Print not transferring to mugs

[bfos]

Hi

I was wondering if someone could help me.

I have just purchased a Galaxy GS 201 Mug Press from Signzworld. My set up is:

Printer - Ricoh 3110
Inks - Sublijet R
Paper - True Pix
Mugs - White ORCA double coated 11oz small handled Mugs

I have tried sublimating 7 images tonight at various times, temps and pressures and all of them are really faded (the image on the paper doesn't even look any different to before it was pressed). No matter what settings i use, the image doesn't get any better.

When heating the press i am putting in a cold mug, taping my image to another mug and wrapping it in a plain piece of paper. Once heated i swap the mugs over. I have also tried putting the image on a pre warmed mug with a piece of plain paper wrapped round it and it made no difference to the image quality.

When the timer beeps the handle on my mugs aren't hot to touch at all (is that normal)?

I haven't set the temp calibration as im not 100% sure what this means, but seeing as i've tried different temps, that should make up for not adjusting that in some way.

I'm not sure if its me or if maybe the press is faulty and not getting hot enough seeing as no matter what i do, it doesn't make the image better.

Ive tried 180/180secs, 200/160secs, 190/210sec, really high pressure (really struggled to push down the lever), two lower pressures but the mug was still unable to turn once clamped. Also when i put the cold mug in, the temperature doesn't change.

Please help. I will ring Signzworld on Monday for some advice too.

Many thanks
Nikki

[gorgall2]

How hot is the mug when it comes out? Are you able to handle it, or can you only hold it by the handle?

[gorgall2]

Are you sure you are working in Celsius and not Fahrenheit?

[bfos]

Are you sure you are working in Celsius and not Fahrenheit?

Definitely Celsius as it only goes up to 200 degrees. The mugs are hot when they come out but handle isnt.

[bfos]

[gorgall2]

Are you printing on the right side of the paper?

[gorgall2]

Also until you get it right, just print on a small part of the mug, then you can use it for testing several times and save your stock.

[bfos]

I will double check tomorrow but I'm sure I am as ive been heat pressing coasters, phone cases etc using the same printer.

Yes I will definitely just print small images from now on otherwise I'll be out of ink, paper and mugs before I know it.

[Paul]

Go for 180c for 320 sec. Make sure younprint on correct side od paper too.
when placing mug in, dont do it to tight. Just enough to firmly close the press. If you do it to tight you will get blurry images.

Mug press droping temperatute when you placingnnew mug in and it looks likenit cant reach it back up in rhe time so set 320 seconds and seen what will happen.
This should be plenty enough to get the temp back up and sublimate nice mug.

[bfos]

Thanks Paul. Checked in printing on right side of paper and set it at 180/320 seconds. This is the result I got, the mug on the right. It's come out no different to the one on the left that was printed for a lot less time :-(. The pressure was set just so I needed a bit of force to close so not too hard. Have no idea what else I can try.