¶ Introduction
A heat presss is a tool used for bonding thermal materials to fabrics at set temperatures for specified durations.
¶ Shop Access
A membership or day pass is required to access Digital Textiles.
The Shop Safety Class Direct to Garment, Dye-Sublimation and Heat Press Safety is required before operating the heat press.
¶ Machine Reservations
The heat press does require a machine reservation to use. You can make machine reservations in the following ways:
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- In person at the front desk.
- Reserve a machine any time through our Mind Body Portal.
- Call the front desk during business hours at (410) 862-0424.
- Email us at frontdesk@openworksbmore.com. Please include your name, the machine you'd like to reserve, and the date(s) and times of the reservation(s).
¶ Machine Overview
The heat press is a tool used prior to printing on a direct to garment (DTG) printer for color quality and afterwards to seal the image. The heat press is also used to apply designs printed on a transfer film, using the DTG, or transfer paper, using the dye sublimation printer.
Heat Platen Size: 19.68" wide x 15.75"
Temperature Range: 0 - 400 °F
Time Control: 0-999 Second
¶ Machines Available
- Open Works has one heat press.
¶ Parts of the Machine
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¶ Material Considerations
¶ Acceptable Materials:
Pretreated 100% cotton for direct to garment prints
¶ Safety and Setup for the Heat Press
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
• Sturdy, close-toed shoes must be worn at all times.
• Heat resistant gloves should be worn when working with the heat press.
For more information on shop safety visit Digital Textiles under "Safety."
¶ Heat Press Times for 100% Cotton on the Direct to Garment Printer
| Substrate | Pretreat Level | Heat Press for Pretreat Temp (F) | Heat Press for Pretreat Time | Heat Press Pressure | Heat Press Temp for Printed Shirt (F) | Heat Press Time for Printed Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black/dark budget cotton tee | Bi Direction Lv. 4 or 5 | 300-320 degrees | 60 sec or until dry | Low | 300-320 degrees | 75-120 sec |
| Black/dark ring spun cotton | Bi Direction Level. 4 or 5 | 300-320 degrees | 60 sec or until dry | Low | 300-320 degrees | 60-90 sec |
| White budget cotton tee | Uni Direction Lv. 4 or 5 | 275-320 degrees | 45 sec or until dry | Low | 275-320 degrees | 45-75 sec |
| White ring spun cotton tee | Uni Direction Lv. 4 or 5 | 275-320 degrees | 45 sec or until dry | Low | 275-320 degrees | 45-75 sec |
¶ Additional Temperature Settings
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¶ Step-by-Step Guides
¶ Before You Begin
¶ Turn Heat Press On and Off
Instructions
¶ Set up the Times and Temperatures
¶ Heat Press Times for 100% Cotton on the Direct to Garment Printer
| Substrate | Heat Press Pressure | Heat Press Temp for Printed Shirt (F) | Heat Press Time for Printed Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black/dark budget cotton tee | Low | 300-320 | 75-120 sec |
| Black/dark ring spun cotton | Low | 300-320 | 60-90 sec |
| White budget cotton tee | Low | 275-320 | 45-75 sec |
| White ring spun cotton tee | Low | 275-320 | 45-75 sec |
Instructions
¶ Replacing and Exchanging Heat Plates
The heat press has various plates to conform to surfaces such as hats and mugs in addition to flat surfaces.
- Replace the Heat Plate on the Vevor 5-1 Heat Press SOP
- Replace Baking Cap Mat SOP
- Replace Baking Coaster SOP
¶ Detailed Instructions for Different Printing Methods
- For Pretreated Substrate Instructions
- For Direct to Garment Print Instructions
- For Direct to Film Print Instructions
- Transfer a Dye Sublimation Print onto a T-Shirt SOP
¶ Machine Maintenance
All machine maintenance pages are only accessible to Staff. All machine maintenance is only to be done by Staff.
¶ Troubleshooting
¶ References
¶ Video Walkthroughs
¶ Resupply Form
Click here to report any consumables in need of replenishment!
¶ Glossary
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