Ok, so I have printed my share of t-shirts in the past. I print at least 1,000 a month, so I have some experience in printing, however 99% of what we do is 1 color printing, or 2 color but wet on wet .... meaning that none of the colors are touching or need to match 100000%.
My question is ... I am having huge problems setting up the press, with joystick registration for a 3 color job. I don't understand because to start everything is matched up 100%, including my registration marks. I will get through the first run of 4 shirts, printing all 3 colors (flashing in between) and they look great. Then about 9-10 shirts down the road, the third color seems to go down hill from there. How is this happening? Why is this happening?
My locks are all in place to keep my screen from moving, everything is tight, I just don't understand it. It is extremley frustrating and feel like throwing in the towel on the 3 color jobs!!!
Could be warming up, shrinking the shirts a bit?
Do you preheat?
Which stations are out 1&2? or 2&3? or all three?
If it isn't your shirts shrinking then your kit is moving.
Could be warming up, shrinking the shirts a bit?
Do you preheat?
Which stations are out 1&2? or 2&3? or all three?
If it isn't your shirts shrinking then your kit is moving.
Thank for the response.
I have not been preheating the shirts prior to printing. Should I be? I thought I possible shriking before, but what is weird is that only some of the letters are shifted. The word is "Soccer Kicks" and sometimes the Soc is off, and other times the Ki is off. That is why I can't figure out how this could be happening.
I will post pictures as soon as I get a chance. But any other thoughts out there would be much appreciated.
I have not been preheating the shirts prior to printing. Should I be? I thought I possible shriking before, but what is weird is that only some of the letters are shifted. The word is "Soccer Kicks" and sometimes the Soc is off, and other times the Ki is off. That is why I can't figure out how this could be happening.
I will post pictures as soon as I get a chance. But any other thoughts out there would be much appreciated.
Don't think it's the shrinking of the shirt because it would do the same thing during your first 4 shirts. I'm guessing its your press not holding registration or your screens are moving from the clamps. OR, your shirt is not tacked on the platen enough and it's moving.
If it's not on the second or third shirt it's probably just lint buildup on your pallet and you just need to keep respraying mist pallet adhesive onto it more frequently. The shirt is pulling loose and moving on you. You don't want a moving target. Your flasher may be melting your pallet adhesive...back it off or get a better pallet adhesive.
If that's not it, then check to make sure everything is tight clamping down the screens. Be sure to pull the squeegee the same direction every time....don't go sideways to get the ink back into the impage area, etc.
Could be one or a combo of things.
Not enough spray tack. Over flashing. The boards getting to hot.
Shrinking due to not enough tack, over flashing and the boards are hot.
With the boards hot you don't need to flash as long.
So....
You are used to printing 1-2 color jobs where you don't need a lot of tack.
Your boards are heating up from the flashing and the tack is releasing early allowing the shirts to lift up a little when you raise the screen (and maybe shrinking when flashed again).
That why your first few printed shirts are dead on.
Try this, when you see the print is off stop and without changing anything let the boards cool down. After cooling off, print and see if everything is dead on.
If so you need to setup a cool down station.
Place a fan on the station after the flash.
Use a more tack.
Help with Multi-Color Job!!! 
