The Bienfang Vacuum Press 3648H, 4468H, and 5298H are professional-grade vacuum presses designed for framing products, offering precise temperature and vacuum control for various mounting and laminating applications. These presses are factory-assembled, calibrated, and tested to ensure high vacuum levels and efficient operation.
Function Description:
The Bienfang Vacuum Press operates by creating a vacuum between the platen and a flexible diaphragm, pressing materials together with uniform pressure. This process is ideal for mounting artwork, photographs, and other materials onto various substrates, as well as for laminating and texturizing. The presses feature a heated platen for thermal activation of adhesives, with temperature control managed by a sophisticated controller. A vacuum pump generates the necessary vacuum, and a solenoid valve controls the vacuum release.
Important Technical Specifications:
Heater Resistance:
The resistance of individual heaters can be measured with the unit unplugged from the wall supply.
- 3444 (only 1 heater): 31.2 ohms +/- 7%
- 3648H: 50.0 ohms +/- 7%
- 4468 (2 heaters): 31.2 ohms +/- 7%
- 5298 (Left or Right): 27.4 ohms +/- 7%
- 5298 (Center): 34.4 ohms +/- 7%
Parallel Combination of Heaters:
The overall parallel combination resistance of the heaters, measured by disconnecting heater terminals from the power board and solid-state relay:
- 3444 (only 1 heater): 31.2 ohms +/- 7%
- 3648H: 25.8 ohms +/- 10%
- 4468 (2 heaters): 15.6 ohms +/- 10%
- 5298 (3 heaters): 9.8 ohms +/- 12%
Sensor Resistance at Various Temperatures:
The sensor resistance varies with temperature, and this chart can be used for troubleshooting when the sensor is unplugged from the controller:
- 20° C (68° F): 2000 ohms +/- 5
- 30° C (86° F): 2075 ohms +/- 6
- 40° C (104°F): 2153 ohms +/- 7
- 50° C (122° F): 2231 ohms +/- 7
- 60° C (140° F): 2312 ohms +/- 9
- 70° C (158° F): 2394 ohms +/- 10
- 80° C (176° F): 2478 ohms +/- 12
- 90° C (194° F): 2564 ohms +/- 14
- 100° C (212° F): 2651 ohms +/- 16
- 110° C (230° F): 2740 ohms +/- 18
- 120° C (248° F): 2831 ohms +/- 20
- 130° C (266° F): 2924 ohms +/- 22
- 140° C (284° F): 3018 ohms +/- 24
- 150° C (302° F): 3114 ohms +/- 25
Solid-State Relay Operational Voltages:
- Relay input side (marked “coil+” and “coil –” on power board):
- Heat "on": 12 vdc +/- 1.2 volts
- Heat "off": 0 vdc +/- 1 volt
- Relay output side (measured from across the relay):
- Heat "on": 0 vac +/- 5 vac
- Heat "off": 220 vac +/- 20 volts
Usage Features:
The Bienfang Vacuum Press is designed for ease of use with a clear control panel for setting temperature and managing vacuum cycles. The controller allows for both manual operation and programmable cycles, including five default programs. The vacuum pump can be set to shut off or remain on at the end of a program, and the display can toggle between English and Metric units. The lid is supported by gas springs for easy opening and closing. The press requires a proper vent cloth covering both manifolds for optimal operation.
Maintenance Features:
Troubleshooting Guide:
The manual provides a comprehensive troubleshooting guide covering heat-related, control/display-related, and vacuum-related malfunctions.
- Run Away Heat Condition with Heat Control Off: Possible causes include a faulty sensor or sensor assembly, a bad solid-state relay (which typically fails in the "on" state), or mis-wired power/control board assemblies. Non-intrusive actions involve verifying the heat control LED is off and checking temperature readout. Intrusive actions include disconnecting the control panel, sensor harness, and "Coil+" wire to isolate the faulty component. Inline heater thermostat switches are designed to break the heater connection above 350°F.
- Press Runs Hotter Than Set Temperature: Caused by a faulty sensor, a sensor pulled away from the platen, or a bad sensor input circuit in the controller. Non-intrusive checks involve monitoring temperature readout. Intrusive steps include disconnecting the sensor harness and shorting the sensor connector pins to check display readings.
- No Heat or Press Runs Cold: Possible causes are a faulty sensor or sensor harness (open circuit), a bad control or power board, mis-wiring, a faulty solid-state relay, or open heater safety thermostats. Troubleshooting involves checking sensor readings, bypassing the solid-state relay, and verifying heater operation.
- Temperature Readout Always Reads 35-50 deg F: Indicates a shorted sensor or sensor harness, or a faulty controller. Diagnosis involves shorting the sensor connector pins to observe display changes.
- Temperature Readout Always Reads Over 300 deg F: Indicates an open sensor or sensor harness, or a faulty controller. Diagnosis involves shorting the sensor connector pins to observe display changes.
- Higher Temperatures Are Not Obtainable: Usually points to issues with inline heater thermostats or the heaters themselves. Troubleshooting involves shorting the sensor connector pins to see if higher temperatures are achieved.
- Controller Self-Diagnostics: A built-in diagnostic mode accessible by holding the "enter" key while powering on. It displays "C" and a number for controller faults, or "PASS" for button tests. Each button corresponds to a number (1-23), and "0" should reappear after release. This mode also allows toggling pump shut-off options and English/Metric defaults.
- Continuously Erratic Display From Power Up: Suggests a faulty controller assembly. Non-intrusive actions involve checking if the display reads normally.
- Display Fine On Power Up But Becomes Erratic After Operation, Controller Resets Itself During Cycles, Display Blanking Out: These issues often stem from a faulty controller assembly, poor ground connections, or a loose ribbon cable/power connection to the power board. EMI spikes from arcing between the heater platen and press frame during hot cycles or pump operation can also cause microprocessor errors. Troubleshooting involves running cold and hot cycles, opening/closing the lid, and turning the pump on/off to check display stability.
- No Display At All: Possible causes include a faulty controller assembly, poor ribbon cable/power connections, a bad power board (check the 5-volt fuse), or a tripped circuit breaker. Troubleshooting involves checking ribbon cable connections, testing the tacking iron outlet, and replacing components if necessary.
- Programming Malfunctions, Button Or Buttons Don't Operate: Indicates a faulty controller assembly. The self-diagnostics (button test) can confirm if a button is stuck or inoperable.
- Pump Won't Turn On: Possible causes include a faulty pump, bad connections, a faulty power board, or a faulty controller assembly. Troubleshooting involves disconnecting the pump, listening for clicking noises from the power board's relay, and directly connecting the pump to a power source to test its functionality.
- Pump Won't Turn Off, Intermittent Pump Operation: Most likely caused by a faulty power board, controller assembly, or wiring. Troubleshooting involves running controller diagnostics, checking the manual "on/off" button, and disconnecting the ribbon cable to see if the pump shuts off.
- Solenoid Won't Open Or Close: Occurs if the controller and pump are working correctly. The solenoid valve is normally open when de-energized. Troubleshooting involves listening for clicking noises near the solenoid when pressing the manual "on/off" button, and directly connecting the solenoid wire to ground to test its operation.
Lid Adjustment Procedure:
Requires two people, an Allen wrench, needle-nose pliers, and optionally a rubber mallet.
- Ensure nothing is in the press and the vent cloth covers both manifolds. Heat the press to 180 degrees.
- Open the lid and remove the gas springs by pulling out the safety clips with needle-nose pliers, then detaching the bottom portion from the ball stud (using a rubber mallet if needed) and tilting to remove the top. This step is crucial to prevent injury or damage.
- Close the lid and loosen the screws in the bottom slotted holes of the hinges at the rear of the machine.
- Turn the manual vacuum on and allow 30-45 seconds for vacuum to pull. The machine may self-align the lid. If not, apply slight downward pressure around the machine until pressure is achieved.
- Retighten all hinge screws at the rear of the press.
- Turn vacuum off, then slightly lift the lid to "burp" the press and close.
- Turn vacuum back on and check if pressure builds within 30-45 seconds. If successful, replace gas springs (top black portion first, then plunger to base). If not, loosen screws and retry.
Front Latch Adjustment (Older Models):
The latch plunger can be adjusted by loosening the setscrew and turning the plunger clockwise for more pressure or counter-clockwise for less. For difficulty in opening or closing, the three ball bearings in the top portion of the latch can also be adjusted via their setscrews to loosen or tighten the grasp on the plunger.
Overall, the Bienfang Vacuum Press is a robust piece of equipment for professional framing, with detailed instructions and specifications provided to assist users in maintaining and troubleshooting the device effectively.
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