74SM 5 Colour dampening roller settings

Discussion in 'Heidelberg Printing Presses' started by Mbangi, Nov 4, 2019.

  1. Mbangi

    Mbangi Member

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    Hi all,I have been struggling with inconsistent water feed after I have done setting on all units by the book with correct required bidlines, some unit show scaming while other show more water and they exchange if today was black tomorrow will be may blue like that, but pan rollers keeps on picking and building up with alot of ink, water system is been run using fountain solution only without alcohol, please advise
     
  2. turbotom1052

    turbotom1052 Senior Member

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    If you are certain that all roller settings and roller durometers are correct, and that your chemistry is correct, then I would be looking at 2 things.... Be sure that there are no traces of calcium buildup on ALL your rollers. There are times where if calcium is allowed to build up too much, for too long, nothing short of removal from the press, and a good hand scrubbing will resolve. Also it would be advised to de sensitize the metal plated rollers in your Alcolor system. Once you've got your rollers and water system free of contaminants then you need to start a strict routine of maintenance that will keep things clean. Once, or even twice a week calcium rinses, would not in my opinion be excessive. And a weekly desensitizing of your chrome dampener rollers a good idea also. It would also be suggested that you utilize the air curtain equipped on the press to keep fountain solution from migrating up the roller train creating an overemuslification of the rollers.
     
  3. Mbangi

    Mbangi Member

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    Thanks for the reply, I cleaned the steel rollers with steel roller cleaner and it worked now they all stay clean, thanks for your expetisee.
     
  4. turbotom1052

    turbotom1052 Senior Member

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    One way to keep then clean would be to coat them with a thin film of A.G.E at the end of the shift. Its recommended that you disengage your Z roller before doing this, as you don't want the A.G.E. to get up into your ink rollers. This will keep the chrome roller hydrophilic. If you can keep your metal plated rollers free of ink, it will be much easier to keep your rubber pan roller ink free also.
     
  5. asem alsafady

    asem alsafady Senior Member

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    Hi Tom,
    Sorry but what is A.G.E
    Thanks in advance.
     
  6. turbotom1052

    turbotom1052 Senior Member

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    A.G.E. is an abbreviation for Asphaltum, Gum, and Etch. Its a dark brown liquid thats commonly used for long term litho plate storage. Its something that needs to be shaken before each use because it will quickly separate into distinct layers in the bottle. It is also a pretty decent plate cleaner if your looking for something mild, that will not cause problems if left on the plate for a bit, like some stronger plate cleaners will. When used to coat the metal rollers of your Alcolor system over night, its the Etch component of AGE that cleans out the chrome of any oily film that will attract ink. Then its the Gum component that will help render the surface of the metal hydrophilic. Hydrophilic would be defined as a surfaces ability to attract water. A hydrophilic surface will aid in reducing the surface tension, allowing the fountain solution to better disperse itself over the surface of the Alcolor rollers. The etch and gum thats present in your fountain solution helps in doing this, but its usually at lower concentrations.
     
  7. mantman

    mantman Senior Member

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    I ve read before about A.G.E. and i am interested in it. Not sure if supplier know of it like A.G.E., is there any company that make it in Europe, or a way to make something like it -combine plate cleaner with gum-?
     
  8. asem alsafady

    asem alsafady Senior Member

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    Thanks a lot Tom for your valued information.

    Mantman
    I have tried a product from ABC called CDR, at my chrome rollers in it was really excellent. But actually, I don't know if its components are the same like A.G.E
     
  9. turbotom1052

    turbotom1052 Senior Member

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    Ive never whipped up a batch of my own AGE but im guessing that combining Asphaltum, Gum Arabic, and etch will cover the main ingredients. I don't know the ratios of each chemical, and I would guess there might also be some preservatives to keep the gum arabic from going sour. Im not aware of any European suppliers of the product as im located in the United States.
     

  10. Travis Young

    Travis Young Member

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    I just use white gum washout on the steels at the end of every day. Only takes a minute and does the job fine.
     
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