New batch of violet plates

[Printservedigital]

Ok Hessel, sounds like a more serious issue.

Please provide more details

What

CTP are you using
RIP ?
Laserpower setting ?
Chemistry ?
Processor ?
Gum?


Have you used a step wedge?
Has the laser power at the bed face been tested?
Have you recorded and tested the PH level and bath temperature?
Have you checked the brush settings?

Hagars advice was a good starting point.

[Hessel]

Well we are using the Lap-v, Polaris-xtv, LP82 ultra dev machine, l5000b/l5300b chemestry.
But the problem sounds the same.

[Printservedigital]

I trained on the XTV and have experience of running violet for 3-4 years. Been to a few places that Run Lap-V , They had very messy processors.

Where are you based.

[Hessel]

We are based in Emmeloord in the Netherlands.
All Agfa's technic people have been here, checked the LP82, polaris... but everything is ok. It is a very strange problem, agfa tells us we are the only ones but i know other sites who have (had) the same problems.

[Printservedigital]

Is it intermittent? do you record which Press/tower you run blind on?

Do you run more than one CTP line ? If so do the plates that run blind come off the same line?

You need to make sure it's def a CTP issue first before you go any further with the problem.

[Printservedigital]

"All Agfa's technic people have been here, checked the LP82, polaris... but everything is ok"

Listen, I worked as an Agfa Contractor, am Agfa Engineer trained in CTP installation and service (Not the two day operator training) , at a printhouse I once worked at they changed onto new chems once and said it was brilliant chemistry cleaner etc etc had no other probs elsewhere blah blah blah

Only it leeched the silicone outta the rubber and caused no end of problem (no other plant had the issue) I cannot tell you how many times I've heard that in the industry in ten years of working with Afga kit.

They ended up changing over 120 (approx) rollers in three processors. We used over 6000 plates a night!!! I've corrected agfa's fairytales before now.

I'm not saying it's an Agfa issue but please realise if you really want to get to the bottom of the issue taking everything your supplier says as read is not going to help you solve your problem.

[Hessel]

We have 2 presses, the problem is on both presses all over the press. We have 2 ctp lines and the plates from both lines are blinding. We did a crosscheck, plates from one imager developed in the other dev machine. Fresh chemistry before a longer run... no change..
Other brand blankets, ink, fountain sloutions, paper.... you name it.
And we tested on Kodak Thermal news Gold plates without isseus...

[Printservedigital]

Do you cross reference batch numbers on the back of the plate against issues?

Do you cross reference BATCHES against shift patterns??

Do you check the Developer PH IN BATH?

Have you checked processor Brush tensions? IN BATH?

Are you running yellow light conditions?

See where I'm going here?

[Printservedigital]

Describe what you mean by going BLIND, is there a pattern or is it patchy as in the traditional sense??


Here is what I would do

Cross reference Batch against issue.
Cross reference Shift pattern against BATCH and ISSUE (Eliminates operator issues)
Check if Agfa have checked laser power output ON BED. (This can be done through the test menu)
Check Brush Tensions in processor
Check PH & Temperature of DEV in Processor
Take Step wedge at start of every days production
Take heat test (4th plate) start of every days production.
Check on bed Laser power.

The more information you have to hand the easier the source is to detect

If you want to discuss further I'm happy to provide consultancy as a previously Agfa trained prepress technologist with a individual report.

[Hessel]

Do you cross reference batch numbers on the back of the plate against issues?

1* Do you cross reference BATCHES against shift patterns??

2* Do you check the Developer PH IN BATH?

3* Have you checked processor Brush tensions? IN BATH?

4* Are you running yellow light conditions?

See where I'm going here?

1* Yes it seems to be connected to the plate thickness also and the plate already looks "cloudy" out of the box.

2* Yes that's ok.

3* There is no brush in the LP82.

4* Yes, we are running yellow light conditions since we use the Lap-v

We have made a list of things we already tested, it is 2 A4 pages long.