[6792] in APO Printshop
Re: More new equipment in the shop, adjusting the platen, and
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Benazeer Noorani)
Thu Sep 25 22:58:12 2014
In-Reply-To: <201409260225.s8Q2P8fG028525@outgoing.mit.edu>
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 22:58:09 -0400
From: Benazeer Noorani <benazeer@gmail.com>
To: len tower jr <tower@alum.mit.edu>
Cc: apo-printshop-manager@mit.edu, apo-printshop-operators@mit.edu,
apo-printshop-journeyman@mit.edu
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I will, of course, defer to the judgment of the actives.
For full disclosure, everything I know about letterpress maintenance I
learned from the internet. If you're curious about how levelling a platen
works, I believe these links describe the process:
http://huldrapress.blogspot.com/2011/05/first-print.html
http://www.apa-letterpress.com/T%20&%20P%20ARTICLES/Press%20&%20Presswork/Leveling%20the%20platen.html
http://archive.lyza.com/2008/09/11/how_to_adjust_platen_cp_pilo/
And, of course, if the judgement of the other journeymen and actives is
that I should not be using the shop, I am happy to defer to that judgment
as well and remove my tools and my active project to another shop.
YiLFS
Benazeer
On Thu, Sep 25, 2014 at 10:25 PM, Leonard H. Tower Jr. <tower@alum.mit.edu>
wrote:
> Molly:
>
> * Leveling the platen, if not done very carefully, could damage the
> large press and leave it unusable for a very long time.
>
> I am opposed to Benazeer trying. But the decision is the active
> members, They have trusted you to manage the Press Shop. Consult the
> other actives?
>
> Let us know what you decide.
>
> Questions?
>
> (I am out of town until next Thursday 2 Oct 2014, but am reading email
> most days.)
>
> * If you decide to let Benazeer do this, I can offer her some guidance
> to lessen the risk.
>
> * The shop is for the use of students. Both presses have fulfilled this
> need as they are. Quite well. Without being "finely tuned". Neither
> press can be restored to do really high quality work (even close to
> factory new condition).
>
> Better to have the press working for the 99% + jobs people want to do,
> than this high quality job alumnus Benazeer wants to do.
>
> * The small press was damaged this way, when an attempt was made to
> level it's platen. By an alumnus with a mechanical engineering
> degree, and much experience designing and building machines with
> gears, etc. Machines like the presses.
>
> The alumnus also had more experience printing in the shop that
> Benazeer has had. The alumnus was sure they knew how to adjust the
> platen. The alumnus didn't.
>
> It took a while to replace the damaged bolts. We eventually had some
> machined. Expensive in time and money.
>
> * Both presses have excessive wear. Though not as bad as presses that
> have been used for die cutting. (Though I have wondered, if this was
> done some at the presses prior homes.)
>
> ======================================================================
>
> Benazeer:
>
> * Please do not try to adjust the platen until we hear from Molly. It's
> likely you'll break it.
>
> * I'm not opposed to the other things you want to do.
>
> * There are some Morgan Expansion Trucks in the shop. And maybe some
> replacement rubber "sleeves". I'm not sure what condition they are
> in. They are another solution to roller shrinkage/wear. I think they
> are in one of the two drawers in the desk above the left of the large
> press.
>
> * It's better to use metal tape, than masking tape, to "pad" the rails.
> It lasts longer. But the Morgans are an easier way to go.
>
> * There are other presses in Boston, in better condition than ours. And
> you would find compatriots in doing fine art letterpress printing.
>
> yiLFS -len
>
> Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 12:41:27 -0400 From: Benazeer Noorani
> <benazeer@gmail.com> To: APO Press <apo-printshop@mit.edu>
> Subject: More new equipment in the shop, adjusting the platen, and
> calibrating roller height
>
> Hi pressops!
>
> As I mentioned earlier this summer, I purchased a* base for printing
> with plates*, from Boxcar Press. It now lives on top of the boxes
> behind the spare rollers, on the top of the shelf above where the
> chases live.
>
> I'm *planning to adjust the platen* either this weekend or next,
> since even with the roller height calibration described below, I'm
> still seeing some uneven impressions. If you're interested in
> watching or contributing give me a shout so we can coordinate
> schedules.
>
> I also discovered, printing my first plate, that the rollers are very
> dramatically set at the wrong height. There's a couple of reasons for
> rollers to be too low: rubber shrinks over time, and the trucks and
> rails wear. (Rollers can also be too high if you have the wrong size
> trucks for your press, or if the rubber is too thick. That's a harder
> problem to solve and as far I have been able to learn, means
> replacing the part. Luckily that's not the problem we have.) So* I
> bought* *a roller gauge* -- a disk of precision ground aluminum
> exactly type high in diameter, on a long rod. You can use it to
> *calibrate the roller height* like so:
>
> 1) with the press inked but nothing in the chase bed, run the gauge
> between the rollers and chase bed. The roller should leave a stripe
> of ink 3/32 of an inch wide on the gauge. Wider and the rollers are
> too low, narrower and the rollers are too high.
>
> 2) Repeat step one with the rollers at a variety of positions on the
> rails, and across the width of the roller, wiping the roller gauge
> down between each test, obviously.
>
> 3) If the roller is too low, adjust its height by applying masking
> tape to the rails, to lift the trucks and roller. You will probably
> need to apply different amounts of tape to the two rails, and
> different amounts along the length of the rails.
>
> I have already done this, and have seen a dramatic improvement in how
> easy it is to get a clean impression. I've gotten far fewer filled in
> characters or smudgy impressions. Yay! That said, all the rollers are
> differently worn, and it's not wrong to recalibrate for every
> job. Feel free to play around with this -- the masking tape won't
> hurt the press and is easy to remove!
>
> The roller gauge right now lives on a tiny shelf underneath where we
> put torn off edges of LSC posters and where we hang the grippers and
> spanner wrench. Eventually I'll get around to widening the hole in
> the gauge so I can hang it from one of those pegs.
>
>
> YiLFS
>
> Benazeer
>
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<div dir=3D"ltr">I will, of course, defer to the judgment of the actives.=
=C2=A0<div><br></div><div>For full disclosure, everything I know about lett=
erpress maintenance I learned from the internet. If you're curious abou=
t how levelling a platen works, I believe these links describe the process:=
</div><div><br></div><div><a href=3D"http://huldrapress.blogspot.com/2011/0=
5/first-print.html">http://huldrapress.blogspot.com/2011/05/first-print.htm=
l</a><br></div><div><a href=3D"http://www.apa-letterpress.com/T%20&%20P=
%20ARTICLES/Press%20&%20Presswork/Leveling%20the%20platen.html">http://=
www.apa-letterpress.com/T%20&%20P%20ARTICLES/Press%20&%20Presswork/=
Leveling%20the%20platen.html</a><br></div><div><a href=3D"http://archive.ly=
za.com/2008/09/11/how_to_adjust_platen_cp_pilo/">http://archive.lyza.com/20=
08/09/11/how_to_adjust_platen_cp_pilo/</a><br></div><div><br></div><div>And=
, of course, if the judgement of the other journeymen and actives is that I=
should not be using the shop, I am happy to defer to that judgment as well=
and remove my tools and my active project to another shop.</div><div><br><=
/div><div>YiLFS</div><div><br></div><div>Benazeer</div></div><div class=3D"=
gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, Sep 25, 2014 at 10:25 P=
M, Leonard H. Tower Jr. <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:tower@alum.=
mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">tower@alum.mit.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blo=
ckquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #c=
cc solid;padding-left:1ex">Molly:<br>
<br>
* Leveling the platen, if not done very carefully, could damage the<br>
=C2=A0 large press and leave it unusable for a very long time.<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 I am opposed to Benazeer trying.=C2=A0 But the decision is the activ=
e<br>
=C2=A0 members, They have trusted you to manage the Press Shop.=C2=A0 Consu=
lt the<br>
=C2=A0 other actives?<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 Let us know what you decide.<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 Questions?<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 (I am out of town until next Thursday 2 Oct 2014, but am reading ema=
il<br>
=C2=A0 most days.)<br>
<br>
* If you decide to let Benazeer do this, I can offer her some guidance<br>
=C2=A0 to lessen the risk.<br>
<br>
* The shop is for the use of students.=C2=A0 Both presses have fulfilled th=
is<br>
=C2=A0 need as they are.=C2=A0 Quite well.=C2=A0 Without being "finely=
tuned".=C2=A0 Neither<br>
=C2=A0 press can be restored to do really high quality work (even close to<=
br>
=C2=A0 factory new condition).<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 Better to have the press working for the 99% + jobs people want to d=
o,<br>
=C2=A0 than this high quality job alumnus Benazeer wants to do.<br>
<br>
* The small press was damaged this way, when an attempt was made to<br>
=C2=A0 level it's platen.=C2=A0 By an alumnus with a mechanical enginee=
ring<br>
=C2=A0 degree, and much experience designing and building machines with<br>
=C2=A0 gears, etc.=C2=A0 Machines like the presses.<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 The alumnus also had more experience printing in the shop that<br>
=C2=A0 Benazeer has had.=C2=A0 The alumnus was sure they knew how to adjust=
the<br>
=C2=A0 platen.=C2=A0 The alumnus didn't.<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 It took a while to replace the damaged bolts.=C2=A0 We eventually ha=
d some<br>
=C2=A0 machined.=C2=A0 Expensive in time and money.<br>
<br>
* Both presses have excessive wear.=C2=A0 Though not as bad as presses that=
<br>
=C2=A0 have been used for die cutting.=C2=A0 (Though I have wondered, if th=
is was<br>
=C2=A0 done some at the presses prior homes.)<br>
<br>
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br>
<br>
Benazeer:<br>
<br>
* Please do not try to adjust the platen until we hear from Molly.=C2=A0 It=
's<br>
=C2=A0 likely you'll break it.<br>
<br>
* I'm not opposed to the other things you want to do.<br>
<br>
* There are some Morgan Expansion Trucks in the shop.=C2=A0 And maybe some<=
br>
=C2=A0 replacement rubber "sleeves".=C2=A0 I'm not sure what =
condition they are<br>
=C2=A0 in.=C2=A0 They are another solution to roller shrinkage/wear.=C2=A0 =
I think they<br>
=C2=A0 are in one of the two drawers in the desk above the left of the larg=
e<br>
=C2=A0 press.<br>
<br>
* It's better to use metal tape, than masking tape, to "pad" =
the rails.<br>
=C2=A0 It lasts longer.=C2=A0 But the Morgans are an easier way to go.<br>
<br>
* There are other presses in Boston, in better condition than ours.=C2=A0 A=
nd<br>
=C2=A0 you would find compatriots in doing fine art letterpress printing.<b=
r>
<br>
yiLFS -len<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 12:41:27 -0400 From: Benazeer Noorani<b=
r>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0<<a href=3D"mailto:benazeer@gmail.com">benazeer@gmail.com</=
a>> To: APO Press <<a href=3D"mailto:apo-printshop@mit.edu">apo-print=
shop@mit.edu</a>><br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0Subject: More new equipment in the shop, adjusting the platen,=
and<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0calibrating roller height<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0Hi pressops!<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0As I mentioned earlier this summer, I purchased a* base for pr=
inting<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0with plates*, from Boxcar Press. It now lives on top of the bo=
xes<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0behind the spare rollers, on the top of the shelf above where =
the<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0chases live.<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0I'm *planning to adjust the platen* either this weekend or=
next,<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0since even with the roller height calibration described below,=
I'm<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0still seeing some uneven impressions. If you're interested=
in<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0watching or contributing give me a shout so we can coordinate<=
br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0schedules.<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0I also discovered, printing my first plate, that the rollers a=
re very<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0dramatically set at the wrong height. There's a couple of =
reasons for<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0rollers to be too low: rubber shrinks over time, and the truck=
s and<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0rails wear. (Rollers can also be too high if you have the wron=
g size<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0trucks for your press, or if the rubber is too thick. That'=
;s a harder<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0problem to solve and as far I have been able to learn, means<b=
r>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0replacing the part. Luckily that's not the problem we have=
.)=C2=A0 So* I<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0bought* *a roller gauge* -- a disk of precision ground aluminu=
m<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0exactly type high in diameter, on a long rod.=C2=A0 You can us=
e it to<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0*calibrate the roller height* like so:<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A01) with the press inked but nothing in the chase bed, run the =
gauge<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0between the rollers and chase bed. The roller should leave a s=
tripe<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0of ink 3/32 of an inch wide on the gauge. Wider and the roller=
s are<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0too low, narrower and the rollers are too high.<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A02) Repeat step one with the rollers at a variety of positions =
on the<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0rails, and across the width of the roller, wiping the roller g=
auge<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0down between each test, obviously.<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A03) If the roller is too low, adjust its height by applying mas=
king<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0tape to the rails, to lift the trucks and roller. You will pro=
bably<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0need to apply different amounts of tape to the two rails, and<=
br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0different amounts along the length of the rails.<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0I have already done this, and have seen a dramatic improvement=
in how<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0easy it is to get a clean impression. I've gotten far fewe=
r filled in<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0characters or smudgy impressions. Yay! That said, all the roll=
ers are<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0differently worn, and it's not wrong to recalibrate for ev=
ery<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0job. Feel free to play around with this -- the masking tape wo=
n't<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0hurt the press and is easy to remove!<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0The roller gauge right now lives on a tiny shelf underneath wh=
ere we<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0put torn off edges of LSC posters and where we hang the grippe=
rs and<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0spanner wrench. Eventually I'll get around to widening the=
hole in<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0the gauge so I can hang it from one of those pegs.<br>
<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0YiLFS<br>
<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0Benazeer<br>
</blockquote></div><br></div>
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