Special Report Using a conveyor dryer to cure the DTF film
high-wattage heater is swivelled for uniform curing. Models with dual rotary platens can double productivity. Head levelling achieves edge-to-edge consistency. For shops that also offer manual screen printing, flash cure units are likely on hand and offer relatively hands-free results in about a minute. As with heat presses, flash cure units operate on 120V and require a separate powered exhaust system to evacuate fumes.
Conveyor dryers
The most efficient option is an infrared conveyor dryer. The freshly powdered transfer is placed on the conveyor belt, which travels through the heating chamber to cure, hands-free. The height-adjustable heating element and digitally controlled temperature and belt speed allow precision settings for repeatable results. A catch bin at the end of the conveyor allows multiple transfers to be placed on the belt in succession, with no operator oversight, improving productivity. Infrared conveyor dryers can also be used to cure pretreatment as well as DTG printed garments.
Small tabletop conveyor dryers operate on 120V and 240V.
DTF conveyor dryers
A new conveyor dryer engineered for DTF curing employs advanced air handling to exhaust toxic vapours and collect glycol condensate, thereby protecting shop personnel during the DTF curing process. The dryer draws filtered makeup air through the top-centre of the heating chamber, and through its double-wall top and sides, serving to cool the outer skin and chamber edges for operator safety. A washable mist separator removes glycol from the contaminated vapour, collecting its condensate in a removable receptacle.
Two models are offered, both with 24in. (61cm) wide, variable-speed conveyor belts. Model ERVP-III-24 comes standard with 10,800W of power, and model ERVP-VI-24 comes with 15,600W of power and a double-length heating chamber.
While these free-standing conveyor dryers are pricier they offer higher production rates and greater operator safety.
The capacity (belt speed) of a conveyor dryer can be doubled, tripled or even quadrupled as new or when needs increase by adding one or two modular heating chambers and extending the conveyor
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The finished product
belt. This eliminates the need to invest in a larger dryer than you need at the onset, and avoids the high cost of purchasing a new dryer when your needs increase.
Time cost outweighs equipment cost
Because your curing equipment will likely last many years, its one-time cost is typically insignificant relative to the time it takes away from profit-making activities throughout your workdays. Consider that heat presses, flash cure units and curing ovens can burn your transfers if you forget to remove them in time. As a result, they require your constant
attention, taking you away from production, prepress and even sales activities that generate income – every day over the useful life of your curing equipment.
For example, curing each transfer using a heat press takes 1-5 minutes and requires your attention to remove each one in time. With a conveyor dryer, however, you need only place transfers onto the belt, since they fall into a bin at the discharge end with no oversight on your part. Once your business begins to grow, replacing time-consuming manual equipment will ultimately cost you more than purchasing time-saving automated equipment at the onset.
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