Its HOT & you need to PRINT 🥵

Tips on how to beat the heat when DTF printing

Printing with any water based inks in temperatures above 22c requires the humidity to be within certain parameters. If the humidity is to low (below 45), the environment absorbs the water from the ink changing its surface tension and making it difficult for the print head to jet correctly. This results in more regular print head cleaning to avoid partially restricted nozzles or worse blocked nozzles. If your print head gets to hot, anywhere above 29c it simply cannot print correctly and will be damaged.

Air Conditioning - Yes or No?

Built in air conditioning with an external compressor/condenser controls humidity better than a stand alone condensing unit. Keeping the air temperature down is good practise but you may need a humidifier to keep your humidity up. Investing in a humidifier will be a sound investment as it can help to increase the lifespan of your print heads. If you have a concrete floor, mopping it with cold water in the non walking areas can boost the humidity in a matter of minutes.

Correct use of fans

Using a fan to help circulate the air around your print room is a good idea, but the airflow must not be directed to or near the printer or finisher. If a fan or draft from a window causes the airflow in the finishing unit to move, the dryer will struggle to cure and will use more electricity trying to maintain temperature. This can also cause excess vapor in the room as it is pushed out of the dryer. The same goes for the printer; never allow a draft or fan to move air directly into or around the printer. This will cause the heads to dry up and can cause fuzzy prints due to the ink being jetted getting moved with the airflow.

Film Pre-Heat plates

Reducing the temperature of your printer's film pre and post heat plates can help maintain a lower internal temperature. During hot weather, the preheat function is less crucial, so decreasing it by 5°C to 15°C can prevent overheating in the carriage chamber. If your printer features a heated vacuum bed, ensure it is set to 20°C, which will be cooler than the room temperature on hot summer days.

Take Temporary Measures

Whilst it's great to have good weather, this time of year the temperatures are unusually high and will for sure catch some people out. Try to print early in the morning; I very often used to start printing at 4:00 am when I was a litho printer many years ago. Our exclusive Trade Print Service will do the same over the next few weeks and any other days where we know issues will be caused. Start early, finish early, and enjoy the late afternoon sunshine 🌞. If your conditions are too far out from the norm, you will be wasting your time and consumables trying to produce quality printed films.

I hope this information helps to keep your DTF systems running, any questions, drop them into the comments section.

Colin