Ok, I'm pulling out my hair. I got a hix 100 used press and have set it up. I can't seem to keep it in registration for some reason and my prints keep coming out blurry. I am losing money hand over fist because I can't get the press to print crisp, clear images, even in one color... any suggestions as to how to ensure that the press prints as it should?
Things I've tried...
I've checked the off-contact and screen tension. Brand new screen, 1/8 inch...
I've loosened up my ink... just a little... hmm...
I've switched from spray adhesive to that stuff that's the consistency of elmers... the shirt isn't moving.
I'm new to this, and getting REALLY worried...
Thanks for any advice you might be able to provide...
Are your jobs ever in registration, but then fall out of it?
I'm confused as to why you can't get a one-color print to be crisp and clear. Is the screen itself moving? Then the image wouldn't be blurry, it would just be shifted in some places.
If it's not your screen moving, you might be shooting the screen wrong. Please be more specific about your issue and post pictures if you can.
When I draw the squeegee across, I'm getting an image that's not shifted, but "fuzzy..." I will take some photos tomorrow; no camera at work today...
The image starts out in registration just fine. On multi color jobs I keep having to "tap" it back into registration with a rubber mallet (time consuming) in addition to the fuzziness from time to time, and on single color jobs i have the fuzziness problem to deal with.
The image that results is fuzzy around the edges only in some areas. Ink is left on the underside of the screen where there should be none and I have to wipe it off. The prints aren't clean and crisp where they should be.
Any ideas?
Photos to come...
Are you using wood or metal frames? Sounds like either your screens or pallet are not level. Perhaps your pallets are warped, and not level. Also, if using wood screen frames, perhaps they are coming loose at the joints, and/or the mesh is shifting in the frame. Pull your screen frame in the down (print)position with just a bit of off contact, and press the screen mesh down w/ your fingers to the pallet in various locations within the frame on the print side. The mesh should flex down the same amount of distance thru out all areas of the inside frame area; if not, then your screen frame is not level to the pallet. Use a bubble level to make sure first your press is level, then make sure your frames are level in the print position, and then make sure your pallets are level.
I know a guy with a HIX and he has had plenty of registration problems. The other day he told me it was mostly caused by the shirt boards. Even when he tightens them down real good they still wobble a little. The rep that sold him the press came and looked at it and agreed that was the problem so they replaced the boards and the new ones do it to. I recommended to him to get some boards that are manufactured by a different company. I think HIX presses can use hopkins or workhorse board too. You might see if that's your problem.
Hi, Ember....we,too, have a 6-color, 4-station HIX 100 press. It has printed 1000's of shirts for us with no problems. I did notice that when changing platens, they would "wobble" just a tiny bit, which would make a print Fuzzy. I just took duct tape, and wrapped the bolt tubes with enough tape to make it tight when the clamp was tightened down....now no wobble. It's jury rigged, but it works.
Hix 100 Press problems 
