the heads up! You are right, we are talking apple and oranges, I apologize. In the states, we think of Presstec as a DI press solution, we forget they sell thermal platemaking equipment.

 

[edge2print]

Good, glad that is settled... I was getting more dazed and confused than usual over this thread.
.

 

[soontobeexkonicauser]

LOL. It's from breathing in all that chemfree stuff...

I've been up since 3:30 AM, it's me....

We actually have run AGFA chemfree plates 5 years now. It has been a learning curve at times. Our problems actually did start at the platesetter, an older Screen device, that was improperly timed for dwell time at the lasers. They also do not like anything that isn't RO water based.