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NEHOC Screen Printing Kit Operation Guide

The following is not the full S-868 Operation Manual, this is an operation guide to the set-up and use of the S-868 kit. To view the full Operation Manual click here . .

Machine Set-Up
Before you can use your machine there are 3 simple steps to follow:
1. Open the Lid of the machine and remove the Protective Card from the Stage Glass. Peel the protective plastic off the Pad Table [discard] and place the Protective Card over the adhesive Pad. This is required to provide a smooth flat imaging surface.

2. Insert the batteries into the Lid of the machine by opening the Lid to expose the Battery Cover on the inside - as pictured - placing positive ends to the left as indicated by the drawing inside the battery cover.

3. READ the full instructions contained on the NEHOC Screen Printing Kit Operation Manual [view now] or follow this guide. Improper use may cause damage to the machine not covered by warranty.

Artwork

Your artwork is critical to the end result so it’s important that you have a good clean copy to work from - lines/ marks in the background will come through on your screen. The Operation Manual deals with artwork preparation in great detail.
1. Artwork MUST be carbon based - as it’s the carbon in the design that reacts with the heat from machine to melt the film on the mesh to create the screen. If there’s no carbon then the design will not image.
Photocopies - black copy [not colour] on a light setting
Laser Prints - Toner cartridge types, not inkjet/ bubble jet using liquid cartridges as most do not contain carbon
Carbon artwork pens/ pencils - Make a photocopy and keep the original, or if using ensure its dry before imaging
Do not mix mediums - Your designs should be the same type i.e. all photocopy or laser print. If you need to mix then re-copy.
2. Artwork should be clean and free of moisture - Moisture causes over 95% of problems so ensure your copy is used straight from the copier/ printer when hot, or dry first using a hair dryer/ heat gun

You can create A4, A3 and larger screens using the machine by processing screens in stages. The machine images an area 100 x 150mm in one process, so all designs larger than this require multiple processes - all easily & quickly done:

	Step 1 Select the frame size you require for your design, ensuring there is a 25mm gap at the ends and a 10mm on the sides. Place the mesh over the back of the frame and cut to size so as the mesh covers the double sided tape.
	Step 2 Place the artwork over the card on the pad table facing upwards. Place the ScreenMaster mesh over the artwork with the film/ smooth side down. Lower the lid to check the design is within the stage area [including the frosted edges of the stage]. Note: This example shows a 2 stage [A4 & larger] imaging process, however if the design fits into the stage area then only 1 imaging process is required.
	Step 3 Insert 2 Print Lamps into the Lamp Housing by screwing clockwise as pictued left. HINT: Rub the base of each Lamp onto a piece of scrap paper to create a clean contact point.
	Step 4 Disarm the Safety Switch located at the base of the Stage Glass - push down with a pair of scissors [as pictured right] or the palette knife supplied in kit. If not disarmed the machine will not flash the Print Lamps. With the switch depressed insert the base of the Lamp Housing and then push the top of the Lamp Housing into the Lid. Ensure the Lamp Housing is firmly inserted and the contact points are not visible when the lid is lowered.
	Step 5 You will now have the artwork and mesh inserted into the machine, the Lamps in the Lamp Housing & inserted into the lid. Lower the lid and place your hands on the front edge of the machine - as pictured right - press down hard to ‘flash’ the Lamps. Hold down for 2 seconds, then release and lift the lid.
If your design was imaged in 1 process, proceed to the next section ‘Mounting to a Frame’. Designs that require further imaging please continue below. IMPORTANT: Do NOT pull the artwork off the screen, it is required to remain attached in order to image the next section. You can clearly see which part of the artwork/ screen is imaged, and which part requires further imaging.
	Step 6 Place the artwork [with screen attached] back into the machine and move through the machine to image the next section. You MUST overlap part of the area that has already been imaged - double imaging this part of the screen will NOT damage the mesh. If you do not overlap the image will appear with a gap in the design.
	Step 7 Repeat steps 3 to 5 imaging the remainder of the design. This process can be repeated as many times as required to image the remainder of the design [some A3 designs may require up to 8 images]. When complete, you can peel back part of the artwork from the mesh to view the design has imaged properly - once all the design is imaged you may remove the artwork if you prefer before . .

Step 1 Remove the backing from the double sided tape and place on a flat surface, with the 2 longest sides of the frame at the top & bottom. With the artwork facing down [film/smooth side up], tighten and lower the bottom edge of the screen over the base of the frame as pictured left. Working from the centre outwards, adhere the edge down as pictured right.

Step 2 Always working from the middle, pull the screen to the top of the frame and adhere in the middle as pictured left. Working outwards, towards the corners, lift and pull the screen tighter and adhere to the frame as pictured right.

Step 3 Rotate the frame so as the short edges are at the top and bottom, then repeat Step 2 on both top and bottom sides. This will attach the mesh to all 4 sides of the frame.

 

You can not print with the screen if wrinkles are present. Removing wrinkles by lifting the mesh off the frame in the area of the wrinkle and pull the mesh slightly tighter - then reapply to frame working from the middle to the corners. NOTE: Your frame should be flat when finished - if it’s bent the tension is too great and you will need to release the mesh and reapply.

 

 

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Printing

We recommend you print about 20 times on scrap paper to get the feel of the squeegee, pressure required, lifting the frame and reapplying ink.
 

Start by stirring the ink & dipping the palette knife into the pot - raise and apply the ink to the blade of the squeegee, or directly onto the screen above the design [onto squeegee will use less ink].

Avoid the 2 main problems that lead to smudges/ bleeding & faint/ light prints:

	1.  Keep the angle of the squeegee upright - the angle should be about 60-70 degrees This provides a clear, sharp print - angles too low force too much ink through the screen and bleeding may occur
	2. Do not press too hard - less pressure is used with the squeegee when printing The blade on the squeegee should NOT flex or bend whilst printing You don’t need to push the squeegee through the screen - the ink will naturally be drawn through onto the material below - you just need to guide the squeegee

Place the squeegee onto the screen at the top of the design and pull through towards you [keep your wrist & elbow still] with even pressure.

Lift the frame from the design in a hinge like motion, using one hand on the edge of the frame and lifting from the other side.

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Cleaning

All NEHOC fabric inks are 100% waterbased with clean-up in cold water [not hot, as mesh is thermally reactive].

X Do NOT scrub smooth/ film side [rough/ ink side only] of screen. Do not hi-pressure wash.