SM 52 5 color

Hi there! Just recently took a new job on a SM52 after being on 40inch or larger for over 25 years. Im having trouble chasing jobs with ink and water balancing. Water seems to be running at at least 80% to keep plates clean but then washing out color.We are rurunning direct to press plates which I don't have experience in and prisco 3451 and prisco alcohol replacement 8000. Rollers are relatively new and adjusted well. Any ideas on what to try?

 

MCKarpes

It is a big difference to go from 40" world to the half size. The roller train doesn't hold the same amount of ink and it helps to run your ink sweeps up higher. Also the metre I would run more open than a 40" which helps keeping the sweep lower but the flip side is. When the press beats up and you don't have a techno-trans to maintain temperature you will be resetting the metre as the shift goes on. I also cut the alcohol replacement by half. They are different beast to run compared to the large formate, all you need is some time. Trust when I say going from one press to another is tough, I do it every day ! Remember, printing is a process of predicable results by action of an operator.

FSA