Tyvek paper

Has anyone ever printed on this type of paper?

 

Grrrrr.

 

yo Paulie..... please explain!

 

I have run Tyvek on conventional machines, but never on a DI, although it may be possible.

Tyvek, is a synthetic fiber paper like material manufactured by DuPont. The fiber material was accidentally discovered in 1955 at an experimental DuPont plant while making some other product with Polyethylene.

And therein where the problem with printing on it lies. It is basically plastic and not a porous fiber like pulp which is ready and willing to take ink. Not to mention Tyvek is about as slippery as you can get. Trying stacking a couple of thousand flat sheets of it, let alone the dreaded envelopes.

On the DI it is a difficult prospect at best as you do not have the range of fast drying inks to choose from that you would on a conventional machine. Sheet control is also compromised on a Classic or Plus version of the DI due to it's direct feed set up. The Pro version of the press has a much more flexible feeder set up when trying to run difficult stocks such as Tyvek.

If you are to run it on the DI I recommend having a dryer, run small lifts, run lots of powder and having tons of patience. I also do not recommend even attempting to cut down the sheets until they have been sitting for a couple of days.

 

Yes I know what you mean. Having a hard time feeding on a classic. Sheets are all over the place. Client sent me 8.5x 11. I gave up after 15 minutes.
I dont think I will waste my time inking up my 2001 Pro 5 mill. imps. in mint condition, in case you did not know this press is for sale. LOL .
Im having a special this week buy one get one free.
As always thanks for your help you are the man......

 

"Buy one get one free" now that's funny I don't care who you are...

 

Paul
good news to report! I was sitting in my office bored watching TV. I said to myself self why dont you do somthing productive. So I went out to shop and setup the Pro for the Tyvek. It ran like a champ. Made a couple of minor adjustments. Ran 1000 sheets at 7500 did not trip once.
If there is nothing good on TV today I might even put some ink in and see how it prints. I will keep you posted...

 

I figured the Pro would be able to handle it. It has the same feeder as an SM52 and we can run Tyvek on the SM52. Drying will be the next issue for you.

You might be on to something with the new "being productive" thing.

 

The tyvek handled the ink well. I ran a 2 color job some screens and bold type. Dried fast. I guess if i was running a full solid or a rich black I would not be as lucky. I forgot how fun it is to run a press.
If anyone is looking for a pressman give me a call. Im not very productive, I only work when I feel like it and my rate is $150.00 per hour.
I think I would fit right in at Heidelberg USA. Hey Paul may you can send my resume to your boss....

 

$150 lol ....... is that all !!!!

 

I have run Tyvek on both the QMDI as well as the Ryobi 3404 DI. It is somewhat of a pain to set up to register sheet to sheet...but once you get the right setting, it is smooth flowing. I have a monthly job that is printed on the 14# substrate.
I have not ran any size larger than 8.5 x 11...I wanted to run as tight and least number up as possible. It certainly does like to offset, so I crank up the IR and powder. If/when I get a jam, the sheet under the IR gets shriveled up like a prune.
That thin stock doesn't like the push guide so well...you would have thought for as much engineering they put into these presses, they would have at least made them pull guide registered.

 

When the machine was first made, Heidelberg was only expecting to sell 60 or so at DRUPA in 1995. In an effort to keep costs affordable as well as functional to the customer the machine was designed to be as mechanically simple as possible. There were many things that could have been put on the machine that were left off, side guides like on a bigger press (Pull guides) were one of them. It turns out orders for 400 machines were signed at that DRUPA show for the QMDI.

Later the SM52 feeder was incorporated into the QMDI PRO machine.

Sometimes you just don't know what you have until you offer it to the public...

 

I'll take two if you throw in free shipping