This is my page, as you may have already guessed, it's for the press.
In graphic arts you can do almost anything, this is just one of the many different activities. In order to run the press you have to make a negative and a plate, but those are covered elsewhere.
In order to run the press, you have to learn it, and show the teacher( Mr. Stevens) that you are able to be left alone without injuring yourself or others. Most people can handle this responsibility. nevertheless, some select donuts still manage to mess it up daily.
Befor i really tell you how to run the press, let's take a look at what's where on the press. The press we have is a hamada 665CD.
First, there is the ever-poupular power switch(1). When you flip it to the on position, the press won't do anything. Don't worry though, it just supplies power to the two main operational switches, the main(motor) switch(2), and the feed(pump) switch(3). Next, there is nightlatch(4). Nightlatch isn't really a latch, it's just a lever on the side of the press. Nightlatch seperates the rollers so that they don't get flat spots, it's below the water resivor feed bottle(5) for the first plate cylinder assembly(6). In order to realese nightlatch, just push it down, or up, so it isn't in line with the cutout behind it. Then, pick up the rear ink-roller cover(7), and set the main roller down so that it touches the ones beneath it. when this is done, close the cover, and lift up the cover if front of it.
This contains the water resivor(8). To fill the resivor, take the fill bottle(5) and, holding the end of it in the resivor, depress the tip. This can be done by calling it names, saying the dress it's wearing makes it look fat, leaving it for the other bottle, or just pushing on it. Anyway, fill the resivor about halfway up the side of the main water roller(9), then just put the bottle, tip down, into it's holder(listed as five in the picture). After this, you wil need to put ink in the ink tray(11).
To do this, take an ink knife(the red thing), and a jar of ink(duh). Open the jar, and using the knife, pull out some ink. This is done by putting the flat metal end of the knife onto the surface of the ink, and carefully pulling the knife in a circular direction around the suface. There should now be a large amount of ink on the knife. Take this and smear it on the tray, pushing it against the ink roller(13) with the knife. Turn the roller towards the ink, and the ink should get pulled into a bead. There are several inking keys(14) under the tray, these are used to adjust the amount of ink that the main roller picks up. Adjust these by screwing them in or out while you turn the ink roller, you should get them set right when there is a thin-but-even coating of ink on the roller. Congratulations, you're almost ready to run the press.
After getting all that done, the next step should seem easy. This is mounting the plate(15). To mount the plate, take the plate, and put the top end of it onto the plate cylinder(16). There is a small row of teeth facing up that the holes of the plate fit onto. Next, advance the press using either the forward button(17), or the wheel(18). When you get to the end of the plate, release the button, and fit the other set of holes onto the top row of teeth(down-facing). This is easier than it sounds, for, if the plate isn't held tightly as it's wraped around the cylinder, the holes won't fit around the teeth. When the holes are around the teeth, turn both of the small wheels up, this will move the teeth outward, tightly mounting the plate to the cylinder.
Now, step back and look at the operating side of the press. You'll notice the two main switches on the side of the press(2&3). One is for the motor, and the other for the feed pump. First, draw a bead of water on the press. To do this, you set set the ducting switch to ducting, and advance the press until the two main water rollers touch. Then you turn the knob for the water roller clockwise untill there is a bead of water extending from one end of the roller to the other.
Now, you are ready to run the press. Turn the main switch on, and move the first plate cylinder lever(19) into first position. This should start the press off running smoothly. First position lets the water roller touch the plate, keeping it wet and ready for ink. After you have run the press in 1st position for about 30 seconds, you can move the lever into second position. Second position lets the ink rollers touch the plate, The idea is that the ink won't go where the water is, and the water is repelled by the design on the plate. However, this isn't alwasy the case, sometimes the plate will get dry, or the balance of ink and water won't be corrrect, and you will get scumming. Scumming is ink that goes where it isn't supposed to, usually EVERYWHERE. Anyway, when you put the press into second position, check the plate for scumming, if the ink looks like it's where it's supposed to be, you can proceed.
The next step is actually running
the press, but first, you need to turn on the feed pump. Oh Yeah, I still
need to tell you how to put paper in the press. Do not worry, this is quite
the easy.
Ok, I don't really remember the names of the individual parts, so this may not be exact. First, you need to locate the elevator release lever( 20), and slide it to the right. Next, take the elevator crank(21) and turn it in the down direction(i think its counter-clockwise). Now you need to get the proper size stiffiner(22), and place it on the pile supports(23), this is where you put your stock. Next, turn the elevator crank to the right to raise the stock to the feeder. There are two sheet seperators(24) at the top. Raise the stack to the bottom red line on the sheet seperators. Ok, now you should be setup, first, make sure you have scrap to run while you get the press set up (scrap is the old paper that has already been run and has had scumming or something on it). Ok, back to the main controls, there is a feed control lever(25) above the elevator release lever, as you move the plate lever into third position, pull the feed control lever to the left. This will start the feed. Now, if everything is set properly, you should have blank sheets of paper at one end, and a pile of printed sheets starting to accumulate at the other. Stop the feed, and move the plate lever into first position. Take one of the newly printed sheets out and check it for alignment. To do this, you will need to get the rule(the long silver thing in the ink picture) out of the top drawer. There are two notces on the top of the ruler. Take the sheet and align the notches with the edge of the page. Take the measurments of each of the sides and compare them. Unless otherwise specified, the top and bottom should match up ,and the sides should be equal. If this is so, you may continue running the job. If the page is out of alignment(which it usually is) you will have to adjust the press.
There are three main ways to adjust the press, the first is to adjust the plate cylinder alingment. To adjust it, you have to have the T wrench that is on the side of the press(27). Take the wrench and insert it into the adjust hole(28) (note- you have to have the press in the "0" position for the wrench to fit through). Turn in 1/4 turn to the left. TURN IT 1/4 TURN ONLY!!. I can't remember how many times people have loosened it too much and the screw has fallen out, shutting the press down for a day(What a bargin!). Now, leaving the wrench on the nut, move the wheel(18) in the direction it needs to be turned. It helps to move to the 0 position on the little ruler that corresponds with the plate cylinder(16). The second method of adjusting the press is re-mounting the plate. This should be done if the plate isn't on straight. All you have to do is take the plate off and put it back on, trying to make it mount straighter. The third method is adjusting the stops for the paper(30). in order to do this, you get down on your hands and knees and,...NOOOO!!, loosen the two set screws(31) that hold them. Once you get them loosened, simply move them in or out as desired.
Congratulations!! you have just
learned how to run the press! now all you need to do is practice running
it and you'll be a pressman in no time. br> Copyright Rhys Dawson, 1997
