Plastics Decorating - January/February 2008 - (Page 42) SPECIAL FOCUS continued from page 41 Although no hard-and-fast guidelines regarding pad life are available, you can take a number of steps to get the most life from all your pads: • Use a strong solvent only for initial removal of the silicone oil on the surface. • Use a mild solvent such as alcohol, or preferably an adhesive tape, if the pad must be cleaned during production. • Always use an adhesive tape to remove debris and dried ink before starting a production run. • Don’t use too much pad pressure. • Ensure that the substrate is free of debris, particularly sharp particles, before printing. • With wooden-backed pads, don’t allow the mounting screws to penetrate the rubber. • When possible, avoid printing near sharp substrate edges. • Use as large a pad as is reasonable for the job. • Never store a pad on top of another. • If pads are supplied in a protective shell, use it when storing the pads in your shop. • Handle and store the pads very carefully. Certain inks have aggressive solvents that will be absorbed by the pad during printing, much as squeegees will absorb solvents during long print runs. This absorption will cause the image to “grow” on the pad, to the point that it eventually will affect the print quality. At this point, you must stop the machine and replace the pad. This isn’t a permanent condition, though. If you allow the original pad to stand, the solvents that have penetrated into it will evaporate, returning the pad to its normal surface finish. You can accelerate this process by warming the pad. Although the importance of pads is sometimes overlooked in the field, remember that the process derives its name from these silicone-rubber image carriers. Correct selection and care of pads is essential. As with any process, pad printing has its limitations and it’s best to understand those before you choose a pad. Common sense and experimentation will guide you. Overall, keep the pad surface in good condition and it should serve you well. n Peter Kiddell, PDS Consulting, is an international consultant and trainer in pad printing, screenprinting, and digital printing. For more information, e-mail peter.kiddell@pdsconsulting.co.uk or visit www.pdsconsulting.co.uk. Screenworks Supply Corporation email:sales@screenworkssupply.com www.screenworkssupply.com SCREENPRINTING SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT 1-800-551-5524 • For direct screen-printing you can’t beat our ink selection. • We offer solutions to meet your production requirements. • Many years of experience and technical support. • Fast delivery. Dubuit UV INK • Environmentally friendly . • One component UV ink. • NVP free. • Many colors to choose from. • ISO 9000 certified. 42 http://www.pdsconsulting.co.uk http://email:sales@screenworkssupply.com http://www.screenworkssupply.com
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