How to Troubleshoot a Plastic Film Printing Press

Plastic printing presses can experience a lot of problems.

Plastic printing is a durable medium used for signs, advertising and for dozens of other things. The printing process is more problematic than other forms of printing mediums like paper, but the issues can often be solved by going down a checklist of things that can go wrong. While not all problems can be solved easily, identifying the problem and then seeing how to remedy the situation can often be done by those with a basic understanding of the particular printing press.

Things You'll Need

• Printing press owner's manual

Instructions

1. Check the plastic sheets with which you're printing. If you're experiencing sticking problems, jams or other difficulties, make sure the sheets you're feeding into the printer are in fact meant to be used with the printing press you have. The types of sheeting that are acceptable will be listed in the owner's manual.

2. Examine your ink. If your prints are fuzzy or the ink is running, try using a thicker ink. If your ink is too thick, causing smears or gumming up the process, try using a thinner ink for your printing projects.

3. Check the lubrication and the part movements. A lack of oil can lead a press to hiccough in its movements or develop an excess of heat. If there is a problem in the movements or with a broken part, you can replace the parts and re-lubricate the press to see if the problem is resolved.

4. Contact a professional repairman. If you've gone through all the materials and the workings of the press and can't find the problem (or you found the problem and don't know how to fix it), get your press professionally serviced.

References

• Plastic: Plastic Printing Press
• EZ Screen Print: Troubleshooting