Thread: Kba 105 rapida

Hello
I am new to this forum, I just thought id ask a question to introduce myself.

I currently work on a straight 8 Kba Rapida 105 press, Id like to know whats the general opinion on this press? As there is also a Komori L40 in our factory and the genral feeling is that the build quality is a lot higher on the Komori and the damping seems a lot better.

What year and model of a Rapida 105 are we talking about? Ra 105 Universal or P40 or Ra 106?
What year Komori?
Everyone will have a different opinion on any two machines. Not sure why the opinion wouldbe that the Komori is a higher quality machine. Can you give somemore specifics?
The dampener on the Komori I believe is a reverse nip type which can be touchy but can be mastered. The KBA will have a computer controlled, "Delta style" that can be integrated or not. The speed compensation curves for the dampener and inker need to be tweeked to individual shop conditions.
Both are great machines, one is simpler and one is a complex electronic tool. lol

D

Its a universal 105 8 units plus coater and the Komori was built in 1996.

As for the work output i think the KBA does a fantastic job, when we say the Komori is a higher quality machine, we mean in build quality.

Im glad you seem to have a knowledge of the KBA damper, can you answer me this then please, The water level on each unit can go from 1 - 100 points on the computer, and you can also increase the speed from 1-3, On a wide sheet for example 1000mm If there was reasonable amount of ink coverage i would set my speed to 3 and the water level to say 34 points for that unit. Would it be the same if my speed was at 2 and my water level higher? say at 45? Is this doing exactly the same thing? What would be your advice on this.

As for the Komori I have never actually operated the machine as a number 1 so I cant answer much on the damping, although I do know that currently they are running UV jobs with the Mckinnley rollers in and they have big problems with scumming.



Thank you in advance

I could be mistaken but I believe that the 1 - 3 setting is how fast the water speeds up when the press is started up. It is meant to help clean up the plates on heavier coverages when the press is ramping up to run speed.

Rapida guy, I run a 2005 ra105, We run the recommended water setup with the waterform set to the distributor 5 or 6mm. What is the deal with running the water rollers seperate from the ink train? We had a pressman that swore by it and when he set it up, we inked up and all the rollers were saturated with water!

Are you talking about the ink/damper water seperation button on the console?

Hi 9ckba
Running your press with the inkers and damp system linked together or disconnected depends on certain job requirements.
They should be disconnected if you are printing metalic inks or there is less than about 20% ink coverage on the sheet, also if your press has delta mode on the damper the link will be disconnected automatically(on some presses). If you are running ink coverage of above 20% aprox, or a varnish then link the dampers and inkers together,it will help to keep any reversed out image running clean.The press manufacturers say that running with the inkers and dampers engaged will help to attain a quicker balance on the rollers and provide more consistant ink readings during the run, as long as all rollers are set correctly.
If all rollers are set correctly it should run well in either situation. We have an 8colour KBA perfector where i work it's designed to print 4/4 conventional inks so the inkers and dampers are always in contact,there is no option to split the inkers and dampers so it depends what the machine is designed for and what kind of work you are printing.
regards johnyprint

Yes the button on the console and there are 2 different ways in the kba manual to run jobs.

As Johnyprint said i think it depends on the job.
When our KBA was first installed we were told to use the connection, but now we never use it.
We use a lot of special colours and using the connection is not an option as it just emulsifies the ink, we generally use setting 2 on the metering speed and our waters are around the 34 mark, although as I said at the start of this post, we put the setting speed to 3 on wider sheets as this seems to help clear the "catch up"

Regards