Customer Servie Form
about us
products
request a sample
 
 

Trouble Shooting Guide for Sheetfed offset printers  ||  Trouble Shooting Guide For Web offset heatset printers

 
Trouble Shooting Guide For Web offset heatset printers
Blistering Blocking Dot Sharpness
Inadequate Drying Gloss Hickies
Inconsistent color reproduction INK / Water Balance Mileage
Markings Misregister Misting and Slinging
Mottled Solids Picking / Linting Piling
Plate Blinding Poor Rub and Scuff resistance Scumming
Roller Stripping Tinting / Toning Trapping
Web Breaks    
 
 
PROBLEM CAUSE SOLUTION
 

Blistering
A moisture explosion in the paper-looks like a bubble on both sides of web and generally in heavy coverage areas.

* Oven heat is too high.
* Excess dwell time in oven.
* Defect in paper causing excessive moisture content, improper density or base.
* Pigment strength of ink is too low, requiring more ink than normal to be carried in heavy coverage areas.
* Reduce oven temperature. Consult ink manufacturer to provide ink that can be cured at a lower temperature.
* Correlate press speed. Web dwell time in dryer, and chill roll temperature to optimum performance levels.
* Blistering may not occur across the full machine reel. Run roll from different paper machine position. Run a substitute stock. Consult paper manufacturer and reject if necessary.
* Consult ink manufacture to adjust pigment strength as needed.
    Top
 

Blocking
Undesired adhesion between printed signatures or sheets in a bundle or load causing them to stick together.

* Refer to Inadequate Drying section of this guide
 
    Top
 

Dot Sharpness
Printed screens and reverses are plugged, appearing muddied, and show higher values than the "Prog" proof shows.

* Too much form-to-plate, plate-to-blanket, or blanket-to-blanket pressure.
* Doubled or slurred dots.
* Ink body is too long and soft and is squashing at the point of impression.
* Ink is too water receptive.
* Poorly ground ink.
* Piling.
* Plate was not sharp enough to compensate for normal dot spread from film to plate to press.
* Improper ink/water balance.
* Check settings and correct to proper pressure.
* Adjust plate-to-blanket pressure. Make sure blanket is secure. Check press for roller slippage or mechanical stability at high speeds.
* Consult ink manufacturer to provide stiffer ink.
* Consult in manufacturer
* See PILING section of this guide.
* Have cameraman and platemaker cooperate in making sharper halftones, negatives, positives and plates.
* Adjust ink and water settings. Consult ink manufacturer.
    Top
 

Inadequate Drying
Ink remains tacky during press delivery and bindery operations, resulting in set-off, marking, or blocking.

* Dryer temperature too low for speed of web. Insufficient solvent being released from ink film.
* Ink film thickness excessive.
* Inadequate evacuation of solvent vapors clinging to web as it leaves dryer.
* Chill system not working properly; ink resins are not setting hard enough.
* Stock is not porous enough or has too high water content.
* pH/conductivity of fountain solution is incorrect.
* Ink takes an too much water.
* Plate dampening is uneven.
* Ink film is only surface dried in oven and still wet underneath. After chilling ink solvent will work its way toward surface causing set-off. Most likely to occur with heavier than normal ink film thickness, very non-absorbent stocks, or high oven temperature.
* Ink films do not dry at normal dryer temperature.
* Increase dryer temperature to specification level.
* Run less ink or consult in manufacturer to increase strengths for this purpose.
* Increase velocity of air in air-knife scavenger at dryer exit.
* Lower chill roll temperature. Caution: Watch for chill roll condensation.
* Switch stock to correct porosity or water content.
* Adjust pH/conductivity to proper level. Refer to Ink Manufacturer.
* Consult ink manufacturer for proper adjustment.
* Keep dampeners clean and free from accumulated dirt. Prevent drafts, check windows, vents, and forced air systems.
* Reduce speed of press, Adjust oven temperature.
* Consult ink manufacturer for ink that dry at lower temperatures.
    Top
 

Gloss
There is a decrease in the normal reflection of light from the dried ink surface whether observed visually, or read via glossmeter.

*Paper too ink absorbent. Paper surface too rough and grainy.has poor gloss.
* Dryer temperature too high
* Press dampeners - too much water being introduced in to inking system.
* Ink film thickness too low.
* Excessive ink vehicle penetration into web.
* Consult paper manufacturer to obtain stock with more ink hold out obtain stock with smoother surface better gloss.
* Consult ink manufacturer to obtain low temperature inks. Decrease press speed to allow decrease of oven temperature.
* Cut back on amount of fountain solution used. Consult ink manufacturer of decrease water receptivity of ink.
* Increase ink film thickness being carried on web.
* Reduction of heat in dryer. Increase press speed to reduce oven dwell time, maintain sufficient chilling capacity. Consult ink manufacturer, obtain inks with better hold-out.
    Top
 

Hickies
Doughnut shaped or irregularly shaped white spots surrounding a small spot of ink.

Doughnut Shaped Hickies.
* Dried ink particles.
* Flakes of inking rollers.
* Glazed rollers.
* Disintegration of dampener roller sleeves or rollers due to wear.
* Foreign particles (dirt) from ceiling have fallen into press.
* Loose paper dust on web.
* Avoid dried ink skin when removing ink from cans or kits. Protect ink remaining in a can or kit from oxidation drying and formation of ink skin by applying a sheet of paper or plastic on top of it. Clean the press thoroughly and remove all dried ink in the fountain or on the rollers before inking up the press. Prevent the ink in the ink fountain from mixing with dried ink around tie ink fountain edges. Prevent ink from caking on the ends of rollers by lubrication and manual washing. Use a leather covered or a grained rubber roller. This will pick up hickies that are passed on to the plat. Remove the leather-covered rollers and clean them thoroughly as needed.
* Recondition the rollers and drums. Replace if necessary.
* Use one of the specially formulated glaze-removing materials or remove the form rollers, and alternately scrub the form rollers and the drums with pumice powder and ink solvent to remove the glaze.
* Replace suspect roller sleeves or rollers with new ones.
* Vacuum clean the ceiling and everything overhead where dirt can accumulate. Paint the ceiling if necessary, or hang plastic sheeting over the press to catch the falling particles. Use a leather-covered or a grained rubber roller. This will pick up hickies that are passed on to the plate. Remove the leather-covered rollers and clean them thoroughly as needed.
* Install vacuum sheet cleaner. Consult paper manufacturer.
    Top
 

Inconsistent Color Reproduction
Color hues when printed do not match proofs.

* Paper Proofed on is not the same as that being printed. paper being printed is more absorbent.

* Excessive heat in dryer results in too much penetration of the ink resin, resulting in loss of gloss-ink is overdried.
* Special, spot color does not match proof.
* Adjust ink film thickness to that of the proof. Consult manufacturer to adjust color hue and hold-out of ink to match the proof on the actual paper being printed on Consult paper manufacturer to see if paper is available which more closely duplicates the paper proofed on.

* Reduce fryer temperature Increase press speed.

* Consult ink manufacturer.

    Top
 

Ink / Water Balance
Frequent adjustments required on press to maintain print quality.

* Excessive or insufficient dampening solution being run.
* Fountain solution too weak or improperly mixed.
* Improper dampening roller setting.
* Improper ink from roller setting
* Improper ink fountain setting.
* Weak ink, i.e. low color strength.
* Ink taking up too much water.
* Reduce or increase dampener settings.
* Check pH/conductivity and adjust accordingly. Refer to Ink Manufacturer.
* Re-set rollers. Be sure dampener form rollers are driven by the vibrator roller and not the plate.
* Conduct ink stripe test to check form roller pressure.
* Adjust the amount of ink at fountain. Allow adequate time for adjustment to take full effect.
* Consult ink manufacturer for proper adjustment.
* Consult ink manufacturer.
    Top
 

Ink Mileage
More ink used per impression than normal.

* Lack of control an color densities.
* Ink penetration into stock too rapid.
* Improper ink and water balance.
* Low pigmented inks.
* Excessive waste at start-up of run.
* Improper estimate of coverage from job to job.
* Adjust color densities to minimum, consistent with satisfactory print quality.
* Consult ink manufacturer for ink with more hold-out. Change to less porous stock.
* Reduce amount of water carried.
* Consult in manufacturer for proper tinctorial strength.
* Improve start-up procedures.
* Establish ink usage history so that these figures can be used to more accurately predict ink usage.
    Top
 

Marking
Streaks, tracks, or smudges on web due to mechanical contact.

* Grater roller.
* Web bustle wheels.
* Improper air flow through oven causing web to flutter and make contact with oven apparatus.
* Chill roll not cool enough.
* Web temperature reached in the oven is not high enough to drive off sufficient ink solvents.
* Dryer does not have capacity to properly handle press speeds reached or type of work printed.
* Paper is very non-absorbent, very little ink penetration occurs to provide basis for binding to paper.
* Ink film thickness is too great.
* Install grater roller with sharper points. Increase pigment strength of ink so as to decrease in ink film thickness carried on web.
* Move wheels so as to contact non-image areas only. If moving wheel is not possible, apply teflon tape to lessen abrasiveness of wheel surface.
* Consult oven manufacturer for proper adjustment or adjust web tension.
* Reduce chill roll temperature so that post-chill roll web temperature is 90F or less. Recommended chill roll water temperature 72-75 F. Caution: If chill rolls are too cold, condensation can occur. Reduce oven temperature to minimum necessary to get the web through chilling and press folding delivery operation.
* If flame impingement drier used, adjust flame tips to impinge properly. If high velocity forced air drier used, raise circulating air temperature in oven until marking is eliminated. Caution : Remember paper will burn at 451 F and can scorch at lesser temperatures. Decrease press speed. Increase air velocity through oven so as to remove air and vapor layer clinging to moving web. Consult in manufacturer to obtain faster drying ink.
* Consult dryer manufacturer.
* Consult paper manufacturer, change paper.
* Raise air temperature circulating in dryer. Reduce press speed to increase dwell time in dryer. Increase air velocity circulating to help remove solvent vapor layer. Consult in manufacturer, change to faster drying inks.
    Top
 

Misregister
In the press runing direction and side to side, after the press has been set for proper registration, trouble arises when some condition prevents consistently good register.

Misregister in the press running Direction :  

* One or more plates are cocked or are not properly set on their cylinder.
* One or more plates are printing longer or shorter than the others.
* Uneven blanket packing. If one of the printing units is not pulling the web fast enough, web tension between it and the following unit will build-up until the web snaps back, causing misregister.
* Web tension is too low; the higher the tension, the better the register.
* Web press tension changes during run because infeed tension changes.
* Ink at the point of impression is too high causing the web to follow the blanket more than normal. This momentarily increases the tension in localized areas and as a result can affect running register.
* Paper pile on blanket changes blanket diameter.
* Paper roll out of round or having flat areas therein.
* Plates should be handled more carefully on bending jig.
* Transfer the packing from blanket to plate to shorten the print, or from plate to blanket to lengthen the print. Maintain good tension on the web.
* Adjust blanket packing until the draws between the units are equal.
* Increase web tension in the infeed section of the press.
* Equip presses with a constant-tension infeed.
* Increase web tension. Reduce press speed. Consult ink manufacturer for tack reduction of ink causing problem.
* Wash blanket more frequently. Change to paper that is more moisture resistant.
* Constant-tension infeed will help. Increase distance traveled by the web between infeed and the first printing unit. Change to a roll that does not have problem.
  Misregister Side-to-Side (more likely with wide webs 35+ Inches.)  
 
* Non-uniform moisture content the web causes corrugation of roll, resulting in side-to-side misregister.
* Welts caused by unwrapping rolls in a high humidity area and allowing them to stand for a long time. These welts will occur no more than 25 mils in to roll. The smoll amount of corrugation will cause some side-to-side misregister just after splicing.
* Paper varies in caliper across the web .
* Web has edges due to moisture pick-up while in the roll.
* Ink tack too high at point of impression. Refer to Running direction Misregister section of this guide. #6 under cause.
* Increase distance traveled by the web between the infeed and the first printing unit. The longer this distance and the higher the web tension, the more uniform the web will be. Use a preheater on the infeed and the first printing unit to dry the paper, even out the moisture content and flatten the web. Equip press with a curved roller to spread and flatten the web.
* Remove outer 25 mils of paper. Do not unwrap rolls until just before going to press.
* Consult paper manufacturer.
* Keep rolls protected form atmospheric changes until they are mounted on the infeed stand. Increase distance traveled by the web between the infeed and the first printing unit. Increase web tension, stretching the web tends to tighten slack edges. Equip the press with a curved roller on the infeed to spread and flatten the web. Adjust the eccentric - mounted infeed roller to balance edge tension.
* Refer to Running Direction Misregister section of the guide 6# under solution.
    Top
 

Misting / Slinging
Misting - Excessive amount of ink being thrown from ink train rollers described as fine droplets.
Slinging - Ink being thrown from rollers in filaments.

* Too much ink on rollers
* Improper Ink and water balance.
* Ink is too long in body.
* Rollers are incorrectly set or in poor condition.
* Roller train too hot.
* Make press adjustment to decrease amount of ink carried or consult ink manufacturer to increase ink strength and carry less ink on rollers.
* Adjust ink and water balance to proper setting.
* Consult ink manufacturer.
* Reset rollers based on manufacturer's specifications. Replace rollers if in poor condition.
* Reduce temperature or increase flow of cooling water through ink train rollers.
    Top
 

Mottled Solids
Printed solid area is not uniform (smooth) in appearance or density.

* Stock has non-uniform surface formation.
* Too much printing pressure.
* Improperly set ink form rollers or rollers in poor condition.
* Improper ink or water balance.
* Blanket has not been changed for a long time and has become worn and rough in certain areas.
* Poor ink transfer.
* Get better grade of paper. Consult ink manufacturer to provide weaker ink and minimize penetrating tendencies.
* Reduce printing pressure.
* Check condition and reset ink form rollers to specifications.
* Adjust to proper ink and water balance.
* Replace with new blanket.
* Consult ink manufacturer.
    Top
 

Picking / Linting
Linting - Pulling fibers from uncoated stock.
Picking - Lifting of the coating form coated stocks onto blankets, plates or rollers.

 

* Too much water reaching paper.
* Dampening solution concentration too high.
* Paper surface trash, coating dust, slitter or trimmer dust.
* Base stock picks.
* Pressure set too high for ink/stock combination being used.
* Blanket is too tacky.
* Ink is too tacky for stock run.
* Reduce dampener setting for proper performance.
Adjust dampening solution mix. Consult dampening solution manufacturer.
* Make tape pulls from blanket, consult paper manufacturer.
* If serious, reject paper change to more lint or pick-resistant stock .
* Reduce impression pressure; repack to manufacturer specifications.
* Consult blanket manufacturer. Treat blanket or change to a less tacky blanket. Check blanket wash.
* Consult ink manufacturer to lower tack of ink.
    Top
 

Piling
Build up of paper coating lint, or ink on rollers, blankets or plates.

Paper :
* See Picking / Linting section of this guide.
INK :
* Ink is water logged due to insufficient body or tack.
* Ink is poorly ground, contains a coarse heavy pigment.
Mechanical
* Improper packing of cylinders or rollers not set correctly.
 
* See Picking / Linting section of this guide.
 
* Reduce dampener settings. Consult ink manufacturer.
* Consult ink manufacturer. Have ink reworked or reformulated.
 
* Check specifications and adjust it necessary.
    Top
 

Plate Blinding
(Loss of Image) Part or all of image on plate does not take ink.

Mechanical
* Excessive amount of lint deposited on place.
* Excessive plate-to-blanket pressure causing plate wear.
* Improperly set ink and dampening form rollers.
* Abrasive particles destroying image.
Chemical
* Too much acid in the fountain solution.
* Too much gum in fountain solution.
* Plate cleaners and / or scratch removers have dried on plate image.
* Detergent remains or has somehow entered the fountain system.
* Ink will not adhere to image area due to excess amount of fountain solution being accepted by the ink.
* Plate not completely developed.
 
* See Picking / Linting section of this section.
* Re-set to specifications. Use packing gauge to check pressure.
* Roller could be too hard-check durometer. Also check setting; re-set if too much pressure exists.
* Check ink grind, fountain solution, solvents, etc. Replace all contaminated material.
 
* Check pH/conductivity and adjust to 4.0-4.5 pH.
* Re-etch plate and rub-up image areas with press ink. Drain fountain solution and refill with top water. If image returns, replace top water with fountain solution containing less gum.
* Always rinse plate thoroughly and immediately after using such items.
* Make sure that all parts that come in contact with cleaning detergent have been thoroughly rinsed before re-installing in press.
* Reduce dampener setting to minimum; if problem persists consult ink manufacturer.
* Wash plate. If problem persists have plate remade.
    Top
 

Poor Rub and Scuff Resistance
Printed ink film appears dry but exhibits poor rub and / or scratch resistance when abraded.

* Too much water run on job or paper too much water.
* pH of fountain solution too high.
* Ink not fully dry.
* Poor Paper coating integrity.
* Roughness of paper surface creates poor rub between unprinted paper surface and printed paper surface (e.g. some dull coat type stocks.)
* Too much ink.
* Ink is not properly formulated for rub resistance.
* Reduce dampener setting. Change paper.
* Very high pH/ conductivity is indicative of too much acid in fountain solution which can retard or prevent drying of inks. Adjust pH/conductivity accordingly. Refer to Flint Ink Corp. Technical Monograph TM84-5 on conductivity.
* Refer INADEQUATE DRYING section of this guide.
* Consult paper manufacturer.
* Consult ink manufacturer to provide ink with better rub resistance.
* Lower level of ink carried.
* Consult ink manufacturer for adjustment.
    Top
 

Scumming
The non-image area of a lithographic plate accepts ink in random areas.

* Low alcohol content in dampening system.
* Glazed blanket, ink rollers, or dampening rollers.
* Excessive printing pressure.
* Ink spreading into non-printing areas.
* Plate improperly exposed to light after being allowed to dry.
* Improper ink/water balance.
* Bring alcohol content to correct concentration.
* Clean thoroughly and recondition per manufacturer's instructions.
* Make on-press adjustment to proper pressures.
* Consult ink manufacturer to assure ink is on-standard reformulate if necessary.
* Desensitize or remake plate.
* Refer INK/WATER Balance section.
    Top
 

Roller Stripping
Rollers do not accept inks.

* Fountain solution too acid.
* Too much water being run.
* Desensitized metal vibrator rollers.
* Glazed form roller.
* Too much dampening solution being emuismed in ink.
* Check pH/conductivity and gum concentration levels of fountain solution. Refer to Flint ink Corp. Technical Monograph TM84-5 on conductivity.
* Reduce dampener setting.
* Clean rollers, copperize, wash thoroughly. Then ink rollers and wash again.
* Remove rollers from press and deglaze per manufacturer's procedure. Rinse thoroughly.
* Consult ink and dampening solution manufacturer
    Top
 

Tinting / Toning
Fine particles if ink transmitted by press water dampeners to non-image areas of plate.

* Ink bleeding into fountain solution.
* Improper fountain solution concentration.
* Improper ink and water balance.
* Too much pressure between plate and blanket.
* Improper setting or durometer of dampener or ink rollers.
* Ink not sufficiently water resistant.
* Plate improperly exposed, developed.
* Check concentration of alcohol or alcohol substitute in fountain solution. Consult ink manufacturer to reformulate using non-bleeding pigment, if possible.
* Check pH/conductivity and adjust to proper concentration. Refer to Flint Ink Corp. Technical Monograph TM84-5 on conductivity.
* Check and re-set to manufacturer's specifications.
* Check and re-set roller to manufacturer's specifications; if rollers are old, check durometer.
* Consult ink manufacturer.
* Check platemaking procedures; correct if necessary.
    Top
 

Trapping
Cannot achieve good color coverage.

* Too much tack in relation to preceding ink.
* Unequal press stability of inks. Ink tacks up quicker than preceding ink.
* Ink strength not balanced properly.
* Ink contains additive that creates a film preventing succeeding ink layers from adhering.
* Ink and water balance.
* Poor ink release from blanket.
* Improper register causing poor appearance.
* Consult ink manufacturer. Reduce tack of the ink that is not trapping properly.
* Consult ink manufacturer to coordinate stability of all ink color(s).
* Consult ink manufacturer.
* Consult ink manufacturer.
* Refer to MOTTLED SOLIDS section of this guide.
* Consult blanket and / or ink manufacturer.
* See MISREGISTER section of this guide.
    Top
 
Paper :  

Web Breaks
Tearing of web as it travels through press-can occur infeed to cut-off due to cut-off due to (1) paper defects, (2) press settings, or (3) ink.

* Excessive tension on one or both edges of web due to loss of moisture and shrinkage.
* Roll has dent or cut in end.
* Fiber cuts, hair cuts, wire holes, wrinkles, slime spots, foam spots, calendar cuts-Any one of these can start a tear.
* Bad mill splices
* Keep roll completely wrapped until ready to mount on roll stand. If the rolls are stored, make sure wrappings are undamaged.
* If dent is not deep, send or cut it out until edges of the paper are smooth. If the dent is deep, Print down to the dent, stop the press, slab off the damaged portion of roll, resplice, and resume printing. If rolls are too badly damaged. consult paper manufacturer.
* If defect are numerous consult paper manufacturer.
* If problem is extensive. The paper mill should be contracted.
  Press :  
 
* Web tension set too high.
* Printing units or other press elements may be out of line. This is indicated if a proportionately large number of web breaks occur in one section of the press. An indication of misalignment of press elements is the presence of diagonal wrinkles in any span of web in the press.
* Decrease web tension.
* Have the press alignment checked and corrected if necessary.
  INK :  
 
* Printing tack of ink is too high causing web to adhere to blanket and follow it causing a tear and subsequent web break.
* Body of ink is too long allowing drippage from fountain nip onto web-below. Web will follow blanket causing break.
* Pigment strength of ink is too low causing ink fountain keys to be opened up too much. As a result ink will drip through ink fountain nip onto web below. Web will follow blanket causing break.
* Ink slinging.
* Consult ink manufacturer.
* Consult ink manufacturer.
* Consult ink manufacturer.
* Consult MISTING / SLINGING section.
    Top
 
 
 
home contact us achievements site map choosing right paper Customer Servie Form search FAQ's