What's The Important Features of Heat Presses and Sublimation Calender?
Heat presses/sublimation calenders consist of a variety of features, but the most important include the device’s size, heat distribution, and textile alignment.
When determining heating equipment width, there are two considerations—the size of the sublimation printer and the future requirements to what will be produced, says Stark. “Often a decorator will choose to purchase a calender press that is wider than their current printer in anticipation of growth and changes in the market.”
Heat presses are available in two options, small format and large format. According to Stark, it’s always advisable to select the heat press size based on the type of items to be imaged. “It is recommended that your press has between 0.5- and one-inch margins around all four sides.”
He also advises print service providers (PSPs) ensure the press is well constructed and can produce adequate pressure. “There are many inexpensive presses on the market, they are generally only suitable for the hobby market,” he explains. Additionally, presses should have at least one year warranty and five years on the heating element.
Large format heat presses should distribute even pressure and accurate heat across the entire platen area, recommends Cris Saunders, director of sales and marketing, Insta Graphic Systems. “Heat recovery also must be quick and within five degrees of the set temperature. Failure to maintain heat means inferior applications,” he explains.
PSPs should also pay attention to transfer paper and textile alignment. John Selfhout, manager marketing and sales, Klieverik, believes a sharp print is the result of a high resolution design and printer, as well as a transfer process where the alignment between the paper and the textile is perfect. In a heat press, this process is uncontrolled when the press is opened. “Upon lifting the top-section textile, the paper may be lifted simultaneously and in a split second the gassed inks deposit on the textile, destroying the sharp image,” he explains.
The use of sticky sublimation paper is the most common way to limit this effect. On a continuous belt calender, Selfhout believes the alignment should be perfect as well. Here, he says the belt’s steering and pressurizing are the key issues to look at. “A discontinuous belt steering—waiting till the belt wanders to one side of the machine and then counter action to direct it to the other side—may result in a lateral movement of the textile versus the paper,” he offers.
According to Chase Pender, marketing manager, Supply55, Inc., PSPs looking for heat presses and/or calenders should also consider the device’s available parts, ease of training, power requirements, and if the price meets the production requirements of the application.
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