Ink problems printing stickers.

[NeroInferno]

Hello,
I'd like to know if anyone has got a suggestion for this problem:

I print stickers on PVC with a very thinned (with retarder) solvent ink. I use to thin the ink like it's oil.

When I print it, I use a vaccum table with a 10mm off contact but when I pass the squeegee the mesh remains attacked a bit to the pvc..and not follow in real time the blade of the squeegee. I cannot further thin the ink because also now if I don't print with a good speed the ink already passes itself through the mesh (sorry my English, but I believe you've understood).

I don't know the actual tension of the 100 threads/cm mesh, but it was tensioned originally around 21-23 N/cm.

How can In solve this?

Thanks,
Fabio

[El Roacho]

try a de-tackifier? did i spell that right?

[NeroInferno]

try a de-tackifier? did i spell that right?

Do you mean raise the off-contact space?

Isn't 10mm enough for an off-contact?!

thanks,
Fabio

[Tom]

If its like oil it might be too thick. (add more thinners & retarder maybe) When I print stickers my vinyl ink is very runny, so much so that I wouldnt put a lot on the screen as it would just run off on to the ground when I lifted the screen.

Im far from an expert though. This is just my experience with vinyl ink & stickers.

[NeroInferno]

If its like oil it might be too thick. (add more thinners & retarder maybe) When I print stickers my vinyl ink is very runny, so much so that I wouldnt put a lot on the screen as it would just run off on to the ground when I lifted the screen.

Im far from an expert though. This is just my experience with vinyl ink & stickers.

Nice to see an European guy here I was in Athy once, south-east of Ireland!

My ink runs off too, so I believe isn't thick, but also extra thinned..I was wondering whether is a screen tension problem..

Thanks however
Fabio

[bongalong]

whats the dimensions of your sticker material?
what kind of set up are you printing with?
is the table lifting after your print stroke?

Try to:
- print on a smaller sheet, if possible.
- close of all your all vacume holes that are not used, put spray glue on table when it doesn't help.
- print slower, less pressure / more pressure
- set the sqeege angle steeper.
- sharpen your squeege.

[steve w]

more off-contact. period.
mesh loses tension over time. when it does, you adjust for it.
and don't put spray tack on a vacuum table.

[El Roacho]

no, i meant the ink additive, detackifier. makes the ink separate from itself easier. not so sticky. but if you can adjust the tension on your screens, do that. and off contact.

[NeroInferno]

Hello guys,
thanks for your replies.

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, but the PVC sheet I'm printing is well attached on the vacuum table, the issue is the mesh that doesn't follow the run of the squeegee's blade. I'm closing with newspaper the holes that aren't covered by the PVC sheet too.

The PVC sheet is 25x35cm and the screen size is 58x78cm. The press is a manual press, 50x70cm with vacuum table.

I don't know if Kiian produces detackifier, but I'll check the tension of the screen and then I'll try to raise the off contact.

I was thinking the problem was cause by the position of the art on the screen, because I burned on the same screen 3 works for a test and perhaps on the side of the screen the mesh was lower.

Thank you a lot guys,
Fabio

[wearefriends]

what is the brand and type of vinyl you are using?