Corporate Headquarters: 2800 Dauphin Street · Mobile, AL 36606 · USA
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CTP Site Preparation Guide
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OpenRIP Symphony
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VM CTP System
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PlateRunner P24 Processor
InTroduCTIon
Installation of your Xanté CTP system involves a certain degree
of planning and site preparation. This guide will help you prepare
for the arrival of your system, so that the installation goes as
smoothly as possible. Many of the preparation tasks listed in
these pages are mandatory — you will not have a functioning
system at the end of the installation period if the preparation
tasks have not been completed. In that case, it will be necessary
to schedule additional time to finish the installation, and that
additional time will be billed.
SITe PreParaTIon
The Xanté VM CTP system should be installed in a low traffic
area which is free from excessive dust and other contaminants.
The ambient temperature range should be between 65 and 78
degrees Fahrenheit (18 – 26 degrees Celsius) while the equip-
ment is in operation. For the plate material you plan to use, note
the acceptable range for developer temperature. If the ambient
temperature where you are installing the equipment sometimes
goes higher than the maximum developer temperature, it may
be necessary to install a chiller on the processor. Both can be
retrofitted in the field if necessary, but it is much easier to ship the
processor with one installed. The chiller uses refrigerative cooling
and does not require a water supply.
Humidity should be maintained between 45% and 65%
non-condensing at all times. Failure to maintain sufficient
humidity can cause static electricity buildup which can
damage the equipment. The imaging laser is especially sensitive
to static electricity. Humidity in excess of 60% to 65% may cause
problems with photopolymer plate material. If any other plate or
film processors are located nearby, ensure that they are properly
vented. Buildup of fumes in the vicinity of the VM CTP System
can cause premature degradation of the optics.
The drive system which transports the optics in the VM CTP
System is sensitive to vibration. Vibration which occurs while
imaging is underway may cause imaging anomalies. The best
location for installing the system is on a cement floor, away from
heavy machinery which can vibrate the floor. If the system will
be installed on a raised floor, wooden floor, or upper floor in a
building, then it should be located some distance away from
walkways and other sources of vibration. The system should not
be installed in a carpeted area, as carpets can produce a static
charge that may damage the system.
Yellow SafelIGhT, Yellow room
All violet-sensitive plate materials on the market at this time
require special lighting conditions in order to avoid fogging
(undesired exposure). It is necessary to control all the sources
of light in the area around the platesetter and processor while
plates are being handled, both ambient light and direct light.
Ambient light can be controlled by using a dedicated room, such
as a darkroom, or by using curtains to create a “yellow room.” If
you don’t presently have a darkroom, the latter choice is much
less expensive. To order a yellow room kit, contact Dor-A-Mar at
(631) 738-0457, and ask for one of the following Xanté yellow
room kits (pricing subject to change). Kits are available to create
6' x 9' (1.8 x 2.7 m) and 8' x 9' (2.4 x 2.7 m) rooms. The 6' x 9'
rooms contain a cutout in the curtain wall for the processor to
exit the room, while the 8' x 9' rooms do not. All kits include cur-
tains which are 9' tall, ceiling tracks, valences, pressure-sensitive
Velcro, and a 2' x 2' (60 x 60 cm) yellow window. Please ensure
that the 9’ height is appropriate for your room, and discuss it
with Dor-A-Mar if it is not. Allow 5 weeks for delivery.
“L” shaped (placement in a corner)
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6', 9'
$735
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8', 9'
$765
“U” shaped (placement along a wall)
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6', 9', 6'
$965
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8', 9', 9'
$1075
“U” shaped (placement along a wall)
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9', 6', 9'
$1095
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9', 8', 9'
$1120
Rectangular (placement mid-room)
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6', 9', 6', 9'
$1350
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9’, 8’, 9’, 8’
$1465
Many regions have safety and building codes which are appli-
cable to dark rooms, possibly including the “yellow rooms” which
can be built with the kits listed above. It is your responsibility
to understand and comply with those regulations.
To control direct light, it is necessary to filter all sources of light
including lighting fixtures, windows and computer monitors.
Materials for filtering light sources are available from EncapSulite
International at (877) 227-8756, or (281) 239-0225, or
encapsulite.com. EncapSulite does not sell products to end
users, but Xanté is a dealer for EncapSulite. You can contact
Xanté at (251) 473-6502.
Different plate material types require different filters — please
check the specifications for your plate material to see which type
of light filter you need to order. Xanté plate material requires an
A10ND.3 safelight, which provides a spectral limit of 580nm. All
yellow safelight treatments must be in place prior to installation
of your CTP system.
eleCTrICal requIremenTS
Your CTP system will require two electrical circuits — one for
the platesetter and computer and another for the processor.
Both of these circuits should be used exclusively for the CTP
equipment, and ideally, they should be a dedicated run from your
main breaker panel. This is expecially important if the circuits
would otherwise be on a subpanel with printing equipment which
creates line noise such as presses and large bindery equipment.
