Pad Printing: Controlling Machine Speed

Controlling Machine Speed in Pad Printing

Another troubleshooting step that some printers overlook is how fast the press operates. By adjusting the speed of the machine, you will give the solvent more or less time to evaporate, which allows you to address changes in shop conditions. Slowing the press down wifl also reduce the amount of static generated by the pad.

The most common mistake people make is running their presses too quickly. Slowing them down can often improve the print quality and reduce rejects. Slow speeds ailow more ink to be lifted from the cliche and deposited on the substrate. Also, machine vibration is reduced and the operator can monitor quality more easily. Remember, it's the number of good-quality items you print that matters, not the cycle time of the machine.

The most important parts of the press cycle to control are the pickup and laydown of ink. I would not consider buying an automatic machine that did not altow me to adjust the speed of these two steps (known as the dwell time). This feature altows you to fine-tune the printing process because the way the pad rolls on and off the cliche and substrate determine, to some extent, the amount of ink that is transferred. You are trying to achieve a smooth, rolling action of the pad, and smooth generally means slow. Machines without a dwell adjustment still work quite adequately, but the feature can be exceptionally useful when you face a quaIity problem and need to maintain overall machine speed.

Introduction .. Upgrades in inks and pads have helped make the process more controllable. Better machine design has enabled better consistency in setting and (more importantly) easily adjusting each phase of the print cycle..
Adding & Using Pad Printing Solvents In most cases, pad printing requires you to add solvents to your ink regularly.
Controlling Ink Delivery Many of the problems printers experience can be traced back to solvent evaporation in the ink well.
Controlling Temperature & Airflow The more stable the environment, the more effectively you can control the process.
Controlling Humidity and Static Another troubleshooting step that some printers overlook is how fast the press operates.
Controlling the Variables We've looked at how ambient conditions can affect your print quality, but these aren't the only variablesin the pad-printing process.
How to Handle Temperature Swings In a warm atmosphere, solvents in the ink will evaporate very quickly.