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Need Help HP Latex 700W - HP Clear Film Ink Cracking

DPICopy

New Member
I'm having an issue printing on HP Clear Film. I created a profile using the 'Generic Transparent Polyester Film'. I am trying to print an image with a white under-flood and as the print finishes the ink starts cracking. I have tried taking the curing temp + & - 20 degrees, I also tried dumping the print zone temperature, neither made a difference. I have also printed with and without the take-up reel. It seems to happen at the very end of the printing, it's fine up until the last couple inches then it starts cracking up and down the whole print. It also seems to me more prevalent on the side of the print closest to the maintenance cartridge. Any ideas? More or less optimizer? Could the overcoat play a part?

Profile and pictures attached.

Any help or advice on what to try next would be greatly appreciated!

Happy New Year!
 

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balstestrat

Problem Solver
The bottom layers haven't been dried properly.
Max out the printzone temperature and increase the printzone airflow.
That should fix it.
 

DPICopy

New Member
The bottom layers haven't been dried properly.
Max out the printzone temperature and increase the printzone airflow.
That should fix it.
Thanks for this! It definitely lessened the issue, but there is still a bit of cracking. I'm thinking that lowering the number of passes could help, as there would be less ink to dry, going to try that next.
 

balstestrat

Problem Solver
You should be able to make that work just fine. How much airflow did you put?
You can also try to add small amount of interpass delay.

Try transparent SAV profile, that should work straight out the box.
 

DPICopy

New Member
You should be able to make that work just fine. How much airflow did you put?
You can also try to add small amount of interpass delay.

Try transparent SAV profile, that should work straight out the box.
The airflow was already 700, so I maxed it out at 750.

I tried a SAV profile, same cracking effect.

The profile I created, 20 pass with the heat and airflow cranked seems to have worked! Going to print the batch now and see if it works consistently.

Thanks again for your help!
 

DPICopy

New Member
You should be able to make that work just fine. How much airflow did you put?
You can also try to add small amount of interpass delay.

Try transparent SAV profile, that should work straight out the box.
Nevermind. When I batched up a bunch they still have a crack line or two once they make it out the exit. Will try the interpass delay next!
 

balstestrat

Problem Solver
Hmmm strange. What is your optimizer set at?

I would definately try another material if you can't get that figured out.
I've printed a lot of transparent SAV and never had this problem. So I figure it must be something related to that stuff.
 

studebaker

Deluded Artist
Being one sided like that is indicative of a substrate issue. Whether it was out of date or that side of the roll was to the floor that has a humidity issue. (Mop)
 
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