New here, list of issues with SM74

[Jwatt38]

TLDR: New here, inheriting a '96 model, lots of issues but it runs, new to printing industry, please help me lol.


Hey all. Just joined today. I am a press assistant and will most likely be taking over the press when my lead pressman retires. I've got about 6 months or so on the press. We have a 6 color with perfecter and a coating unit. I am completely new to the printing industry but have lots of technical and mechanical experience in various fields. our press was born in 1996, we got it in 2000 or 2001. We have only had Heildleberg onsite once when the press was installed, my manager received training. So this thing has been running for 25 years generally problem free.......but, as with any 30 years old piece of machinery we are seeing more and more issues, we are constantly fighting things, and even running into issues none of the 3 of us (lead pressman, manager, myself) can figure out. Lead pressman and manager are older fellas and not totally down with the inter webs, well my manager is, lead pressman not even a little lol. We've got a younger pressman who runs our digital press and he told me about this forum, so I thought I'd join and seek some advice from the collective.

As I'm still learning all the lingo and proper words for the press I'll first apologize for that. But I also tend to use my own funny words for things and thats just who I am. I do like to know the real terms. for example The wash up towels and the device that holds the wash up towels, I just call it the paper towel holder. I know the proper term, as I've been trained at least, but my brain can sometimes get to other words faster lol. This can appear as a lack of seriousness or not caring, I assure you this is not the case as I find this machine absolutely fascinating and I want to understand it as much as I can without being a engineer that works for Heidelberg.

With that all said, what's the best way to go about all this? We have several issues across the press. Some are simply needing parts, like we had two chillers die, rollers for unit 1, etc. But some are electrical and odd and should be a simple replace part, plug and play, and nothing but issues.....Should I make separate posts for all these issues or should I just spill beans in one long post and let y'all direct me to answers? I tried searching for the first thing I was hoping to find with no luck, a service manual, the info that tells us which order and what needs to be removed to make other repairs. Example, the air cylinders that move the water form and chrome roller, we can easily replace operator side but can't figure out the gear side........

Thank you in advance for all the help and guidance as I slowly learn this really cool machine.

 

[junker1984]

Hey Jwatt, i was one of the “lucky” staff mechanics to be sent to the factory for the 2 week crash course for installation and repair of the 74 press line prior to its market release. It was sad to see the 72 line get discontinued, but it was all about automation and developing a one man press. I have very little documentation left from my wrenching days, but will help if I can.

 

[Jwatt38]

Hey Jwatt, i was one of the “lucky” staff mechanics to be sent to the factory for the 2 week crash course for installation and repair of the 74 press line prior to its market release. It was sad to see the 72 line get discontinued, but it was all about automation and developing a one man press. I have very little documentation left from my wrenching days, but will help if I can.

Sorry for the slow reply. Id appreciate any and all the help I can get. I'm pushing hard to get Heidelberg to come to our shop and train me, no luck so far though lol. So forums it is.

The most helpful thing I need right now is a service manual. We've got all the parts manuals, and I love a good exploded diagram. But I'm running into things I can't repair because I'm not sure what to take apart in what order without messing everything up.

The second thing is just understanding what this movement does in the press or how to identify issues to troubleshoot and a trouble shooting tree. I know troubleshooting trees are usually a self built, in your head, sort of thing. But these are my two big struggles currently.

 

[junker1984]

Service manuals were developed and laid out to give us tolerance and guidance in use of proprietary tooling, not a reference to tell you how to take something apart and put it together. The information given assumed you were familiar with and possessed the tooling required. For now, maybe ask specific questions about specific issues.

 

[turbotom1052]

I would say that to be successful in your new promotion there are a few things that need to align to give you a shot at success. Number one would be the presence of someone within the company that your could turn to thats well versed in multicolor presswork and willing to help you, for them inevitable times when you become at a loss for solutions when problems arise. To think that you could just jump onto this forum to learn how to print would be unrealistic. As helpful as this forum can be in certain instances it would at the very least require that you posses a rudimentary understanding of the process beyond the short period of time youve spent as a feeder operator. You would need an employer that would be willing to allow for the following.... longer than usual makeready times as you acclimate yourself to the job. A willingness to be accepting of sub par work and even bounced jobs as you learn. A willingness to provide you with enough additional paper and time to be able to cover for the longer makereadies and spoilage thats usually associated with less experienced press staffing. A willingness to provide you with a fully experienced feeder operator because you will have your hands full learning your new position, and not much time for training and/or running back and forth from feeder to delivery. The path from short time feeder operator to lead pressman on a 6/c plus coater machine is a HUGE jump. Usually todays fully competent feeder operators become tomorrow's single color or 2 color pressman. I wish you luck in your promotion. I think you will need it!!! I dont say all of this to be hurtful or to shake your confidence but more so as to see you have reasonable expectations of success.