If you’re tempted to see the high quality printed T-shirts, caps, or any other crafts, you may want to know the secret behind that incredible printing. This is where the heat press machine comes in.
This machine has become an essential component in heat printing technologies. It can print anything on cardboard or fabric by providing pressurized heat for a certain amount of time.
If you’re new in this business, you may want to have your own heat press machine.
However, as there are different types of heat press machines available on the market, choosing the right one can be a little intimidating. You need to consider its type, temperature, pressure, platen size, and your budget to get the right one.
Things to Know Before Buying a Heat Press Machine
Although a heat press is essential for your business, getting the wrong one can make your job challenging. Here are some of the factors you need to consider before getting one for your business.
Types of The Heat Press Machine
Four different types of heat press machines are currently available on the market. Each of them is unique and suitable for a certain business based on its features, size, and productivity.
It’s crucial to know about the different types since it will help you to choose the right heat press machine for your business.
Manual Swing-Away
This type of machine offers accurate application by rotating the upper plate away from the lower plate towards the right or left. You will also get a full view of the garment layout area.
It’s quite energy-efficient and comes with a room for ventilation. However, it takes too much time to print and requires a bigger workplace.
Manual Draw
This swing-away heat press requires you to draw the lower platen manually towards yourself, keeping the upper one still. It’s relatively small and safe to use, thanks to its heat-free surface.
However, you need to be very careful while moving the layout so that the design doesn’t get out of place. If you need to print heavy garments like sweatshirts or hoodies, this isn’t a good choice for you.
Clamshell Heat Press
This is one of the most commonly-found heat presses on the market. It comes with a hinge that connects the upper and lower platen, making it look like a clamshell when you raise the upper platen.
It’s portable and suitable for beginners. However, it comes with very limited application, and it’s difficult to control the temperature.
Automatic Air-Operated
This heat press offers automatic functionality bars that open and close the platens by force. It’s one of the most durable and energy-efficient machines since the exposure of the platens to the room air is limited.
However, an automatic air-operated heat press is quite expensive and takes a lot of time to print.
Size of the Heat Press
Determining the right size of the heat press machine is crucial for every printing business. While a smaller one will fail to complete your customers’ orders, a big one may be just a waste of money.
Considering the type of your business and the demand, you can choose from any of these four sizes.
Very Small
Very small heat presses come with sizes that vary from 4”X6” to 6”X8”. These machines are perfect for small printing such as kids’ t-shirts or tote bags.
Small
These are portable heat press printing machines and range in size from 9”X12” to 12”X14”. If you want an inexpensive heat press machine for your small production, these sizes will be perfect for you.
Medium
These types of machines are quite popular among decorators. They come in different sizes, such as 16”X16”, 15”X15”, and 14”X16”, and are perfect for repeated use.
Large
These machines are usually 16” X 20” and over. Large heat presses are mostly used by the garments manufacturers for commercial and large production.
Analog or Digital Timer?
Accurate curing time is essential for a successful heat transfer application. Having a timer on your heat-press machine can save you from making mistakes.
While buying a new machine, determine whether it has an analog timer or digital timer. Compared to the analog one, a digital timer will always provide you with an exact value of the time.
Although expensive, a digital timer on a heat press can make your printing job more efficient. Besides, some of them have an automatic reset feature that lets you reset the timer every time you start a new print.
Temperature
The heat application over the print area ensures a durable printing on your garment product. You need to measure each degree of the rise and fall of the temperature. Otherwise, it might ruin your design.
You need to consider some factors regarding the temperature while purchasing a new heat-press, including the type of its temperature gauge, the thickness of the platen, whether it’s using an RTD probe or a bi-metallic thermometer, and much more.
Remember, the standard time for a press to heat up is 20-minutes. Do check the time before going for a new one.
Pressure
The pressure is another key element to apply heat on the print surface. Depending on the material or substrate you’re printing on, the pressure can be low, medium, or high.
Applying the correct pressure is crucial for perfect printing. You must also check if the machine can apply the pressure evenly to the entire print area. Like the timer, a digital reading of the pressure is highly acceptable.
Final Thoughts
Incorporating product customization can bring you huge profits in your printing business. Regardless of what you perform such as DTG, screen printing, or sublimation, a heat press machine can be your lifesaver in the curing process.
Your entire printing, as well as your reputation, can be destroyed due to improper curing or drying of the ink, meaning that you should never compromise with the quality for the price.
Do thorough research and follow the above-mentioned tips before you buy a heat press machine. Determine what’s best for your business and go for it.