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| BUILDING-When searching for a
building for your print shop, the most important thing to research is the
electricity. You must have at least 400 amps for the average small shop with
either single (1PH) or three phase (3PH) for dryers and compressors (10HP
compressors and up are 3PH) and 600 amps (3PH) for larger shops depending on
the amount of equipment. Water and sewer location is also important screen
prep. |
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| BUYING EQUIPMENT-When buying
equipment over the internet or through a broken, research the equipment and
the seller the best you can. Call printing associates or technicians
that you know to try and locate some information about the buy. Be sure
and get the finalization in writing with serial number if possible and full
description of what will be in the purchase and accessories of the equipment.
M&R equipment has a machine number stamped on it which can be backed into to
get an idea of when the unit was made. The most
important documentation is, if there is a warranty, state what is covered and
for how long with covering details like how payment of services are made.
When it starts and ends needs to be stated which recommend to start at install
completion. |
| CLEANING-To keep a press clean,
wipe it down with cheap baby oil. Periodically re-wipe it with an oily rag to
remove tack and lint and to recoat with fresh oil. To clean a dirty press, mix
50/50 mineral spirits/paint thinner with lacquer thinner to remove dried tack.
ONLY use mineral spirits to clean the control
panel to prevent removing information and damaging plastic components.
Spray tack is very damaging to the press resulting in
premature failure of components and costly repairs. Roll-on water base tack is
cleaner and more cost effective. |
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| ELECTRIC-Battery-It
should be replaced every 3 yrs and no longer than 5 yrs on
Omron and Mitsubishi
(where applicable) CPU's to
prevent lose of the program memory which will be very costly to replace.
Spikes-To help prevent power spikes and
outages that could damage the CPU of printing presses, connect the press
supply cord into a COMPUTER battery back-up which will arrest power spikes and
allow ample time to shut down the press. |
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| PNEUMATIC-FLR-It's
important to keep water from entering the filter unit. When it does, drain
often until problem is fixed. If water travels into the lubricator, it will
mix with the oil into a slime which will clog up the pick-up tube and stop oil
flow. Blowing compressed air into the pick-up sometimes will dislodge the
restriction and oil will then flow into the air stream. A filter unit with an
automatic drain will discharge water when water builds up.
MUFFLERS-The mufflers on all valves can become
clogged over time which can cause cylinders they drive to operate slow and not
at full strength. The speed control mufflers on Mosier index cylinders can
become clogged quicker in their position from spray tack forming on the
outside. When erratic action is present, replace mufflers and speed mufflers.
Pressure-Presses that have
SMC valves should have an incoming air pressure set at 100 lbs to
prevent blowing out seals in the valves. |
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