Heat Resistance
Heat Resistance
Vertu Ascent Ti – Heat Resistance Test
Look After Your Heat Press!
The humble heat transfer press is actually capable of being the most effective profit generator in any garment decorating business. It alone has the capability of transforming a plain garment into a plethora of exciting finishes. And you don’t need a degree in rocket science to use one. So it always comes as something of a surprise to me that the heat press is one of the most over looked, and neglected,pieces of machinery.
Almost any other piece of equipment requires regular preventative maintenance to ensure consistent levels of performance. But how many users ever bother to carry out any form of maintenance on their heat press?
If that statement has got you worried, then breathe again. If you own a quality built press then the truth is that very little maintenance is required, as there are few moving parts to cause serious problems. But considering that it plays such an important part in the garment decorating aspect of your business, wouldn’t it be sensible just to take some simple maintenance to ensure trouble free use? In fact, research shows that the majority of breakdowns and machine down time is due almost entirely to lack of preventative maintenance, and planning for that possibility.
It makes sense to know what could possibly go wrong – and all of these issues can be easily remedied, you don’t have to be a mechanical or technical genius. And before you find yourself without the use of your press with a deadline to deliver tomorrow, just allow a few minutes each week to check over the machine. Start with the manual – most manufacturers’ state what maintenance should be carried out, and identify parts that may need to be replaced. If you don’t know where the manual is (and you’d be surprised at how many people don’t!) nowadays most good suppliers will have an on-line manual or a PDF file that can be downloaded to your computer.
The parts that make up a heat press can be briefly summarised as follows. The most important part of any heat press is the heater element. Quality presses have elements that carry a lifetime warranty and should not ever need replacing. Normally I would say that it is more beneficial to replace a heat press after many years use rather than try and replace the element. Next up is the heat controller or thermostat. There are essentially two main types – digital and analogue. Inevitably the analogue version is simpler and therefore cheaper to replace, and it is good policy to keep a spare available to minimise potential downtime.
An analogue controller works by using metal contacts. As the temperature of the heating element reaches the preset level, a metal strip fixed to a contact point in the controller expands and thus stops the flow of electricity between two points. The opposite effect occurs when the temperature falls, and the metal strip contracts, thereby allowing the two points to make contact again. The electricity flows again, and this causes the heat to increase again and so on. This type of controller has been in use for many years successfully, but in recent years the move has been towards digital controllers, and usually now analogue controllers are seen only on the budget priced presses.
The digital controller normally uses a thermocouple, which is attached to the heating element. Basically, it “instructs” the controller to increase or decrease the flow of electricity and thus increasing or reducing the temperature as is required to maintain the preset level. Digital heat controllers are more expensive, but the prudent business will still hold a spare, to avoid the risk of failing to meet a customer’s deadline.
The lower platen pad is usually made of silicone rubber. The cost of replacement may seem expensive but you should consider that its function is critical to good application. It will ensure that there is even pressure right across the area where the image is being applied. Since it is virtually impossible for the aluminium heat casting to be perfectly flat (particularly when subject to heat), the silicone rubber pad serves to even out any imperfections, thereby ensuring firm, even pressure.
What may happen after a lot of use is that the pad may adopt the contour shape it would normally even out, creating a “low” spot. Often operators think that, should a part of a transfer fail to stick to the garment after the backing paper is peeled, their machine is suffering from a “cold spot” – but in reality it is often the low spot on the silicone pad that’s the culprit! It is a relatively easy job to replace a pad. The old pad must be removed and any residue scraped away to leave a clean, lower metal base platen. A special glue (able to withstand high temperatures) is spread across the entire platen, and the new pad placed carefully in position on the lower platen. Then close the press (with the machine switched off so that is “cold”) and leave it overnight under a firm pressure setting to make sure that the glue gets a solid bond with both pad and platen.
Finally, on the question of “spare parts” in stock, you should consider holding spares of smaller, low value, items that occasionally require replacement. I would recommend that you hold a spare timer; relay; on/off switch; fuse, and thermocouple. Although most good suppliers will have such parts in stock for immediate despatch, you can be sure that the part will go just before the weekend, so that your machine is down just when you need it!
The other things to look out for are checking that your mains (power) lead is in good condition, with no chafing or split/worn areas that could cause problems; and refer to your manual for any lubrication requirements (make sure that you only use a small amount of lubricant, which should be heat resistant, and don’t spill any on a part of the press that may come into contact with any item that you subsequently press!)
There are also a few “tips” which may prove useful. Buy a Teflon platen protector which will cover the lower platen pad, which will give the benefits of (a) preventing wear and tear (b) enabling easy movement of the garment on the platen (c) prevent inks (particularly sublimation) from staining the pad. A quality protector will certainly prolong the life of the lower pad for a very long time. Invest in a Teflon pillow – this enables you to apply transfers to garments and avoid problems with seams, collars, zippers and buttons. Finally, you should remember the old adage – You get what you pay for. It always better to pay a bit more for quality – you will get better longevity and service which will pay for itself many times over!
About the Author
Martin is the Vice President of Target Transfers Ltd, a GroupeSTAHL company. Target can be contacted at www.targettransfers.com or call +44 (0) 1376 326351.
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