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If
you require more information on the items listed below please contact
us.
If
you are in the fortunate position of having made it, stashed it away and
are not tied with guarantees to the company overdraft then you probably
need not bother to read any more. If you want to survive and prosper then
read on.
Probably
the most surprising aspect of the printing industry is that many of its
practitioners don’t measure any aspect of the process. How some
companies have remained in business is amazing.
Why
do printers think that they can “make it work”, “keep
it going” and “get it out on time” and still make a
profit when the process is not controlled. But we have always done it
that way. “Not any more sunshine”. The hot breath of competition
and alternative technologies will see to that. For screen and pad printing
to continue as important aspects of printing technology they have to cast
off the mantle of “Black art” and stand along side other engineering
processes. An increasing number of printers are recognising the need to
control the process for without controlling the process they lose control
of their profitability.
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DIGITAL
RADIOMETER
The Digital Radiometer is used to measure the effective spectral
out put of the lamp. This should be used in conjunction with the
EXPOSURE CALCULATOR.
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ELECTRONIC
HYGROMETER
Humidity MeasurementKnowing the relative humidity of the working
environment is crucial to the production of fully cured stencils.
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EXPOSURE
CALCULATOR
The exposure calculator is used to check that you have the correct
exposure time when exposing your image. This should be used when
any change in consumable is introduced i.e. new batch of emulsion
or capillary film, different mesh types or mesh count as well
as ongoing weekly or monthly checks depending on the volumes of
stencil going through the department.
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MESH
COUNTER
&
50X
MICROSCOPE
The mesh counter is used to check that stretched mesh is the correct
mesh count.Its magnification of 50X is also an excellent tool
for checking stencil edge definition and image faults.
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MOIRÉ
PREDICTOR
The moiré predictor is used to ensure that films with half
tone patterns do not create an interference pattern when placed
on the screen.
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RZ
METER
The Rz Meter is used to measure the flatness of the print side
of the stencil. This device pulls a stylus over the surface and
measures the vertical movement of the stylus in microns.
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STENCIL
THICKNESS
GAUGE
The stencil thickness gauge is used to measure the stencil thickness.The
stencil thickness effects ink build and excessive ink builds will
result in collapsing dots or skipping as you over print colours.
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TENSIOMETER,
MECHANICAL
The mechanical tensiometer is used to measure the tension of the
screen and is accurate to +/- 1 Newton.
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TENSIOMETER,
ELECTRONIC
The electronic tensiometer is used to measure stencils in precision
printing applications. It is accurate to +/- 0.2 Newtons.
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DENSITOMETER
- Four Colour Process
The densitometer is used to control the colour balance in four colour
process printing. It measures the density of each of the process
colours as well as dot gain and dot loss.
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DIGITAL
MICROSCOPE
DEPTH
GAUGE
- Pad Printing - Plate Making
This microscope is used to measure the depth of steel and photopolymer
plates. It is a vital tool for suppliers of etched steel plates
and large users of photopolymer plates.
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DUROMETER
GAUGE
- Squeegees Pads - (Tampons)
The Durometer Gauge is used to measure the hardness of squeegees
used in screen printing or pads (tampons) used in pad printing.
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SNAP
WEDGES
- Press Set Up
The snap wedge is used to check the distance between the print side
of the stencil and the substrate, known as the snap distance.
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SPECTROPHOTOMETER
- Colour Measurement
The spectrophotometer is used for colour formulation, colour comparison
and quality control.
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SQUEEGEE
ANGLE
GAUGES
- Press Set Up
These squeegee angle gauges are used to check that the angle of
the squeegee when mounted on the press is correct. They will also
identify if the squeegee has been distorted through over pressure.
They are available in a range of angles.
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WEIGH
SCALE
- Ink Mixing
Weigh scales are used to ensure correct ink colour mixing and ink
control.No company that has screen or pad printing can operate their
presses effectively with out weigh scales.
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NITRILE
GLOVES
- Screen Printing - Pad Printing
The use of gloves when handling inks, solvents and chemicals is
a must. There are a range of gloves available and you must select
the type most suitable to the products you are handling.
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CROSS
HATCH
TEST
- Adhesion Testing
This instrument is used to check the adhesion of the cured ink to
the substrate.A series of blades are used to score the printed image,
then tape is rubbed down and pulled off. The amount of ink on the
tape indicates the level of adhesion.
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