Heidelberg platen - adjustment of bottom guide

gjt666
on 13 Mar 14 (03:34)

I my quest for learning how to operate my newly acquired 13x18 platen I am now learning how to print using the guides. I am getting the sheet to successfully sit on the guides at the bottom but I’m lost at how to adjust the height of the guides to achieve registration. I will be die-cutting printed sheets so I need to register the image on the sheet to my cutting die. I was under the impression from the manual that I could adjust my bottom guides up and down to achieve registration in that direction. I have engaged the guides using the knob, so that they move up to receive the sheet from the gripper bar. However I can’t see how that same knob allows adjustment of the height of the guides in the way that the manual suggests. Am I missing something?

Have I actually got the wrong end of the stick completely and is most of the registration actually performed by positioning the forme in the chase just where you want it? Are the adjustments of the guides limited to a few points as suggested by some of the text in the manual?

Thanks in advance for some pointers about achieving registration on this machine.

Gary

Mike Conway
on 13 Mar 14 (07:10)

bottom guide adjustment is very limited. I leave my bottom guides set to keep sheet square. I make adjustments inside the chase for register. You are not limited to furniture, reglet and lead. try cardstock paper anything that has the thickness you want o move die by. This is handy as often die board is not square due to being trimmed down to minimum wood around rule. Avoid lead at bottom of chase as it is usually too high and can cause damage.

Mike Conway
on 13 Mar 14 (07:10)

gjt666
on 13 Mar 14 (07:44)

Thanks Mike.

So basically registration (except for a few points of movement) is achieved by getting my forme where I want it in the chase?

AnonyMouse
on 13 Mar 14 (08:13)

About 4pt total adjustment, so 2pt in either direction if the adjusters are set in the middle of the range.

Mike Conway
on 13 Mar 14 (09:17)

I try to leave the guides alone, set so that crease and perf can be done without adjusting them. I do a lot of diecutting for printers and often the print is not square to the sheet so it is easier to move the die than adjust guides. However if embossing or diecutting folding cartons and the ounter is on or the matrix in place I will make fine adjustments with the guides to avoid resetting matrix or making a new male counter. careful with the bottom guides they are delicate and expensive to replace.

jonsel
on 13 Mar 14 (10:19)

I get my form as close to register as possible and then use the bottom guide to adjust for those last couple points if need be. It’s pretty limited, so your best bet is to get it as close as you can in the chase first.

gjt666
on 13 Mar 14 (10:53)

Thanks, all. All makes perfect sense now.

mikefrommontana
on 14 Mar 14 (20:28)

Alternately, try to track down some Rouse or PMC register quoins and bracket the form (4 corners) so that you can skew the form. Square (up/down, left/right) form movement is usually easier done by moving furniture around to suit..

HavenPress
on 17 Mar 14 (15:21)

GJT666 try watching this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ja49Zs11Sk

HavenPress
on 17 Mar 14 (15:24)

Particularly about 3:45/4:00 in.