Geo Knight Digital Knight DK20SP User Manual - User Manual

DK20SP 16x20 digital swinger! This heat press machine has many
exciting features, all of which are meant to help make your heat
transfer pressing endeavors as successful and easy as possible. Please
take the time now to thoroughly read through this manual to become
acquainted with them. It will explain some key features, concepts
and methods that will save much time and effort in using this press
and in your heat pressing applications.

Throughout this manual, many areas and components of this

machine will be referred to by specific names. Please refer to the
illustrations below in order to become familiar with some of the
terminology used in this manual.

Height Knob
Top Head
Power Inlet
E-Stop Button
Activate Button(s)
Heat Platen
Lower Table
Silicone Pad
Pressure Gauge
Air Inlet
Air Regulator

Temperature
°Far/°Cel Indicator
Ready Indicator
Heating Indicator
Open Indicator
Timing Indicator
Done Indicator
Time
TEMP Button
PRG Button
Up/Down Arrows

Default Operating Mode of Controller

Setup & Suggestions

•

Locate the press on a firm, sturdy work surface.

•

The height of the bench/work space the press is located on would be

ideally 27” to 32” high.

•

The top head should be swung over and above the pressing table when

not in use.

•

The air attachment is a 3/8” OD

(outer diameter) compression fitting.
Standard 3/8” OD poly tubing should
be used for connecting the air supply
to the air inlet fitting. The poly tubing
is simply pressed into the fitting, and
the fitting will hold the tubing with
an air-tight connection.

Basic Use

Setting Time

The time setting is always editable in the default operating mode

of the controller. The left two digits of the time display are minutes.
The right two digits are seconds. This can be changed to Hours/
Minutes in the User Options Menu.

•

Use the Up & Down arrow keys to change the time.

•

Hold the Up or Down arrow key down to increment the values quickly.

After a brief pause, the values will accelerate.

•

Press the Up & Down arrow keys together to clear the setting to 00:00

•

When the press is closed, the timing cycle starts. The “TIMING”

indicator will appear.

•

When the timing cycle is finished, the “DONE” indicator will appear.

•

Depending on the timer alarm chosen, the alarm may continue to sound

at the end of the timing cycle until the press is opened.

•

When the press is opened up, the “OPEN” indicator will appear.

Setting Temperature

•

The control will regulate the heat platen temperature based on the set

point temperature. When the temperature falls below the Set Point,
the “HEATING” indicator will appear.

•

When the temperature reaches the Set Point, the “HEATING” indicator

will disappear and the “READY” indicator will appear.

•

If the Set Point temperature is set to a temperature below the Current

temperature, the press will wait to cool down to that Set Point. At that
time, neither the “READY” or “HEATING” indicators will appear.

In the default operating mode of the controller, the displayed

temperature is the Current temperature. This is the actual temperature
of the heat platen surface. Please note that the operating range of the
controller is from 150°F to 550°F (65°C to 288°C). During the first
heat up cycle of the press, the controller will display 150°F (65°C)
until the heat platen temperature rises above that temperature.

The Set Point temperature is the temperature the operator sets

the press for. This is the value the press will regulate the Current
temperature based on. The set point temperature may be changed
whenever necessary:

•

When in the default operating mode, press the TEMP button.

•

The Current temperature will be replaced by the blinking Set Point

temperature.

•

Use the Up & Down arrow keys to change the Set Point temperature.

•

Hold the Up or Down arrow key down to increment the values quickly.

After a brief pause, the values will accelerate.

•

Press the Up & Down arrow keys together to set the temperature to

350.

•

When finished setting the temperature, press the TEMP button to return

to the default operating mode.

Setting Platen Height

The height adjustment knob on the DK20SP allows for thicker

items to be placed in the press. The factory set height of the press is
the proper platen height setting for most fabrics, and materials under
1/4” thick. Unlike manual presses, the actual amount of pressure on
the DK20SP is determined by the air regulator and air gauge, NOT
by the height of the heat platen. However, if the platen height does
not provide enough clearance for especially thick items, this can be
adjusted.

•

To raise the heat platen, turn the

pressure knob to the left,
counterclockwise.

•

The top head will rise away

from the lower table.

•

To lower the heat platen, turn

the pressure knob to the right,
clockwise.

•

The top head will lower toward

the pressing table.

Actuating the Press

To actuate the machine,

simply press both black buttons
together. This will cause the air
bladder to fill, the table to raise,
and the work to be pressed. The
digital timer will automatically
begin cycling. At the end of the
timer cycle the press will
automatically release and the
timer will reset to the preset time. BOTH black buttons must be
pressed together, to insure that both operators hands are clear of the
pressing area, for safety purposes.

To interrupt the timing cycle, in order to do a quick pre-press or

press for a shorter period of time than is set, simply press both black
buttons together again. For emergency one-hand release of the air
pressure, press the middle button on the front panel.

Guidelines & Standard Settings

The following information covers some basic guidelines for

pressing, as well as some generic parameters for basic heat transfer
applications.

•

When pressing shirts, it is often recommended that the shirts be quickly

pressed for 2 seconds before transferring to remove wrinkles and water
content.

•

When pressing two sides of a garment, pull the garment over the table

so that the printed side drapes underneath the table. This will avoid
reheating previously transferred designs on opposite sides of garments.
It will also avoid any bleed-through of inks on lighter fabrics.

•

Avoid laying collars, cuffs, zippers, and other bulky parts of garments

on the lower table, as these can adversely affect pressing conditions,
and reduce the life of the silicone pad.

•

When pressing rigid substrates (plastics, metals, woods, etc.), be sure

that any protective films or laminates are removed before heating.

•

Always check that the transfer image is face down against the material,

to avoid sealing the image against the heat platen instead of the
substrate.

Always follow the transfer media suppliers instructions when

pressing. The information below is for general reference only, and
may not be as accurate as the instructions provided by the transfer
media & imprintable substrate supplier.

•

Hot Split Supplier Transfers

350-375°F, 8-10 secs

•

Puff Transfers

350-375°, 5-7 secs

(extra heavy pressure)

•

Ink-Jet Transfer Papers

360°, 15-18 secs

•

ColorCopy/Laser Transfer Papers

375°, 20-25 secs

•

Sublimation Inks

(Polyester Fabrics)

400°, 35 secs

•

Sublimation Inks

(Plastics)

400°, 1 min, 15 secs

•

Sublimation Inks

(Metals)

400°, 1 min

•

Sublimation Inks

(Woods)

400°, 1 min, 15 secs

•

Sublimation Inks

(Ceramics)

400°, 4 min

Programmable Presets

This feature is ideal for recalling previously saved settings from

various different applications. The presets are extremely easy to use,
and bring a powerful level of accuracy to heat transfer pressing.

For example, the user may have Setting 00 for Hot-Split T-Shirts.

When the user needs to perform that particular application, they simply
select Setting 00, and the Current temperature & time parameters are
updated. A pressure reference is also displayed, telling the user what
pressure to set the press to. The user can then rotate the pressure
knob until the gauge displays the same value that was stored and
displayed by the preset.

This allows the user to quickly change from one application to

another with extreme accuracy. Over time, the user will save many
different settings in the presets based on the best results for every
application. When those presets are selected, the user is immediately
returned to the proper settings, without time consuming
experimentation and risk of unsuccessful applications.

•

From the default operating mode, to select a

preset, press PRG.

•

Use the Up & Down arrow keys to select a preset

(00 - 70).

•

Press PRG to update the current settings and return

to the default operating mode.

•

To edit or add a new preset, select the preset to be

added/updated.

•

Press TEMP to cycle through Temperature, Time

& Pressure values. (PRS values not used in
DK20SP)

•

The editable value will flash indicating it may be

changed.

•

Use the Up & Down arrow keys to change values.

Pressing Up & Down together when editing the
temperature value resets it to 350, and 00 for time.

•

After setting the pressure value, pressing PRG

again will bring the user back to the preset
selection screen.

•

The user may press PRG to update the current

settings and return to the default operating mode,
or select another preset for editing/adding.

User Options Menu

The user options menu is a set of features and calibration options

that are programmable and adjustable by the user. It consists of a set
of menu items that can be scrolled through. Each menu item is a
feature whose values can be veiwed and /or changed. To enter the
user options menu:

•

From the default operating mode, press the TEMP & PRG keys

simultaneously.

•

If the keys are not pressed exactly at the same time, you may enter the

temperature edit mode, or the presets mode. Exit either of those modes
and try again.

•

To cycle from one menu item to the next, press PRG.

Fahrenheit / Celsius

The Current, Set Point, and Preset

temperature values can be displayed in
Fahrenheit or Celsius. To change the value to
F or C, use the arrow keys. Press PRG to move
to the next menu item.

Timer Counter

The timer displays as factory default

Minutes:Seconds. This can be changed to
Hours:Minutes. To change to value to HR
(hours:mins) or MIN (mins:secs), use the arrow
keys. Press PRG to move to the next menu
item.

Recorded Pressings

The digital control records the number of

pressing cycles completed. This can be very
helpful when counting the number of full
pressings that have been performed. The value
will scroll from left to right. A “-” sign will
separate the beginning and end of the number.
To reset the count to Zero, press an arrow key.
Press PRG to move to the next menu item.

Drop Sense

A temperature alarm is available for warning the user of out-of-

range temperature conditions. The user can set this menu item to
sound an alarm if the heat platen drops below the Set Point temperature
by the amount indicated. This can be helpful when pressing substrates
that absorb an unusually large amount of heat, causing the platen to
fall in temperature quickly. If the results of the transfer begin to
deteriorate, the Drop Sense feature can help the user avoid this.

Use the arrow keys to set the degrees or

to turn this feature off. If the Current
temperature drops below the Set Point by this
amount or more, an alarm will sound. The
default value is OFF.

Pressure/Height Gauge Settings

The PrH, PrL, and Prr settings are not applicable to this particular

use of the Digital Knight controller.

Beep

Normally, all buttons on the keypad beep

when pressed. This can be turned off, so all
button keypresses are silent. Use the arrow
keys to turn this feature On or Off.

Alarms

There are 10 different alarms available to choose from. These

alarms are sounded at the end of the timing cycle, as well as if the
Drop Sense feature is enabled.

Use the arrow keys to change the values

or to turn the alarm off. Please note the different
alarms below.

• denotes a short beep.
_ denotes a longer beep.
~ denotes infinite loop.

Alarm #

Alarm Pattern

Off

No alarm

• • • _

• • • _ ~

• • _

• • _ ~

• • •

• • • ~

_ ~

•

(shorter)

Troubleshooting

The following information attempts to address the most probable

mechanical and user issues with the press. Most issues with heat
transfer presses are application related. That is, they have to do with
the results of a particular transfer application.

For technical support on problems having to do with the final

results of a particular transfer paper or media, please contact the
supplier of that transfer media. Generally, the machinery manufacturer
is unable to support the myriad of different transfer papers, inks and
imprintable items on the market from other resellers.

Q. The heat platen does not align with the lower table.
A. The stopping position of the heat platen is adjustable. To change the

point where the heat platen stops over the table, adjust the stop collar
on the back of the press. This is the silver colored ring around the post
that stops the head from continually swinging over the table. It can be
loosened, and retightened when the correct position is obtained.

Q. The control displays Err when it first comes on, and I can not set the

temperature or use the press.

A. The Err message will display if the heating signal from the platen has

been cut off, interrupted, or the heating sensor has failed. First check
the green heat connector that plugs into the digital control. This is
inside the top head. Unplug the power cord. Remove the two screws
in between the clamp/linkage that hold down the top panel, and
carefully lift the panel up and look inside at the digital controller. At
the top of the controller, there is a green connector that plugs in. This
is the temperature sensor wire. Check to make sure is it properly seated.
Be sure not to unplug any other connectors. The temperature wire
connects to the center of the rear half of the heat platen. Check this
connection as well to see if the connection is correct.

Troubleshooting (cont.)

Q. I press the keys on the keypad, and there is no sound or response from

the controller.

A. Check the connection of the keypad to the controller. This is inside

the top panel. Unplug the power cord. Remove the two screws in
between the clamp/linkage that hold down the top panel, and carefully
lift the panel up and look inside at the digital controller. The keypad
connector passes in through the top panel. It should wind around the
first circuit board and be seated fully into the connector. Check the
black keypad connector that plugs into the circuit board to see if it has
pulled apart. Also check the area where the keypad connects to the
front membrane to see if the leads have been damaged. The membrane
keypad may need to be replaced.

Q. The press will not activate.
A. Check the air connection to the press. Make sure the compressor

supplying the air is on, and no relief valves have opened on the
compressor. Check the air gauge, it should be set to a reading of 20-
80 psi. Check to make sure the limit micro-switch in the back of the
press is closing when the head is swung over. If the head is not swung
all the way over the table, and the rear limit micro-switch is not being
closed, the press will not activate. If all of these check points have
been tried, and the digital control is counting down, but the press is
not pressing, contact Geo Knight technical support. If the Digital
Controller is not counting down when attempting to activate, one or
both of the black activation switches needs replacement.

Q. The press has shut off, and will not come back on after checking the

power cord, on/off switch, etc.

A. Check the fuse. In the back panel of the control box, the power cord

socket has a built-in fuse-holder. Unplug the power cord, and gently
pry out the fuse-holder. If the fuse is burnt out or there is no continuity,
replace it. If the fuse is fine, check the black and white wire connections
from the power socket to the on/off switch, and from the on/off switch
to the controller inside the head.

Q. I pressed a transfer upside down. The inks and transfer material have

burned onto the heat platen.

A. Cool the press down. Using a nonabrasive detergent or cleaner, thoroughly

scrub the heat platen surface. Do not use an abrasive scrubber, or a pad
that will scratch the Teflon coating of the platen. If you are still unable to
remove the transfer material, obtain teflon heater block cleaner from the
contact information located at the end of this manual.

Limited Warranty

Geo Knight & Co warrants that the press is free from defects in both material and

workmanship One Year from the date of invoice to the buyer. If any parts or workmanship are found to

be defective in manufacture, Geo Knight & Co will repair or replace the defective parts or workmanship.

In addition, Geo Knight & Co warrants that the Digital Knight heat control is free from defects in both

material & workmanship and is covered under no-charge support for (3) years. Geo Knight & Co also

warrants that the heating element is warranted for the lifetime of the press, provided it is owned by the

original purchaser. This lifetime warranty on the heating element does not cover temperature sensor

failure, damage or disconnection. This warranty covers all parts to repair the defects, except when

damage results from accident, alteration, misuse or abuse, or when the machine has been improperly

installed, or modified in any way. If the press becomes defective during the limited warranty period of

one year for the entire press, three years for the control, or the lifetime of the heating element, Geo

Knight & Co reserves the right to recall the defective press to the factory for repairs if on site component

replacement is deemed not possible by Geo Knight & Co. A return authorization must be granted by

Geo Knight & Co prior to its return.

If a press covered by the one year limited warranty must be returned to the factory for

repairs, Geo Knight & Co shall make every effort to repair buyer’s press. However, Geo Knight & Co

reserves the exclusive right to determine whether to repair or replace a defective press. If Geo Knight

& Co authorizes a replacement press, the warranty of the replacement press shall expire on the

anniversary date of the original machine’s invoice to the buyer.

There are no warranties which extend beyond the description on the face hereof. Seller

disclaims any implied warranty of merchantability and/or any implied warranty of fitness for a particular

purpose, and buyer agrees that the goods are sold “as is”. Geo Knight & Co does not warrant that the

functions of the press will meet the buyers requirements or expectations. The entire risk as to use,

quality and performance of the press lies with the buyer. In no event will Geo Knight & Co be liable

for any damages, including loss of profits, destruction of goods or any other special, incidental,

consequential or indirect damages arising from the use of the press or accompanying materials. This

limitation will apply even if Geo Knight & Co or its authorized agent has been advised of the possibility

of such damage.

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