[6795] in APO Printshop
Re: More new equipment in the shop, adjusting the platen, and
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Molly Kosiarek)
Sat Sep 27 17:46:00 2014
In-Reply-To: <CABZuAzoMcAaggo_tjy9MjBAoMj7YA1aqJbELmy4c3ayaMnGcig@mail.gmail.com>
From: Molly Kosiarek <kosiarek@mit.edu>
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 17:38:36 -0400
To: Benazeer Noorani <benazeer@gmail.com>
Cc: apo-printshop-manager <apo-printshop-manager@mit.edu>,
apo-printshop-journeyman@mit.edu,
apo-printshop-operators <apo-printshop-operators@mit.edu>
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(Oh, I missred the roller bit of the email. Thanks for calibrating the
roller!)
On Sat, Sep 27, 2014 at 5:37 PM, Molly Kosiarek <kosiarek@mit.edu> wrote:
> Hi Benazeer and Len!
>
> I don't feel like I have enough knowledge of the press to accurately
> answer all of these points, but I will try to speak of the ones that I do
> understand, and will ask the other active brothers for thoughts in our next
> chapter meeting.
>
> I am very happy with Benazeer using the press shop and leaving some tools
> in the shop area. The press hasn't gotten much use lately, and it is nice
> to see it being of service. Are the tools labeled? (We've had issues in the
> past where I can't figure out if things in the APO office are APO's or
> someone else's and I have guessed incorrectly.)
>
> As a larger point about supplies, I think it would be fantastic to know
> what we have, in total. There is tons of stuff in the press-side of the
> office, and I don't think I even begin to know what is in there. There is
> also a bunch of stuff in the silkscreening room that looks like it belongs
> to the press shop? It's not harming anything sitting there, but it would
> probably be nice to know what exists.
>
> I'll look into what "adjust the platen" means. I don't know enough about
> it to be able to make a decision about if it should or should not happen/
> if it can or cannot hurt our press.
>
> Benazeer:
>
> Very few brothers are trained in using the press shop, offering to train
> brothers/pledges is fantastic, thank you so much for doing so! Hopefully a
> few brothers/pledges will take you up on this offer so that I am not the
> only trained active brother..
>
> (As a side note, I am personally ok with teaching friends that are not
> brothers, as long as you are in the office with them when they are
> printing, especially in this time of not much printing - but I cannot speak
> for the chapter on that subject. I have definitely taught many people
> outside of APO how to silkscreen, and they have loved experimenting it
> while I've been there to supervise. The press is much larger, more valuable
> and more harmful, so a little more caution should be used, but sharing
> knowledge seems like a good thing.)
>
> Is adjusting the roller a simple adjustment that you feel confident doing?
> That adjustment does seem quite reasonable to fix.
>
> YiLFS,
> Molly :)
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Sep 27, 2014 at 11:36 AM, Benazeer Noorani <benazeer@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi all!
>>
>> I have a few more thoughts on calibration, trucks, etc:
>>
>>
>> * I respectfully disagree with the assertion that adjusting roller height
>> is a "fine" calibration issue. When I tried to print with a plate, the
>> rollers were inking the base. The plate itself is 1.52mm thick. Type height
>> is .918 inches, or 23.32mm. That's at least a 7% difference from nominal.
>> No engineer I've ever worked with would consider a 7% or more adjustment to
>> be anything but a very coarse calibration.
>>
>> I also have to wonder how much damage has been done to our rollers over
>> the years by the excess force of them being pressed into the type much
>> deeper than is necessary to produce even a shoddy impression.
>>
>> I've been trained/qualified at Boston Paper Collection, and have a
>> qualifying run scheduled at AS220, the operators at both consider
>> adjusting roller height to be a very basic step in the makeready, along
>> with adjusting the bedding on the platen, and alignment and registration.
>> It doesn't take long and is very conceptually easy. Of course it is not
>> required for every job, just as careful centering of the print on the
>> cardstock, or making sure the print is square to the edges of the cardstock
>> is not strictly speaking required for operator or equipment safety.
>>
>>
>> * I did some reading on Morgan/Delrin trucks and called a friend of mine
>> who has a printshop in Seattle to discuss it. After studying the question I
>> really cannot recommend the Morgan trucks for a couple of reasons
>>
>> * Even unused New Old Stock trucks can have hardened rubber. This
>> means functionally they are not any different from steel trucks, except
>> that they are more brittle.
>>
>> * The rails are worn unevenly. Adjustable trucks will raise the
>> rollers to compensate for average height but cannot compensate for divots
>> in the rail itself.
>>
>> * They are very fiddly and hard to adjust. All of the tools and
>> maintenance I have done or would like to do has been with the goal of
>> making it easier and less frustrating, for everyone not just me, to do the
>> makeready, not harder.
>>
>> * That said, every operator should make their own decisions about
>> things not related to safety. Morgan trucks, or their competitor Delrin's
>> trucks, will in fact raise the rollers, as Len said. Whatever method you
>> choose of raising the rollers will alleviate problems with letters filling
>> in, will prevent ink from getting on the chase and furniture, will allow
>> you to go longer before needing to re-ink the plate since ink isn't getting
>> wasted on the chase and furniture, and will make it easier to clean the
>> type as there won't be ink on the shoulders of the letterforms. Whatever
>> tool you use, this is all goodness, for the equipment and cleanup time/your
>> sanity!
>>
>> * If you want to try the Morgan trucks and Len isn't around to show
>> you how, I found a scan of the original user instructions here:
>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/thearm/335361179/in/photostream/ A bit
>> hard to read on the screen but perfectly legible if you download them and
>> print them out. Good luck!
>>
>> * Of course hard tape is superior to masking tape, which will deform
>> under compression, and will also get brittle as it ages, but UMHW tape is
>> $1.55/foot from NA Graphics. Other suppliers have it for $6/12yard roll,
>> with a minimum order of 12 rolls. I just do not have that kind of money for
>> tape when masking tape is a cheap and reasonable substitute, especially, as
>> Len pointed out, given the other ways in which the press is worn
>> (well-loved I say!) and no longer printing in like-new condition. Again as
>> Len pointed out, 99% of the users of the press do not need accuracy down to
>> the micron, which is what the difference between masking tape and hard tape
>> will get you.
>>
>> * A note on that durable and re-usable equipment: the equipment I've
>> bought should be considered on loan to the APOster shop. It has always been
>> my intention to purchase a press and set it up at the artist co-op I know
>> of, largely so that I can train friends of mine who are not APO brothers,
>> but also so that I can ethically charge money for the items I print. I have
>> purchased close to a thousand dollars worth of durable equipment that I am
>> happy to let the fraternity use in exchange/barter for the amount of space
>> it takes up in the shop. Molly, other actives, if this does not sound
>> reasonable to you, please let me know immediately so we can work out a
>> rental payment agreement or so I can remove the type and tools immediately.
>> To be clear the equipment I am talking about is one and a half typecases of
>> type, an aluminum block 8" by 12" and 21mm thick, and a roller gauge, .918"
>> in diameter at its widest point about about a foot and a half long.
>>
>> * A little note, but an important one, I am not an "alumnus" of anything,
>> I am an alumna. Latin, like it's descendant languages, has gendered nouns.
>> An alumnus is a male graduate of a school, college, or university. Alumna
>> is the feminine form. The male plural form, alumni, is used to described a
>> mixed-gender collection of graduates, but an all-women gathering should be
>> referred to as alumnae. I personally use any of the English language
>> synonyms such as alum, graduate, or even cruft to avoid the risk of
>> accidentally assigning the wrong gender to someone. This is also more
>> welcoming and compassionate to our transgender brothers.
>>
>> * I would be very grateful for the names and contact information of
>> specific shops that allow outside press operators. I know of Boston Paper
>> Collective (very expensive and also does not have a clamshell style press)
>> and AS220 (in Rhode Island and therefore outside of what I would consider
>> "the boston area"). I also know of the letpress mailing list and the
>> briarpress forums, where I've found the names of a number of shops. I've
>> emailed or called about twenty shops in the past year and a half and all of
>> them have told me the same thing: they are private studios and only the
>> owners and fulltime employees are allowed to use the equipment. If there
>> are truly publicly accessible shops, I haven't been able to find them, in
>> spite of a great deal of effort looking, and again, I would be very
>> grateful for specific names and phone numbers, not a generic and unsourced
>> assertion that they exist.
>>
>> * I re-iterate, if the actives and my fellow journeyman feel it is
>> inappropriate for me to continue using the shop, I will remove my projects
>> and belonging immediately. I will take silence as assent to continue
>> printing and offering to train new brothers.
>>
>>
>> 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">(Oh, I missred the roller bit of the email. Thanks for cal=
ibrating the roller!)</div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gma=
il_quote">On Sat, Sep 27, 2014 at 5:37 PM, Molly Kosiarek <span dir=3D"ltr"=
><<a href=3D"mailto:kosiarek@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">kosiarek@mit.edu=
</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin=
:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">H=
i Benazeer and Len!<div><br></div><div>I don't feel like I have enough =
knowledge of the press to accurately answer all of these points, but I will=
try to speak of the ones that I do understand, and will ask the other acti=
ve brothers for thoughts in our next chapter meeting.=C2=A0</div><div><br><=
/div><div>I am very happy with Benazeer using the press shop and leaving so=
me tools in the shop area. The press hasn't gotten much use lately, and=
it is nice to see it being of service. Are the tools labeled? (We've h=
ad issues in the past where I can't figure out if things in the APO off=
ice are APO's or someone else's and I have guessed incorrectly.)=C2=
=A0</div><div><br></div><div>As a larger point about supplies, I think it w=
ould be fantastic to know what we have, in total. There is tons of stuff in=
the press-side of the office, and I don't think I even begin to know w=
hat is in there. There is also a bunch of stuff in the silkscreening room t=
hat looks like it belongs to the press shop? It's not harming anything =
sitting there, but it would probably be nice to know what exists.=C2=A0</di=
v><div><br></div><div>I'll look into what "<span style=3D"font-siz=
e:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">adjust the platen" means. I don&#=
39;t know enough about it to be able to make a decision about if it should =
or should not happen/ if it can or cannot hurt our press.=C2=A0</span><br><=
/div><div><br></div><div>Benazeer:</div><div><br></div><div>Very few brothe=
rs are trained in using the press shop, offering to train brothers/pledges =
is fantastic, thank you so much for doing so! Hopefully a few brothers/pled=
ges will take you up on this offer so that I am not the only trained active=
brother..=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>(As a side note, I am personally =
ok with teaching friends that are not brothers, as long as you are in the o=
ffice with them when they are printing, especially in this time of not much=
printing - but I cannot speak for the chapter on that subject. I have defi=
nitely taught many people outside of APO how to silkscreen, and they have l=
oved experimenting it while I've been there to supervise. The press is =
much larger, more valuable and more harmful, so a little more caution shoul=
d be used, but sharing knowledge seems like a good thing.)=C2=A0<br><div><b=
r></div><div>Is adjusting the roller a simple adjustment that you feel conf=
ident doing? That adjustment does seem quite reasonable to fix.=C2=A0</div>=
<div><br></div><div>YiLFS,</div><div>Molly :)=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><di=
v><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div><div class=3D"HOEnZb"=
><div class=3D"h5"><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote=
">On Sat, Sep 27, 2014 at 11:36 AM, Benazeer Noorani <span dir=3D"ltr"><=
<a href=3D"mailto:benazeer@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">benazeer@gmail.com<=
/a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:=
0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi=
all!=C2=A0<div><br></div><div>I have a few more thoughts on calibration, t=
rucks, etc:</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div>* I respectfully d=
isagree with the assertion that adjusting roller height is a "fine&quo=
t; calibration issue. When I tried to print with a plate, the rollers were =
inking the base. The plate itself is 1.52mm thick. Type height is .918 inch=
es, or 23.32mm. That's at least a 7% difference from nominal. No engine=
er I've ever worked with would consider a 7% or more adjustment to be a=
nything but a very coarse calibration.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>=C2=
=A0 I also have to wonder how much damage has been done to our rollers over=
the years by the excess force of them being pressed into the type much dee=
per than is necessary to produce even a shoddy impression.=C2=A0</div><div>=
<br></div><div>=C2=A0 I've been trained/qualified at Boston Paper Colle=
ction, and have a qualifying run scheduled at AS220, =C2=A0the operators at=
both consider adjusting roller height to be a very basic step in the maker=
eady, along with adjusting the bedding on the platen, and alignment and reg=
istration. It doesn't take long and is very conceptually easy. Of cours=
e it is not required for every job, just as careful centering of the print =
on the cardstock, or making sure the print is square to the edges of the ca=
rdstock is not strictly speaking required for operator or equipment safety.=
=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>* I did some reading on Morg=
an/Delrin trucks and called a friend of mine who has a printshop in Seattle=
to discuss it. After studying the question I really cannot recommend the M=
organ trucks for a couple of reasons</div><div><br></div><div>=C2=A0 =C2=A0=
=C2=A0 * Even unused New Old Stock trucks can have hardened rubber. This m=
eans functionally they are not any different from steel trucks, except that=
they are more brittle.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0=
* The rails are worn unevenly. Adjustable trucks will raise the rollers =
=C2=A0to compensate for average height but cannot compensate for divots in =
the rail itself.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 * They=
are very fiddly and hard to adjust. All of the tools and maintenance I hav=
e done or would like to do has been with the goal of making it easier and l=
ess frustrating, for everyone not just me, to do the makeready, not harder.=
=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 * That said, every op=
erator should make their own decisions about things not related to safety. =
Morgan trucks, or their competitor Delrin's trucks, will in fact raise =
the rollers, as Len said. Whatever method you choose of raising the rollers=
will alleviate problems with letters filling in, will prevent ink from get=
ting on the chase and furniture, will allow you to go longer before needing=
to re-ink the plate since ink isn't getting wasted on the chase and fu=
rniture, and will make it easier to clean the type as there won't be in=
k on the shoulders of the letterforms. Whatever tool you use, this is all g=
oodness, for the equipment and cleanup time/your sanity!=C2=A0</div><div><b=
r></div><div>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0* If you want to try the Morgan trucks and=
Len isn't around to show you how, I found a scan of the original user =
instructions here: <a href=3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/thearm/33536117=
9/in/photostream/" target=3D"_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/thearm/3=
35361179/in/photostream/</a> A bit hard to read on the screen but perfectly=
legible if you download them and print them out. Good luck!</div><div><br>=
</div><div>* Of course hard tape is superior to masking tape, which will de=
form under compression, and will also get brittle as it ages, but UMHW tape=
is $1.55/foot from NA Graphics. Other suppliers have it for $6/12yard roll=
, with a minimum order of 12 rolls. I just do not have that kind of money f=
or tape when masking tape is a cheap and reasonable substitute, especially,=
as Len pointed out, given the other ways in which the press is worn (well-=
loved I say!) and no longer printing in like-new condition. Again as Len po=
inted out, 99% of the users of the press do not need accuracy down to the m=
icron, which is what the difference between masking tape and hard tape will=
get you.=C2=A0<br></div><div><br></div><div>* A note on that durable and r=
e-usable equipment: the equipment I've bought should be considered on l=
oan to the APOster shop. It has always been my intention to purchase a pres=
s and set it up at the artist co-op I know of, largely so that I can train =
friends of mine who are not APO brothers, but also so that I can ethically =
charge money for the items I print. I have purchased close to a thousand do=
llars worth of durable equipment that I am happy to let the fraternity use =
in exchange/barter for the amount of space it takes up in the shop. Molly, =
other actives, if this does not sound reasonable to you, please let me know=
immediately so we can work out a rental payment agreement or so I can remo=
ve the type and tools immediately. To be clear the equipment I am talking a=
bout is one and a half typecases of type, an aluminum block 8" by 12&q=
uot; and 21mm thick, and a roller gauge, .918" in diameter at its wide=
st point about about a foot and a half long.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div=
>* A little note, but an important one, I am not an "alumnus" of =
anything, I am an alumna. Latin, like it's descendant languages, has ge=
ndered nouns. An alumnus is a male graduate of a school, college, or univer=
sity. Alumna is the feminine form. The male plural form, alumni, is used to=
described a mixed-gender collection of graduates, but an all-women gatheri=
ng should be referred to as alumnae. I personally use any of the English la=
nguage synonyms such as alum, graduate, or even cruft to avoid the risk of =
accidentally assigning the wrong gender to someone. This is also more welco=
ming and compassionate to our transgender brothers.=C2=A0</div><div><br></d=
iv><div>* I would be very grateful for the names and contact information of=
specific shops that allow outside press operators. I know of Boston Paper =
Collective (very expensive and also does not have a clamshell style press) =
and AS220 (in Rhode Island and therefore outside of what I would consider &=
quot;the boston area"). I also know of the letpress mailing list and t=
he briarpress forums, where I've found the names of a number of shops. =
I've emailed or called about twenty shops in the past year and a half a=
nd all of them have told me the same thing: they are private studios and on=
ly the owners and fulltime employees are allowed to use the equipment. If t=
here are truly publicly accessible shops, I haven't been able to find t=
hem, in spite of a great deal of effort looking, and again, I would be very=
grateful for specific names and phone numbers, not a generic and unsourced=
assertion that they exist.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>* I re-iterate, =
if the actives and my fellow journeyman feel it is inappropriate for me to =
continue =C2=A0using the shop, I will remove my projects and belonging imme=
diately. I will take silence as assent to continue printing and offering to=
train new brothers.<br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>YiLFS<span=
><font color=3D"#888888"><br></font></span></div><span><font color=3D"#8888=
88"><div><br></div><div>Benazeer</div><div><br></div></font></span><div><di=
v class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><span>On Thu, Sep 25=
, 2014 at 10:25 PM, Leonard H. Tower Jr. <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"m=
ailto:tower@alum.mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">tower@alum.mit.edu</a>></spa=
n> wrote:<br></span><div><div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"ma=
rgin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,=
204);border-left-style: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" target=3D"_blank">be=
nazeer@gmail.com</a>> To: APO Press <<a href=3D"mailto:apo-printshop@=
mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">apo-printshop@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></div></div><br></div></div></div></div>
</blockquote></div><br></div>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br></div>
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