Media Usage on the Scitex FB950 Printer Notes for Users 1
Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................... 5 Print Mode Considerations ...................................................................................................................................
Introduction This handbook contains a collection of techniques and recommendations for achieving best output using the Straight-Through Paper Path (STPP) for rigid applications and the roll-to-roll web for flexible applications on the HP Scitex FB950 printer. These instructions provide you with a general knowledge of media handling, its characteristics and specific normal operation procedures.
Flexible Media Printing with flexible material is possible with the optional Supply & Takeup Support System. Flexible material should be tightly and evenly spooled onto 3-inch (7.62 cm) cores that do not exceed 98.5 inches (2.5 m) in width. The maximum diameter for the roll of media is 7.5 inches (19 cm). For details on loading and printing on flexible media, please consult the HP Scitex FB950 User Manual, Load and Print on Roll-Fed Media, p. 24.
Rigid Media One advantage of flatbed printers over platen printers is that the media drive system provides for a more consistent advance rate. With the belt-fed system there is little need to perform media feed calibrations when switching between media types or sizes. Printers that utilize a pinch roller/grit roller drive mechanism are more sensitive to changes in size or weight, so media feed calibrations are required when switching between media types.
Details on Specific Media Types Acrylic Sheet (Plexiglas® and other brand names) Considerations • Supported ( ) print modes and resolutions: 1200x600 HQ Prod 600x600 BB HQ Prod 600x300 BB HQ Prod BB Recommendations for best results Preparation • Peel the protective film off one side. If firmly affixed to media, adhesive-backed protective films can be left on the backside while printing.
Aluminum Composite Materials (Alumacorr®, Allumalite®, Dibond®, and other brand names) Considerations • Supported ( ) print modes and resolutions: 1200x600 HQ Prod 600x600 BB HQ Prod 600x300 BB HQ Prod BB Recommendations for best results Preparation • Print on the side without any lettering or graphics on the protective film to avoid transfer effect from printed areas. Clean well with lint-free cloth moistened with isopropyl alcohol.
Card Stock Considerations • • C-size flutes or smaller sizes perform best • Supported ( ) print modes and resolutions: Certain coated sheets may cause ink to pool and cure unevenly, yielding a poor image quality print. Be sure to test coated materials for compatibility before purchasing significant quantities.
Clear Vinyl Sheet Considerations • Supported ( ) print modes and resolutions: 1200x600 HQ Prod 600x600 BB HQ Prod 600x300 BB HQ Prod BB Recommendations for best results Preparation • Dust with a lint-free cloth to remove any dust and handle with gloves to avoid fingerprints on edge of media • Use isopropyl alcohol to clean handling edges. Although not always visible, oils from fingers may still mar surface for printing.
Corrugated Fiberboard Considerations • • C-size flutes or smaller sizes perform best • Supported ( ) print modes and resolutions: Certain coated sheets may cause ink to pool and cure unevenly, yielding a poor image quality print. Be sure to test coated materials for compatibility before purchasing significant quantities.
Fluted Polypropylene (Coroplast® and other brand names) Considerations • Supported ( ) print modes and resolutions: 1200x600 HQ Prod 600x600 BB HQ Prod 600x300 BB HQ Prod BB Recommendations for best results Preparation • Ensure that the ionizer is power on and functioning. • Apply isopropyl alcohol greater than 90% and wipe down each sheet prior to printing for additional static control.
Foam Board (Fome-Cor® and other brand names) Considerations • Supported ( ) print modes and resolutions: 1200x600 HQ Prod 600x600 BB HQ Prod 600x300 BB HQ Prod BB Recommendations for best results Preparation • Dust with a lint-free cloth to remove any dust and handle with gloves to avoid fingerprints on the edge of this media. Although it is not always visible, oils from fingers may mar the surface and thus affect image quality.
Foamed PVC (Sintra® and other brand names) Considerations • Supported ( ) print modes and resolutions: 1200x600 HQ Prod 600x600 BB HQ Prod 600x300 BB HQ Prod BB Recommendations for best results Preparation • If the media has a protective film attached, peel the protective film off one side. If firmly affixed to media, adhesive-backed protective films can be left on the backside while printing.
Glass Considerations • Light reflectivity and refractivity will directly impact printhead jetting health. UV ink, even while jetting, will begin to cure in the printhead orifice plate if exposed to stray UV light. • Adjusting the UV Shutter Aperture may help to reduce the amount of errant UV light that is projected to the printheads.
PETG – Clear Considerations • Supported ( ) print modes and resolutions: 1200x600 HQ Prod 600x600 BB HQ Prod 600x300 BB HQ Prod BB Recommendations for best results Preparation • Peel the protective film off one side; place this side up on table. If firmly affixed to media, adhesive based protective films can be left on the backside while printing. Print on the side without lettering or graphics on the protective film to avoid transfer effect from printed areas.
Plywood and Medium Density Overlay (MDO) Plywood Materials Considerations • Due to the natural tendencies of Plywood and Medium Density Overlay Plywood (MDO) to warp and the overall surface smoothness of the product, it can be difficult to attain a consistent rate of media advance or produce repeatable results with this media. If deciding to print with this media, precautions should be taken to minimize the risk of printhead damage from warped media and to minimize the effects of poor media advances.
Polycarbonate Sheet (Lexan®, Makrolon®, Tuffak®) Considerations • Supported ( ) print modes and resolutions: 1200x600 HQ Prod 600x600 BB HQ Prod 600x300 BB HQ Prod BB Recommendations for best results Preparation • Peel the protective film off one side; place this side up on table. If firmly affixed to media, adhesive based protective films can be left on the backside while printing.
Polystyrene Sheet Considerations • Supported ( ) print modes and resolutions: 1200x600 HQ Prod 600x600 BB HQ Prod 600x300 BB HQ Prod BB Recommendations for best results Preparation • Dust with s lint-free cloth to remove any dust and handle with gloves to avoid fingerprints on edge of media • • Ensure that the ionizer is power on and functioning. • • Wipe with an anti-static cloth or device to remove static charge and possible cutting remnants.
Polystyrene-Faced Foam Board (Gatorplast® and other brand names) Considerations • Supported ( ) print modes and resolutions: 1200x600 HQ Prod 600x600 BB HQ Prod 600x300 BB HQ Prod BB Recommendations for best results Preparation • Ensure that the ionizer is power on and functioning. • Apply isopropyl alcohol greater than 90% and wipe down each sheet prior to printing for additional static control.
General Recommendations Table Setup • Ensure the printer is on an even or flat surface, preferably level. The tables should be co-planar with the belt. Adjusting the tables to be co-planar is easier if the printer is on a level surface. • • • The input table should be set so that the table rollers are the same height as the media belt. The output table should be set so that the table rollers are the same height as the belt.
Media Properties • Store media flat, in a clean environment with the same or similar temperature and humidity as the printer. • For best results, individual sheets of media should be flat. Curves in either axis of the media (left to right, or front to back) can lead to head strikes of the carriage on the media. Accuracy of dot placement or overall feed accuracy can also be affected by non-flat media. • For best results, media should have parallel opposite edges with 90° corners.
Print Mode Selection Many cut-sheet media will work well in Production Mode. Some materials, because of their weight or other physical properties, may give the best output in High Quality mode. Depending on the application requirements (viewing distance, image content, level of acceptability for image quality, etc.). Plan for some amount of experimentation the first time a media type is used. As noted above, media that is not flat may show some output anomalies from inaccurate dot placement.
Using the Straight-Through Media Path Loading Media Always load rigid substrates from the input side, never the from output side. If loaded from the output side, the brushes on the input side may bend back and then release as the media moves, causing output anomalies while printing. 1. Unload any roll-fed media from the printer. 2. Move the media support tables into place at the printer. 3. On the printer’s control panel, select “Load New Media”. 4. A list of predefined media entries appears.
Media Measurement Options The printer can automatically measure the media in three different ways: Standard, Maximal, and Minimal. This option is set on the printer’s control panel under “Menu -> Printer Settings -> Media Measurement”. • Maximal — measures the width of the media in two places, and finds the right and left front edges to estimate skew and detect non-rectangular sheets. This adds a few additional seconds to the media load process but facilitates the most accurate media placement.
Overprinting Because most media sheets are not precisely the same width from start to finish, and to accommodate any slight media drift that may occur the printer can be configured for a variable amount of overprinting. In this context, “overprinting” indicates how wide of a print job beyond the initial measured width of the media the printer will accept. Ordinarily (i.e., without overprinting) the printer will reject any job sent from the print server that exceeds the printable area of the media.
Two-Sided Printing General Notes If two-sided printing is required, waiting up to 24 hours for the ink on the front side to completely cure may improve substrate feed performance on the back side. Low or minimum ink usage images are recommended for two sided applications. The success of two-sided printing depends largely on the qualities of the media.
Multiple Sheet Printing Multiple-sheet N-UP allows you to print a multiple-copy job on multiple sheets across the belt, and multiple rows of sheets, until the job is completed. To print multi-sheet N-UP, load multiple sheets on the printer, then send a print job from the RIP with a quantity greater than or equal to the number of sheets you loaded. The printer will prompt you to load more sheets until the number of copies you specified has been printed. You can also print Stored Jobs as multi-sheet N-UP.
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