Image 3
degreasing your overall mesh counts. When
properly depositing your ink films onto the
surface of the fabric (as opposed to driving
it into the fabric), you can easily minimize
ink film thickness, which will minimize the
overall ink consumption (Image 2).
2. Screen tension plays a critical role
in the uniformity of the stencil thickness
across the overall image area of the screen.
Lower tension screens will allow for “emulsion pooling” in the center of the screen.
This is a result of the emulsion’s weight
pushing the screen mesh away from the
coating edge. The result is a thicker emulsion coating in the center of the screen’s
image areas, as opposed to the edges
(Image 3). Tighter and more rigid screens
will result in a more even and consistent
emulsion coating across entire image area
of the screen. The benefit here is consistent image and halftone reproduction,
decreased emulsion consumption, and decreased reclaiming chemical consumption
and reclaim time.
3. Maximized screen and stencil life
through proper screen tension is a result
of minimized squeegee pressure and decreased off-contact. This minimizes screen
abrasion caused by the squeegee, as opposed to employing greater squeegee pressure due to lower screen tension.
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - September 2013