HomeProcessing FAQ
Q. I have poor vacuum.
A. Check to see the last date of vinyl cover sheet (kreen) replacement. Often, old cover sheets become brittle or punctured whick leads to the loss of vacuum.
Q. My raised graphics or braille dots appear cylindrical in shape.
A. Check to ensure that all bulbs in your exposure unit are lighting. Having any bulbs that are not working will lead to inconsistent exposure and result in poor quality characters. If all bulbs are working propoerly, check the date of the last bulb replacement. Bulbs should be replaced every 300 hours of use. Many customers replace bulbs annually to ensure consistent exposure.
Q. My raised character are filling in.
A. Check to ensure that you have complete vacuum draw down. Also, check the density of your film negative. If the edges surrounding the clear areas are not completley solid and the dark areas are not opaque or have a red tinit (which blocks UV rays), it often results in light exposing the photopolymer in undesired areas.
Q.I have to increase my wash out time - why?
A. Wash out time increases if -
- Water temperature is below 70F. If this is the case, check to ensure that the heater is working properly.
- Wash water has not been chaged recently. Frequency ranges between 5 - 10 cycles, depending on size of sheet.
- Check to make sure that the brush height is set correctly for the gauge of material you are washing out. The brushes come set from the factory to properly wash out PT-118 (1/8) material is this is the most commonly used product. If using thinner lens material or aluminum backed, the brushes should be raised to accomodate the thinner material.
Q. I need to replace my tack mate - why?
A. Your tack mat will lose tack over time and will need to be replaced. Take the following steps to ensure the longevity of your tack mat.
- Never leaving the lid closed will ensure maximum life of your tack mat
- When not in use cover the green mat with a vinyl cover sheet which will prevent the degredation of the mat surface.
