Printing cardboard on the flatbed

[Proofread People]

Hello Sign makers, hope everyone is well. Looking for any tips with printing cardboard on a flatbed. The experience we've had is that many times the cardboard is warped and getting it to stay flat on the bed requires taping, but that doesn't always work., plus the fact that arm length can only reach so far with a 4'x8' or 5'x10' piece and if you tape it, printing to the edge is out the door - unless the art overall size is reduced). Welcome any advice.

 

[flyplainsdrifta]

is it a true flatbed or hybrid?

 

[Gino]

Whether it's a true or hybrid flatbed, completely cover the non used vacuum areas. That should create enough suction to keep your substrate flat. Also use a gripper edge and cut it off when finished

 

[Proofread People]

is it a true flatbed or hybrid?

Canon Arizona 1350

 

[Proofread People]

Whether it's a true or hybrid flatbed, completely cover the non used vacuum areas. That should create enough suction to keep your substrate flat. Also use a gripper edge and cut it off when finished

Gotcha, we definitely cover the non used vacuum area with scrap like thickness material, plus vacuum is set at high. And for the most part our usual substrates aren't a problem. But we have a few customers who wants to use cardboard (for recycling purposes though you would have to get the ink off) and in my past experience even though the cardboard is delivered on a palette, if moisture has warped it, its remembers it. For this order most likely will be running full 4'x8' sheets or 5'x10'. Will do R&D, maybe this customer would be willing to pay premium for premium material, lol. Thanks for the reply GIno.

 

[Smoke_Jaguar]

Good idea to tape the edges if you don't need full bleed, cardboard has a bad habit of curling.

 

[bpp]

Hello Sign makers, hope everyone is well. Looking for any tips with printing cardboard on a flatbed. The experience we've had is that many times the cardboard is warped and getting it to stay flat on the bed requires taping, but that doesn't always work., plus the fact that arm length can only reach so far with a 4'x8' or 5'x10' piece and if you tape it, printing to the edge is out the door - unless the art overall size is reduced). Welcome any advice.

You need to move the gantry and tape both long edges many times

 

[Grizzly]

The Arizona's are a pain with cardboard. Their vacuums require every hole to be covered or don't they don't very well. We used low tac double sided tape along all edges when we had our 660XT. You can usually print for about 20-30 sheets before you have to replace it. Just don't push down too hard.
In contrast, our AGFA Titan has zero issues holding cardboard down and we've never had to use double sided tape. The AGFA vacuum turbines are about 10 times the size of the little vacuums on the Arizonas.

 

[RabidOne]

We used to print skids of 8' x 4' cardboard on an Arizona 480 and 2260. The problem is the cardboard is slightly porous so it doesn't vacuum down.
We taped down all 4 sides and raised the head height. And yes we taped over the last vacuum holes that weren't covered. Bit time consuming but it worked well.

 

[flyplainsdrifta]

Yeah agreed with everyone else. Cardboard with how much moisture and temp change affects it is tough to work with. Double sided tape is your friend in this instance and masking off those vac areas is key.