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Marking on shrink tubing

Marking on shrink tubing

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I realize this is not a board assembly question, but I'm hop... - Dec 21, 2006 by

We build quite a few cables ourselves, and we go through a l... - Dec 29, 2006 by Bman

We use the Brady parts, from the PS-094 up thru the PS-500 s... - Jan 03, 2007 by

Try looking @ a company called VideoJet - I've used them to ... - Jan 03, 2007 by

Have you checked out Alpha Wire Co. FIT-Print tubing? ... - Jan 03, 2007 by

We also use PS-094 sized labels, and they don't give us any ... - Jan 03, 2007 by Bman

If I could set it up for markers and leave it I probably wou... - Jan 03, 2007 by

Mike F

#46329

Marking on shrink tubing | 21 December, 2006

I realize this is not a board assembly question, but I'm hoping some of the people that read this forum can offer some suggestions for me to evaluate.

I need a way to mark wire numbers on shrink sleeving that does not have the name Brady anywhere in the process. We are a high mix low volume assembly house that builds our own designs and also to others prints, 90+% ends up going to the government. I need a way to mark on M23053/5 type shrink sleeving for wire markers.

We are currently using a Brady printer and I have had it with the problems. I just tried to print 76 markers, and had to re-print 35. It's a rare job where I scrap less than 20%.

I haven't used a Raychem system in many years, can anyone tell me their opinion on that system?

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all,

Mike F

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Bman

#46417

Marking on shrink tubing | 29 December, 2006

We build quite a few cables ourselves, and we go through a lot of heat shrink labels. Unfortunately, we only use Brady heat shrink labels, so I don't know if I can help much. Are you actually running raw heat shrink through your printer? If so, good luck, I've never heard of that before.

The heat shrink labels I'm familiar with come on a nice backer that makes it fairly easy to print on them. If you're not familiar with them, an example part number is PS-187-150W (warning, this is a Brady PN).

The one brady printer we had always gave us problems, we've had much better luck with Zebra printers. Nice 105s show up on Ebay frequently for less then $500.

You might have better luck posting your question on the WHMA list serve at:

http://www.whma.org/Membership/EmailList.aspx

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mIKE f

#46445

Marking on shrink tubing | 3 January, 2007

We use the Brady parts, from the PS-094 up thru the PS-500 size, on a Brady 300MVP printer. We also use that printer for marking Brady polyimide labels.

The problem is when we try to print on the smaller markers the printing keeps wandering off the markers, it doesn't stay aligned. There is a sensor that has to be adjusted when you change over from labels to markers, and even when you follow the printer manual instructions it still doesn't stay aligned. I'm just tired of loosing so many markers because the printing is half off the marker.

I'll take a look at the WHMA list serv, I've never been on that one. Thanks for the link.

Mike F

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#46447

Marking on shrink tubing | 3 January, 2007

Try looking @ a company called VideoJet - I've used them to mark parts in the past with pretty good results. They may be able to help ya.

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muse

#46453

Marking on shrink tubing | 3 January, 2007

Have you checked out Alpha Wire Co. FIT-Print tubing? http://www.alphawire.com/pages/141.cfm I don't know if this is what you are looking for or not.

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Bman

#46455

Marking on shrink tubing | 3 January, 2007

We also use PS-094 sized labels, and they don't give us any problems. I'm sure you're way ahead of me on this, but just in case, make sure that the sensor is lined up with the notches beside the labels and not the round holes on the edge of the roll.

I just looked at the printer you mentioned, and it looks a lot like a rebadged version of a new Zebra printer we used for printing this kind of label all day. Your printer really should work with those labels. Maybe someone at Brady could help?

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Mike F

#46464

Marking on shrink tubing | 3 January, 2007

If I could set it up for markers and leave it I probably would not be as frustrated with the printer. We also run polyimide labels through that same printer, which means you have to adjust that sensor to a different position. Then when we switch back to the markers the sensor is positioned wrong and we end up wasting abunch of markers.

The printer may not be used for a week or more, then it might be needed for two or three different sizes of markers for the same job. The sensor is somewhat buried and not easy to align. On ours it is easy to adjust, but you're off to the side so you can not eyeball the alignment, just try to print some and see how well it stays "calibrated". We don't use it enough to justify buying another one.

I complained enough to the local Brady distrbutor that they loaned us a demo unit, but it has control electronics problems and is useless.

I've just reached the point where I'd like to look around at replacement options and just leave the printer set up for the polyimide labels. Those are much easier to set up.

I'll be looking at the Alpha link posted above and see what that system can do.

Mike F

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