Latex 300/330/360 users- what media brands do you use?

[Kevin Busby]

I dont use much Matt but certainly not had any problems with any Gloss, LG, Metamark, Paper Graphics.

Head crashes when starting to print is down to the design, you need to leave enough vinyl sticking out of the output tray to ensure it stays flat, I stick my fingers in the output and when I can just touch the vinyl coming through I stop and start printing each time. I dont bother with the side media clips either any longer as they dont stop the head crashes.

Nearly all vinyl prints at 115 degrees and not had anything give problems with melting, you can turn it down a bit in adjustments even during printing but it should cope with the heat on vinyl just ensure your media is meant for latex.

Im assuming your using profiles supplied with the media as a smudge normally occurs when the suction is not sufficient and the head touches the wet ink, this can also happen when the media hits the floor lifting the print a little makes the vinyl touch the head, also when cutting off you almost need to pull down a little if its still printing to stop a smudge.

[Robert Lambie]

Some cheaper materials or media with high PVC / polyester content tend to react to the heat. as has been said, your drying temps can far exceed 100 degrees. I do not have a large range of print media and what i do use tends to be higher end Avery, Oracal, Arlon etc, banner material 500+ grms etc you dont need to choose via trial and error, there are vast ranges of Profiled compatible materials specifically for latex printers. call round some of the bigger suppliers and ask if they can provide some mini catalogue / swatch books. You will be surprised just how vast an array of materials can be put through your machine.

If you are suffering from the initial leading edge puckering up etc it might be because your roll is cold and your putting it into the machine. by the time the machine pre-heats itself its up around 100 degrees so when the leading edge starts to move its already rising every so slightly due to the heat and fans etc. as mentioned, maybe bleed through the first foot or two of the beginning of the roll, the rest will be warm enough by the time it passes through.
Similar can happen with the initial leading edge scratching the underside of the fans/heaters too. just be careful the media your feeding in is not cold.

[Luke Culpin]

We have a latex 260, which I believe puts down even more heat than your machine! I don’t really ever have any issues with material except a lot of monomerics! We do mainly use an LG polymeric, however we have just discovered an LG monomeric that works perfectly!

I find most papers and banners work fine, so long as they are latex approved!

[Peter Munday]

As said above, I only use Polymeric vinyls through my HP26500 and have no troubles. When starting a print on banner I always feed through 500mm of material at the start and just as it’s about to print I pull down lightly on the leading edge to stop it lifting.

[Tim de Beir]

I have a latex 360 and do not use monomeric vinyl too much problems with laminating dark prints > prints shrink, bubbled surface etc.

I also have to feed approx 25inch of material before print if not material will get stuck inside printer with printhead carrier error… for smaller printjobs a absolute no go printer 🙂

I only use the Orafol range: 3651 for intermediate vinyl, 3551 for polymeric, 3951 for wrap

[Jon Marshall]

Anyone printing much wrap stuff on these? Was considering a 335 next and it would need to be ok with wrap vinyls.

[Myles Brewer]

I’ve tried a mix of brands over the last year since I got my 26500, (Avery, DGcal, Grafiprint M, Metamark, Orajet, Bsmart, HP, Aslan, Kernowjet, Drytac etc. (Blimey!! I’ve done more than I realised!!! :yikes: ) Mainly monomeric but some polymeric vinyl, as well as banner, polyester films & satin poster paper & have had very few issues with any.

My main issues have been with pull up banner material which can cockle badly due to the heat but have found one that works very well (Kernowjet Ultimate 180 or 230 textured lightblock)

I’ve also had the occasional issue of vinyl tunneling away from the backing paper. This seems to be tied up with the way it has to feed in an S shape before it hits the print platten & not due to heat. It only seems to affect heavier vinyls around 100mic with easy apply type systems, I presume because they are not adhering as well to the backing paper in the first place. So far I have only experienced it at the very start of a full roll &it seems to resolve itself after about a metre runs through before printing starts.