XPRES 5013 - Base Cracking Issue

Hi all. Anyone else use Xpres 5013 and experiencing base cracking issues when using a mug press recently?

We lost 20 out of 36 from one box yesterday and 6 from a new box today. Same temp, same time, same pressure as for the last few years but recent load are literally cracking be it a 1" crack or completely from side to side along the bottom. Also as with others now experiencing Grade B mugs in the boxes which are meant to be Grade A++ so pin pricks, raised ceramic bumps, chips e.t.c.

I have had mixed results from other supplier mugs (boring old "what is the best mug" subject goes on) but now I must admit with the price rise and quality down with Xpres then probably need to jump ship to another supplier of 10oz mugs.

Could anyone here tell me that they managed a full top to bottom print on the MDP Orca mugs and if so what settings please?

I've had mixed results with the MDP Orca 11oz but I'm brand new to this and wasn't sure if it was me just finding my way with them

I was trying to print top to bottom black and was getting patchy purple at the bottom and either side of the handle - I was preheating them in the mug press before applying the transfer and pressing but was still getting not perfect results

After more research on here I started to pre heat them in a standard oven to get the bases and handles warmed through - this saw better results but still not perfect

I was only taping either side of the handle so decided to try taping around the bottom as well - this again saw slight improvement but in all honesty I still haven't found a foolproof method yet

MDP Orca 11 oz Standard
Signzworld digital mug press
Ink Experts Sublinova ink with versa paper
180 degrees - 180 seconds

Thank you. That is exactly the issue we had with them as well so wonder if anyone else manages a good top to bottom in a mug press (not oven)?

I sort of convinced myself that because I was getting perfect coverage across the rest of the mug (including the top) that it might not be a coating issue and that maybe a higher temperature press might just do it but haven't tried it yet

As I say the only parts where it was not perfect (by the end of my tinkering they were very close but not 100%) were the base and the extremes near the handle where it was close to the edge of the element

At the time I was just producing samples so shrank the black design in a bit which sorted my particular issue

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UK Printed Mugs

Could anyone here tell me that they managed a full top to bottom print on the MDP Orca mugs and if so what settings please?

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Hi olly

i make a few different full prints on the 10oz mdp mugs.
I use the same settings and times I use for all my mugs. 185s 185c with the top to bottom mugs I do heat the bases a little more than regular prints as it seems to suck the heat from the press.

You could just boil the kettle and add 2” of boiling water to the mug for 10 seconds before you press.

If you want to send me a design I can print one and press it to show you.

UK PM Did you get in touch with Xpres about your Mug issues and if so what did they say?

They never got back to me but did refund the 32 mugs that were affected.

Are you still using Xpres for mugs then UKM? Prices seem up at most suppliers, ink experts do some with boxes but not seen any reviews on them

Mark

Yes having to stick with Xpres and in reality nothing beats them for the type of printing we do. Tried everything else.

Forum discount presumably helps with the price rises though