QS Series Basic Operator's Guide
materials on racks, lay the rolls into half of the cardboard
shipping tube.
Corona or plasma treated materials should be stored fully
wrapped, in their original packaging. Contact with air will
degrade their surface qualities. The storage area should be
free from extremes of temperature, dirt, and moisture.
Handling media
Many media materials can gain improved adhesion after
cleaning with isopropyl alcohol and a lint free cloth.
For example, use isopropyl alcohol to clean materials with
release liners. The material used to adhere the liners leaves
residue on the material and further degrades adhesion.
Grease and oils from handling and some manufacturing
processes can act in a similar fashion. Cotton gloves may be
necessary in some conditions to prevent fingerprints and oils
from transferring to the media.
For sheet materials that do not remain flat during the
printing process reduce the cure intensity until the media
lays flat. Heat may cause very thin sheet stock (under 0.030”
[0.762 mm]) to lift from the vacuum table. Slowly reduce the
cure energy level until it stops. Once this has been
determined, recheck curing and adhesion.
As heavy ink densities amplify the heat on the material
briefly, keeping ink back from the edge can be helpful.
Roll stock of thin plastics and films is also an alternative to
sheets. Roll stock provides a “built-in” leader between each
print, and more surface of the material in contact with the
vacuum table hold-down.
Media flatness
Rigid materials used on your QS Series printer must be
inherently flat. The thickness and flatness characteristics of
these types of materials must not exceed 75% of the intended
print gap.
For example, a typical print gap of 0.060” (1.524 mm)
requires that the rigid material flatness/thickness tolerance
not exceed 0.045” (1.143 mm) — or about 5% of the print gap.
High-quality substrates are a major factor in obtaining a
high quality print. While it is important to start with a good
64 OMM-00038-US English-F
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