Feed calibration

[Spud Murphy]

We have been using a Colorspan 72s for our large banner work and have become expert in proper tension on the takeup/feed rolls to assure close registration on seamed banners (typically 20' to 40' long). We recently purchased a Roland XJ74 in hopes of replacing the outdated Gator. Besides sacrificing the pure solvent we are having great trouble tracking. Without adjustable tension on the takeup we are finding our small prints are off size enough to not even gamble printing a large seamed print. I notice we do not have a lot of competition with giant banners in this area except from the larger billboard type printers. Is this due to smaller machines not being able to handle tracking?
If there is Roland tracking advice, other than the recommended calibrating, anyone can offer I would be obliged.
Excuse my lack of technical lingo as I am not the operator (mainly graphics and file setup) but I am the one who suffers the operator's frustration and screaming. Not that he didn't do that with the Colorspan or anything...like.

 

[Gabriel]

Hi,
I would be much better if you would leave a "belly" to the material, in the back of the printer. If the printer pulls the material directly from the roll, then the roll, being heavy, will oppose resistance and the banding caused by the feed calibration will be obvious. If you take out some material from the roll and you keep a constant tension as the feed motor pulls the material, then the problem will disappear or it will be less obvious. Of course, that means that someone has to do that all the time during printing.

Hope that helps and excuse my poor English.
Regards,