window perf is the bane of my existence HP315

[Geneva Olson]

Ok.I've done all the tricks. My vacuum is set high, temp is as low as I can go without ink coming off (sometimes even that is sketchy depending on how much ink gets dropped on the window perf).
I bought a take up reel a year ago and thought I was home free with the window perf. But..that doesn't seem to be helping. I'm going to try again tomorrow using my take up reel.

Here's what I have learned though:
The headstrikes happen when I'm getting to the end of the roll. It seems that as I use more of the roll, it begins to get lighter and lifts as its coming through.

Does anyone have any more tips or tricks that can share?

 

[balstestrat]

Change to different brand that works.

 

[Geneva Olson]

ok. so do you have any suggestions that would work? every time i mention that I use clear focus econovue, people tell me that's a good one. It seems to have to do with the liner. When the roll is full, i seem to not have any problems, but when theres less on the roll then it starts to lift.

 

[Melks]

Printing window perf can definitely be a challenge in my experience with the HP Latex machines. Unfortunately I am not familiar with the Econovu brand but hopefully the films are Latex compatible and if so perhaps the manufacturer can shed some insights on profiling? In my experience, I often print on 3M and Contravision perforated films. I had a 3M rep tell me the IJ180 profile is a great profile for working with a variety of the 3M films and thats the profile I use when printing on 3M perf and even Contrvision perf. Sometimes a little extra vaccuum doesn't hurt and you definitely want to ensure you let some film out or put a scrap leader of film on the front edge so the film is a foot or 2 outside of the machine upon starting. I once saw a video of someone putting large metal clamps on the lead edge of the film sticking out of the machine to give it some tension if its a small run. I like to find a film that works on the Latex printer and stick with it since every time I put a new material on it could be like doing a mini science experiment especially when no profile is available for that particular brand/film. Hope this helps!

 

[starknaked]

We run a lot of Conta Vision Perf on our HP latex 800W machines & have great success with. 3M is another option you can go with & majority of our perf is cast. We have found that the calendared perf is thick & stiff that will cause head strikes. Hopefully this will help you with your issue that you are experiencing.

 

[Geneva Olson]

Printing window perf can definitely be a challenge in my experience with the HP Latex machines. Unfortunately I am not familiar with the Econovu brand but hopefully the films are Latex compatible and if so perhaps the manufacturer can shed some insights on profiling? In my experience, I often print on 3M and Contravision perforated films. I had a 3M rep tell me the IJ180 profile is a great profile for working with a variety of the 3M films and thats the profile I use when printing on 3M perf and even Contrvision perf. Sometimes a little extra vaccuum doesn't hurt and you definitely want to ensure you let some film out or put a scrap leader of film on the front edge so the film is a foot or 2 outside of the machine upon starting. I once saw a video of someone putting large metal clamps on the lead edge of the film sticking out of the machine to give it some tension if its a small run. I like to find a film that works on the Latex printer and stick with it since every time I put a new material on it could be like doing a mini science experiment especially when no profile is available for that particular brand/film. Hope this helps!

Those are actually all of the things I already do.
I've been buying the clear focus econovue for years now. I've got the temp lowered and vacuums set high. I put magnets on the lead. But what's happening is that it starts to lift when I get down toward the end of the roll. I have got about 5 yards left on the roll and now it's starting to get the head strikes.

 

[Geneva Olson]

We run a lot of Conta Vision Perf on our HP latex 800W machines & have great success with. 3M is another option you can go with & majority of our perf is cast. We have found that the calendared perf is thick & stiff that will cause head strikes. Hopefully this will help you with your issue that you are experiencing.

cast..interesting.
When you mentioned the calendared perf is thick and stiff, that's what I was thinking. I might try that.
Thanks!

 

[signheremd]

The stuff at the end of the roll was wound tighter so unwinds less/doesn't lay as flat...