Head strikes on Zorbix 10oz with 1204

[jimgoodwin]

Im using a Mutoh 1204 with Zorbix 10oz Glossy.

At about 4 feet through the job, I am getting head strikes on the media. It looks like it is buckling up between the pressurizing rollers and causing the printhead to contact the media. Using the icc profile for the specific material.

Has anyone else used this material, should I try changing the temperature of the platens? (I assume lowering the temp)

I just wanted to get some input before i started tinkering off in the wrong direction.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[401Graphics]

lower the temp a bit and let the roll have some slack before it goes into the printer

 

[jimgoodwin]

I always try to keep a slack loop of about 12 inches of material hanging. How much should I lower the temp and on which platen?

 

[kffernandez]

i would lower the temp a bit as well. is your roll still full? i get that tunneling effect when my machine is having difficulty pulling on the heavy roll.

btw, those tunnels doesn't seem to be that high. how are your head height settings?

kelly

 

[Compilla]

I always try to keep a slack loop of about 12 inches of material hanging. How much should I lower the temp and on which platen?

It depends on your shop conditions
I set mine to
32,35,50

 

[jimgoodwin]

i would lower the temp a bit as well. is your roll still full? i get that tunneling effect when my machine is having difficulty pulling on the heavy roll.

btw, those tunnels doesn't seem to be that high. how are your head height settings?

kelly

I've never adjusted the head height, it is straight out of the box.

 

[heyskull]

That looks like a banner material?
I knock the rear and middle heater off when printing banner and raise the head.
Banner should be printed with the head height on the highest setting.
I guarantee this is the problem.

SC

 

[J Hill Designs]

scrim temps for me are 20/30/50 (pre/print/post)

 

[durafosinks]

I believe you get better ink adhesion when you use heat PRE MID POST (to dry after printing). The tradeoff of NO HEAT is less/no tunnelling vs. less ink adhesion. It's a balancing act that includes your shop environment; specifically humidity

 

[jimgoodwin]

Hey everybody, thanks for the help. I tried changing the temp to 30, 30, 50 and then even 0, 0, 50 and still had problems at about 5.5 feet of a 6 foot banner (of course) once I changed the head height, everything was flawless.

Do you guys keep your head height up all the time? It makes me change it back whenever I power down. I only run about 4 banners every other day or so, should I be leaving it on all the time rather than powering it down?

Again thanks for all the help, you guys are a great resource.

 

[kffernandez]

if it's just banners, and your prints look fine, set your head height up to the highest setting. you would usually lower it when you're printing higher resolution prints or during calibration on stickers.

kelly