¶ Introduction
This page serves as an introduction to the Mister-T1 pretreat machine. Pretreating your substrate is a necessary step for ensuring maximum print quality on the direct to garment printer and the dye sublimation printer.
This machine is roughly equivalent to a computer controlled spray bottle. It applies a liquid that helps ink bond to fabric in an even and repeatable manner to the fabric that is inserted into the machine.
¶ 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 to operate the pretreat machine.
¶ Machine Reservations
A reservation is not required to use the pre-treat machine. The machine is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, the machine may be reserved in tandem with the Direct to Garment printer in order to streamline your workflow.
¶ Machines Available
- Open Works has one Mister-T1 pretreat machine available for use.
¶ Parts of the Machine
Click to expand
%%INSERT PICTURE¶ Material Considerations
¶ Acceptable Materials:
100% cotton
¶ FORBIDDEN MATERIALS :
Leather
¶ Safety and Setup for the Mister-T1
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
• Sturdy, close-toed shoes must be worn at all times for traction and stability.
• Latex gloves should be worn when handling the pretreat fluids and the pretreat waste.
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 | 60 sec or until dry | Low | 300-320 | 75-120 sec |
| Black/dark ring spun cotton | Bi Direction Level. 4 or 5 | 300-320 | 60 sec or until dry | Low | 300-320 sec | 60-90 sec |
| White budget cotton tee | Uni Direction Lv. 4 or 5 | 275-320 | 45 sec or until dry | Low | 275-320 | 45-75 sec |
| White ring spun cotton tee | Uni Direction Lv. 4 or 5 | 275-320 | 45 sec or until dry | Low | 275-320 | 45-75 sec |
¶ Step-by-Step Guides
¶ Before You Begin
¶ Pretreat Substrate SOP:
The pretreat machine is a delicate beast that responds well to careful handling.
The fan should always be running- if it's not, check the power switch on the back and the e-stop.
¶ Time to complete
- Less than 30 minutes.
- Always allot additional time for the substrate to dry completely before printing.
¶ Tools Required
- Pretreat machine
- Lint roller
¶ Materials Required
- Substrate
- Parchment paper
- Pretreat liquid
- Distilled Water
- Cleaner
¶ Getting the Machine ready/cleaning
- Check levels in the bottles on the side of the machine. If they're below 1/4, let a tech know to fill them.
- There are four bottles: 1 of Pretreat liquid, 1 of cleaner, and 2 of distilled water.
- Pretreat liquid doesn't need to be shaken.
- Pretreat liquid doesn't need to be shaken.
- Power on the machine from the button on the front. If it doesn't, disengage the e-stop. Verify that the green nozzle has extended. If not, power cycle the machine again.
- Pull the drawer out.
- If the sponge is saturated, wring it out.
- Lift tube labled 'Pretreat' to the top of the bottle, press the 'clean' button. It will spray until the tube runs empty/the 'clean' button is pressed again.
- Transfer the Pretreat tube to the Pretreat bottle and insert it all the way to the bottom. Press the 'clean' button and let it run until there is a nice even spray. Then press the button again to end the clean.
- Clean the platen off.
¶ Putting the garment in the machine and applying the pre-treat
- Place shirt/substrate on table in drawer of the machine. Make sure that the fabric is smooth and flat. Tuck any edges underneath the platen.
- Close the drawer.
- Check your settings and press start.
¶ Tips
- Wait a moment for the chamber to air out before opening the drawer.
- Remove shirt from the pretreat machine and let it air dry for a week. It can be folded during this time.
¶ Quick dry the pre-treatment with the heat press
- Preheat heat press
- Place parchment paper on bottom plate
- Place substrate on parchment paper
- Place parchment paper on top of substrate
- Close heat press and let it run.
Enjoy the steam coming out the sides.
¶ When done with the machine
- Lift the filter from the pretreat jug, press clean and let it spray until the tube is empty
- Put the filter in the simple green/cleaning solution. Press clean and let it spray until it's good. This is vibes based.
- With the filter still in the cleaning solution and the drawer open, use the settings for a thin white garment to spray down the inside of the machine. Repeat with the drawer closed.
- Lift the nozzle to the top of the cleaning solution jug, press clean and let it spray until the tube is empty.
- Put the move the filter to a distilled water jug, press spray and let it go until it's good (vibes again).
- Repeat step 4 but with the distilled water.
- Lift filter to top of jug and close valve.
- Switch to clean distilled water (open valve if needed) and run clean again.
- Using paper towel, clean platen, rails, inside of the machine in general. Lift the lid for better access.
- Make sure the puddle in the bottom drains--you may have to fiddle with the tube.
- Power off from the switch on the front. The fan should stay running.
¶ 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 needing to be replenished!
¶ Glossary
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