Instructions for making stencils for screen printing for glass. "The world of screen printing

Screen printing - technology, approximate procedure and use of consumables.

  1. Production of a screen printing form (TPF).
A) The printed frame is selected. If there are 2 colors in the image, then 2 frames are needed, if 3 then 3 frames, if 4 then 4, etc. At the same time, it must be remembered that the machine used must be able to accurately combine the number of TPF you need. The frame should be selected based on the dimensions of the printed image. It must be remembered that from the edge of the frame it is necessary to leave an indent of the order of 3 - 5 cm on each side. Thus, from a printed frame with an internal size of 300x400 mm, it is possible to obtain a printed image in the region of 200x300 mm, etc.

C) The printed grid is selected. The mesh should be chosen in the same way based on the image. Large images and plates should be printed on grids with a small number (for example, from 39 to 77). Thinner lines are printed on grids with numbers from 90 to 120. Raster images are usually printed on grids starting from 140. The first digit, in the grid number, indicates the number of threads per cm. The ink used in printing also affects the choice of grid. (For example, raster work, with plastisol inks, on textiles is printed using grids with a much lower number than when printing with solvent inks on paper.) It must be remembered that the choice of grid is always a compromise between the fact that a grid with a small number passes more ink ( the image is more saturated, and grid cells are less likely to clog), but at the same time it allows you to reproduce a coarser image and the fact that a grid with a large number reproduces thinner images, but at the same time the amount of paint passing through the grid decreases and there is a risk of "clogging" cells in the grid.

Screen mesh VS-Monoprint (Germany)

VS- MonoprinthighTenacity (HT) – This is a polyester screen mesh from the German concern Clear Edge-Germany GmbH for high-precision printing. Mesh series HT - High Tension Low Tlongation Polyester fabrics are made from high tenacity polyester yarn with low elongation. The creation of this series of meshes was the result of the cooperation of technological features, the electronics industry and the requirements of silkscreen production. The result is a mesh with the following characteristics:

Low elongation

Ability to withstand high tensile force

Increased characteristic "fatigue resistance"

In practice, these properties lead to the following advantages:

High tensile strength allows you to set the minimum "Off-contact" (technological gap between the plane of the printed product and the plane of the stencil)

Which in turn leads to the need for less pressure of the squeegee blade on the mesh, as a result of which the service life of the stencil increases.

Net VS-Monoprint High Tenacity (HT) - intended for:

Printing both solids and halftone bitmaps

Applications with diazopolymer emulsions and capillary films

Printing with UV-curable, solvent, plastisol, water-based and abrasive decal inks and pastes.

Use on stencils of both small and large formats

All the company's products are DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 certified. HT - High Tension Low Tlongation Polyester fabrics PW - plain weave TW - twill weave


Mesh: threads per cm / thread diameter in microns / weave / color
weaving

Open surface (%)

Open cell size in µm

Tissue thickness in µm

Theoretical paint volume, cm3/m2

Maximum recommended tension up to, N/cm*

PES 5/500 PWW

1/1
56
1400
1000
560
50

PES 7/500 PW W

1/1
49
1000
1000
490
50

PES 7/325 PW W

1/1
58
1000
590
342
50

PES 9/270 PW W

1/1
57
800
500
285
50

PES 10/270 PW W

1/1
52
710
505
263
50

PES 11/270 PW W

1/1
49
630
510
250
50

PES 13/215 PW W

1/1
57
560
390
222
50

PES 13/270 PW W

1/1
42
500
520
218
50

PES 14/215 PW W

1/1
49
500
400
196
50

PES 15/250 PW W

1/1
38
400
490
186
50

PES 16/215 PW W

1/1
46
400
380
175
50

PES 21/150 PW W

1/1
48
330
280
134
50

PES 25/120 PW W

1/1
49
280
220
108
50

PES 29/120 PW W

1/1
43
225
215
92
50

PES 32/100 PW W

1/1
44
200
170
75
50

PES 37/90 PW W

1/1
43
180
150
65
45

PES 42/80 PW W

1/1
42
160
130
55
40

PES 42/80 PWY

1/1
42
160
130
55
40

PES 43/80 PW W

1/1
40
150
132
53
45

PES 43/80 PW Y

1/1
40
150
132
53
45

PES 45/80 PW W

1/1
38
140
133
51
46

PES 49/80 PWW

1/1
35
125
130
46
48

PES 49/80 PWY

1/1
35
125
130
46
48

PES 55/60 PWW

1/1
39
120
105
41
36

PES 55/70 PWW

1/1
33
100
120
40
42

PES 61/60 PWW

1/1
38
104
95
36
35

PES 61/60 PWY

1/1
38
104
95
36
35

PES 61/70 PWW

1/1
30
88
110
33
45

PES 62/64 PWW

1/1
32
95
100
32
38

PES 62/64 PWY

1/1
32
95
100
32
38

PES 68/55 PWW

1/1
34
90
85
29
35

PES 68/55 PW Y

1/1
34
90
85
29
35

PES 73/55 PWW

1/1
31
80
90
28
38

PES 73/55 PWY

1/1
31
80
90
28
38

PES 77/48 PWW

1/1
35
80
82
29
34

PES 77/48 PWY

1/1
35
80
82
29
34

PES 77/55 PWW

1/1
27
72
90
24
38

PES 77/55 PWY

1/1
27
72
90
24
38

PES 80/55 PW W

1/1
25
70
100
25
40

PES 80/55 PWY

1/1
25
70
100
25
40

PES 90/40 PWW

1/1
41
71
66
27
26

PES 90/40 PWY

1/1
41
71
66
27
26

PES 90/48 PW W

1/1
25
56
85
21
36

PES 90/48 PWY

1/1
25
56
85
21
36

PES 100/40 PW W

1/1
34
60
65
22
33

PES 100/40 PW Y

1/1
34
60
65
22
33

PES 110/35 PW W

1/1
36
53
54
19
25

PES 110/35 PWY

1/1
36
53
54
19
25

PES 120/35 PWW

1/1
30
48
56
17
28

PES 120/35 PWY

1/1
30
48
56
17
28

PES 120/40 PW W

1/1
22
43
65
14
36

PES 120/40 PW Y

1/1
22
43
65
14
36

PES 130/35 PW W

1/1
28
42
55
15
30

PES 130/35 PWY

1/1
28
42
55
15
30

PES 140/35 PWW

1/1
19
36
57
11
32

PES 140/35 PWY

1/1
19
36
57
11
32

PES 150/30 PWW

1/1
23
32
49
11
26

PES 150/30 PWY

1/1
23
32
49
11
26

PES 150/35 TWW

2/2
19
30
65
12
28

PES 150/35 TWY

2/2
19
30
65
12
28

PES 165/27 PW Y

1/1
24
33
43
10
25

PES 165/30 TW W

2/2
22
32
58
13
27

PES 165/30 TWY

2/2
22
32
58
13
27

PES 180/27 PWY

1/1
17
23
43
7
26

PES 180/30 PWW

3/3
17
24
60
10
30

PES 180/30 PWY

3/3
17
24
60
10
30

PES 200/30 TWW

3/3
16
20
65
10
32

PES 200/30 TW Y

3/3
16
20
65
10
32

PES - polyester monofilament mesh, PW - single weave, TW - double weave, W - white mesh, Y - yellow mesh, * - maximum recommended tension for small and medium formats.

In accordance with the company's policy of continuous improvement of product quality control, we reserve the right to make changes to the technical parameters.

The use of colored meshes provides the following advantages:

When the emulsion layer is illuminated, the dyed thread does not scatter, which makes it possible to obtain a higher quality stencil

Allows you to get stencils more resistant to abrasive and chemical attack

Allows the use of stencils with a higher degree of tension


A = Open area in %

B = Open cell size in microns

T-shirts: from to

Glitter powders PES 10/270 PW PES 25/120 PW

Flock PES 16/215 PW PES 45/80 PW

Sublimation PES 77/48 PW Y PES 120/35 PW Y

Plastisol PES 55/60 PW Y PES 120/35 PW Y

Color pigments PES 61/60 PW Y PES 100/40 PW Y

Textile, flat print

Heavy fabrics PES 16/215 PW PES 49/80 PW

Other PES 42/80 PW PES 80/55 PW

Lightweight, light-colored fabrics PES 80/55 PW Y PES 100/40 PW Y

Ceramics

Glaze, rough PES 5/500 PW PES 21/150 PW

Glaze, gloss PES 21/150 PW PES 61/60 PW

Direct Print PES 42/80 PW PES 90/48 PW

Decal PES 77/48 PW PES 180/25 PW

Glass

Auto glass, etc. PES 55/70 PW PES 120/35 PW Y

Decorative products PES 77/48 PW PES 140/35 PW Y

Plastic

Solvent paints PES 100/40 PW Y PES 165/30 PW Y

Paper (graphic printing)

Solvent paints PES 80/55 PW Y PES 140/35 PW Y

UV inks PES 140/35 PW Y PES 180/27 PW Y

C ) Mesh tension on the printing frame . A wide variety of devices are used to stretch the mesh onto the printed frames. (Pneumatic tensioners, mechanical tensioners, self-tensioning frames, etc.). Consider the simplest and most commonly used tensioner - the self-tensioning frame.

R
ama self-tensioning Newman Roller Frame for tensioning nets on smaller frames. Format 510x720 mm (external 570x790 mm.) Made in the USA

The principle of operation of the frame is quite simple. Each of the sides (or three sides) has the ability to rotate and at the same time be fixed with end bolts in a given position. Each side has a recessed chute with a plastic strip inserted into the grooves of the chute. The tension process is as follows: The mesh is placed on top of the self-tensioning frame, so that on each side the mesh is at least 5-10 cm longer than the frame. grooves of the gutter, over the mesh, then, the same procedure is carried out with the opposite side, and then with the sides. It is important in the corners of the grid to make before the weakening of the grid. After that, the rotation of one side of the frame begins, after which the side is fixed with an end bolt, then the opposite side rotates and is also fixed. The same thing happens with the sides. Thus, gradually your mesh acquires a significant tension. (The degree of mesh tension is checked with a Newtonometer (required for raster full-color works) or visually for works that do not require such accuracy). Further, the tension frame itself can be used as TPF or cheaper printed frames can be used. In the second case, the aluminum frame is placed under the mesh stretched over the self-tensioning frame and coated with special glue. (in some cases, it is required to degrease and roughen the smooth surface of the aluminum frame first for better adhesion of the adhesive to the surface.

Adhesive for gluing the mesh to the frame KIWOBOND 1000 HMT

Fast drying two-component adhesive

KIWOBOND 1000 HMT is a fast-drying two-component adhesive with exceptional adhesive properties and increased resistance to aggressive media. Suitable for all types of frames: wood, aluminum or steel. After polymerization, it practically does not react with solvents. Thanks to its fast drying time, KIWOBOND 1000 HMT allows screen meshes to be bonded under high tension and ensures that there is no loss of tension after the frame has been removed from the tensioner. The adhesive layer does not become brittle after polymerization and does not cut the mesh at the edges.

Application


  • before tensioning the mesh, completely remove dirt, dust, old glue, paint and mesh from the frame. The gluing area must be free of grease and other substances that adversely affect the quality of the gluing.

  • degrease the frame surface with PREGAN (-NT-) PASTE, PREGAN A9 EXTRA or PREGAN NT9. For best results prime the frame surface with KIWODUR 1000 HMT hardener.

  • Immediately before gluing, mix 5 parts of KIWOBOND 1000 HMT (base) with 1 part of KIWODUR 1000 HMT (hardener), i.e. the additive is 20% hardener. Mix well both components and use within 45-70 minutes.

  • Thoroughly coat with glue all the places of gluing with a stiff brush. The polymerization time of the adhesive depends on many parameters: mesh number, coating thickness, temperature, air circulation in the room.

  • Average polymerization time of the adhesive (at 20 С):

Although the adhesive achieves good resistance to water and solvents within an hour, full cure and resistance is achieved within 24 hours.,


WORKING HOURS
45 - 70 minutes after mixing the components (depending on the air temperature and the mixed amount of glue)

DILUTION
KIWOSOLV L 63 (acetone)

CLEANING
before mixing: KIWOSOLV L 63 (acetone)


after mixing: PREGAN DL

Color
light red

Shelf life
1 year at a temperature of 20-25 С in tightly closed original packaging;

After freezing, the adhesive may go into a gel state. Thawing does not affect the adhesive properties of the adhesive.

D ) Mesh preparation for application of photosensitive emulsion.

Before a photographic emulsion is applied to the stretched mesh, the mesh must be degreased. (For better contact of the emulsion with the mesh thread)

Mesh preparation degreaser PREGAN A9 EXTRA

Description. Ready-to-use liquid degreaser for the preparation and degreasing of meshes in the manufacture of screen printing plates using direct photographic emulsions. It is applied to all types of grids. Its use prevents the appearance of dot punches in the emulsion, and its peeling during the printing process. The viscosity of the degreaser provides significant economy of use and exceptional performance on any mesh. The degreaser is bioregenerated. Green color.

Characteristics:


  • biorecoverable viscous liquid;

  • high efficiency;

  • promotes uniform application of the emulsion;

  • forms a stable aqueous film suitable for transferring capillary films;

  • can be used in normal working areas;

Application area. Cleaning, degreasing and chemical roughening of all types of nets: from synthetic fibers and stainless steel.

Application. When degreasing any new and used nets:


  • squeeze a few drops of the degreaser onto the mesh, rub the degreaser well on both sides of the mesh with a soft sponge or brush until a uniform coating is obtained and leave for 1 - 2 minutes;

  • Rinse thoroughly with water until the formation of foam stops. Grease and dirt, emulsified with water and a degreaser, are washed off the mesh very quickly;

  • dry the mesh

  • mesh is ready to be emulsified. The capillary film is applied within 1 minute after the mesh has been treated with a degreaser.
Recommendation. It is recommended to use the degreaser immediately before applying the photographic emulsion, because. when storing a frame with a mesh, it becomes contaminated with fatty particles and dust in the air.

Storage. 12 months in tightly closed original packaging. Store at a temperature of 20 - 25 С. The freezing point is about 0 С. After defrosting it can be used without any problems.

After that, the emulsion can be applied to the grid. This requires the use of a squeegee cuvette, which is a trough with a smooth edge. A sensitized emulsion is poured inside the chute, after which the emulsion is applied to a vertically held printing frame. The application should be uniform and on both sides of the mesh (most often the mesh is watered according to the 2 + 1 scheme). It is important to remember that the applied emulsion on the grid should be at least 3 cm larger than your image on each side.

Photo emulsion AZOCOL Z1

Universal Diazo UV Polymer Emulsion for Straight Screens

Photo emulsion AZOCOL Z1 It is used for the preparation of high-quality stencil forms with good resistance to any paints, both solvent-based and water-based. Universal emulsion, recommended for use in almost all areas of screen printing. The stability of the emulsion layer depends to a large extent on the humidity of the air.

Sensitization

The operations of sensitization, application, drying, exposure and rinsing must be carried out under yellow, safe, non-active light (ordinary incandescent bulb). Applied sensitizer - Diazo No. 6.

Sensitization order:


  • pour water with a temperature of 20-25 С into the bottle with the sensing agent into 3/4 of the bottle - according to the upper mark;

  • mix well until the powder is completely dissolved;

  • pour the sensitizer solution into the emulsion and mix thoroughly;

  • refill the bottle with the sensing agent with water by 1/4 of the bottle - at the bottom mark;

  • shake until complete dissolution of the residues of the sensing agent, pour into the emulsion and mix;

  • allow the emulsion to stand for several hours until the bubbles completely disappear.

Mesh preparation

For optimum results, the screen must be cleaned and degreased prior to emulsion application. For this, products of the family PREGAN, eg. PREGAN A9 EXTRA, PREGAN NT9 or PREGAN (-NT-) PASTE (see separate technical sheet).

Degreasing procedure:


  • apply a small amount of degreaser to the mesh and rub it evenly with a soft brush or foam sponge on both sides;

  • wait 3-4 minutes for dirt and greasy areas to emulsify and become water-soluble;

  • rinse the mesh with water until the foam disappears;

  • dry the mesh with warm air at a temperature of 35-40 С (preferably in a drying cabinet).

Application

The application of the emulsion (watering) is done manually with a squeegee - a cuvette or with the help of automatic devices such as KIWOMAT. The working length of the squeegee - cuvette is selected in accordance with the required dimensions of the frame and / or printing.

The procedure for applying emulsion:


  • pour the required amount of sensitized emulsion into a squeegee - cuvette;

  • put the frame in a vertical position;

  • Carefully apply layers of photo emulsion on the printed side of the grid. It is necessary that the emulsion evenly fills all the grid cells;

  • apply the emulsion to the squeegee side of the screen. The number of applied layers depends on the nature of the reproduced image and the type of grid.

Drying

For best results, the applied emulsion must be completely dry before exposure. Drying must be done with warm air at a temperature of 35-40C (preferably in a drying cabinet). With small amounts of work, you can use a conventional fan heater. When drying, the frame must always be placed horizontally with the printed side down.

side down.

E ) Exposure (flare) of the emulsion. In order to obtain TPF for illumination, it is necessary to obtain original layouts, which will be an image broken down by colors. For color separation, as a rule, programs like CorelDRAW, etc. are used. To output layouts, either phototypesetters are used, or, if the image allows, a black-and-white laser printer and Kimoto-type output film. Illumination takes place in special exposure chambers, or, if the image allows, using metal halide spotlights. The illumination process usually looks like this: the original layout is placed on the glass (with toner or emulsion to TPF), the frame with the applied emulsion is placed on top. Next, the frame is pressed against the original layout (the better the clamp, the better the stencil accuracy will be). Illumination occurs from below through the glass from a distance of about 0.6 - 1 m.

The stencil is formed under the influence of UV radiation by curing the non-printing areas of the emulsion. Exposure to produce blue actinic light with a wavelength in the range of 350 - 420 nm. A metal halide spotlight provides the best results.

After exposure, the frame is washed with water and the elements covered on the original layout are not cured on the grid. When washing, they are removed leaving the grid cells open. It turns out a screen printing form (TPF)

Due to the variables that define a particular exposure time, it is not possible to give a single exposure time. Optimum results can only be achieved by trial exposure (step exposure). To achieve maximum shape stability, it is necessary to choose the maximum exposure time. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the quality of the elaboration of small details of the original layout. This is especially important when working with water-based paints, because. the necessary resistance of the stencil in this case is achieved precisely by increasing the exposure time.

Basic values:

Light source: 5 kW metal halide spotlight at a distance of 1 meter. The emulsion is applied twice on the printed side and two (2+2) or four (2+4) times on the squeegee side.


Net

Irrigation technique
Average exposure time
For other conditions, the exposure time is selected experimentally.

140.34 (T) white

2+2 / 2+4
30 sec / 50 sec

140.34 (T) orange

2+2 / 2+4
60 sec / 80 sec

100.40 (T) white

2+2 / 2+4
40 sec / 70 sec

100.40 (T) orange

2+2 / 2+4
80 sec / 140 sec

retouching

For retouching the stencil form, products of the family KIWOFILLER, for example KIWOFILLER 201, KIWOFILLER 408, etc. Retouching operations are usually carried out using a brush of the required size. When retouching large areas of the stencil, the application is carried out using a squeegee - a cuvette.

In the case of printing with water-based inks, retouching is done with water-resistant retouching KIWOFILLER WR/01. It is removed using emulsion peelers of the family PREGASOL and hydrogun (detailed description see separate technical sheet).

Peeling

An important quality of the emulsion is that it is possible to reuse the grid for the manufacture of various stencils. The old emulsion is removed with peelers and a new emulsion is applied to the same grid for a new exposure.

In general, molds made using AZOCOL Z1 emulsion are easily removed with products PREGASOL, e.g. PREGASOL EP3, TABS, F, P.

How to peel emulsion:


  • carefully remove all paint from the stencil with PREGAN 244 E thinner;

  • apply an aqueous solution of a peeling agent to the emulsion layer;

  • avoiding drying, hold for 5-8 minutes;

  • rinse with a stream of water under strong pressure (from a hydrogun);

  • to remove possible residues of emulsion and paint in the grid nodes, as well as shadow images, the subsequent use of cleaners is necessary PREGAN: PREGAN (-NT-) PASTE + PREGAN C 44 A, PREGAN ANTI GHOST EXTRA, PREGAN MEGACLEAN LIQUID (see respective technical sheets).

Attention! Do not freeze emulsion! She will lose her properties!

2) Print.

A ) Machine. The resulting TPP is installed in the printing press. Machines can be manual or semi-automatic. Can be with or without vacuum clamp. They can be micro-registered or not. Nevertheless, in any machine, the frame is fixed in holders. Then the setup takes place. The printed product is located on the printing table (as a rule, a reference corner is glued on the table with a self-adhesive film, into which the product will fall each time). With the help of micro registers, the TPF is positioned relative to the product so that the printing takes place in the right place. It also creates a gap between the TPF and the product, which is necessary for printing (usually the gap is 1.5 mm, but this depends on the product and on the image and on the paints used). After adjustment, all registers are fixed with special clamps. Further in the printing process, it is important that the machine keeps all the settings achieved. The presence or absence of a vacuum clamp affects performance.

Our recommended machines:

Professional manual machines "PROFI - Vacuum" SH-7080 and SX-6070 are high-class machines that allow you to print on flat surfaces.

Equipped with a table, made of stainless steel, with holes with a diameter of 1.5 mm, with a powerful vacuum clamp, with double vacuum break adjustment. Table size 700x800 mm. Adjustable print frame counterweight. Micrometric registers of the printing table (step - 0.1 mm) provide any alignment accuracy in multi-color and full-color printing and allow you to perform large amounts of work.

Machine "Universal" WSC-500H. Printing unit with micrometric registers of the printing form (print format up to A2). Without a table.

B) Printing doctor blade and doctor blade holder.

In order for the ink to be forced through the mesh cells onto the printed product during the printing process, a special doctor blade is used. The canvas comes in various shapes and different stiffness. In manual printing presses, a rectangular profile sheet P0 9X50mm is used. Cloths have different rigidity. The most common canvases are 65Sh soft, 75Sh medium and 85Sh hard (usually used for fine line printing and raster work). When manually printing, the doctor blade must be fixed in doctor blade holders that will allow the printer to freely hold the canvas during the printing process.

C) Paints and cleaners.

The choice of paint is carried out primarily on the basis of what kind of material will be printed (paper, PVC, ABS, polyethylene, polypropylene, glass, metal, ceramics, wood, etc.) Below are the most commonly used paints

Technological instruction for paint RUCO (Germany) Series 10 KK

Application area: Universal two-component screen printing ink for printing on glass, acrylic, thermoset plastics, lacquered surfaces, metal, polyamide, polycarbonate, pre-finishedPP/ PE(polyolefins - polypropylene, polyethylene), polyurethane and rigid polyvinyl chloride.

Peculiarities: Paint series 10 KK is glossy, chemical drying. At the same time, it has a high degree of fixing, without losing elasticity. This paint does not contain toxic elements in its composition. It fully complies with the European safety standards (Europa-Norm EN 71, teil 3) of 1994. The paint series 10 KK shows high mechanical and chemical resistance.

Colors: Pantone, HKS, RAL, NCS

Standard base colors:

color fastness:

Light yellow G1 10 KK 2242 Light yellow B1 10 KK 2291

Yellow G2 10 KK 2292 Yellow B2 10 KK 2243

Orange G3 10 KK 3737 Orange B3 10 KK 3851

Light red G4 10 KK 3738 Light red B4 10 KK 3852

Red G5 10 KK 3739 Red B5 10 KK 3853

Pink G6 10 KK 3740 Pink B6 10 KK 3854

Violet G7 10 KK 5752 Violet B7 10 KK 5851

Blue G8 10 KK 5720 Blue B8 10 KK 5852

Green G91 10 KK 6702 Green B91 10 KK 6571

Brown G10 10 KK 8290 Brown B10 10 KK 8337

White G11 10 KK 1045 White B11 10 KK 1055

Black G12 10 KK 9025 Black B12 10 KK 9029

Transparent base 10 KK 0026 Transparent base 10 KK 0026

High opacity colors:

White high opacity 10 KK 1047

Black high opacity 10 KK 9026

Bitmap colors:

Yellow 10 KK 2187

Purple 10 KK 3561

Blue 10 KK 5629

Raster black 10 KK 9035

Varnish for selective varnishing 10 КК 011

Raster paste 10 KK 0018 (may be added to the paint no more than 10%)

Series 10 KK inks are produced ready for printing. If necessary, you can change the viscosity of the paint with a thinner.

Thinner, for glass 100-VR-1390 (added to paint 15-25%)

Please note that Thinner 100-VR-1390 can only be used in combination with Glass Hardener 100-VR-1294 (100-VR-1320).

Optionally, a very slow moderator 100-VR-1170 can be used.

Retarder, very slow 100-VR-1170 (added to paint max. 10-20%)

As a hardener, it is recommended to use the standard hardener 37 172. The paint life with this hardener is 12 hours (at a temperature in the workshop of 20 degrees). For printing on glass, it is recommended to use hardener 100-VR-1294 (100-VR-1320). The life of paint with this hardener is 12 hours (at a temperature in the workshop of 20 degrees). Drying time of paint 10 KK in combination with 100-VR-1294 (100-VR-1320) 25 minutes at a temperature of 180 degrees.

Complete drying of paint 10 KK with the addition of hardener 37172 occurs within 36 hours at a temperature of 20 degrees. After that, the colorful print has all the final properties. Also note that if the air temperature drops below 15°C during printing or drying. the chemical curing process is interrupted. Also, the process of chemical curing of the paint is interrupted if the air humidity rises by more than 65%.

Hardener, standard 37 172 (max. 20%)

Hardener, glass 100-VR-1294 (100-VR-1320) (max. 5%)

Printing instructions:

Preliminary processing

When working with inks of the 10 KK series, any types and numbers of grids, as well as any types of printing machines can be used (the maximum possible printing speed with 10 KK inks is 1,600 runs per hour).

Drying conditions

All colors of the 10 KK series are chemically cured due to the cross-linking of molecules. For multi-color printing, it is recommended to use intermediate IR drying or hot air blowing.

Cleaning:

Technological instruction for paint RUCO (Germany) Series 700 ST

Application area: Screen ink for printing on lacquered surfaces, metal, paper, cardboard, polyamide, polycarbonate, pre-treatedPP/ PE(polyolefins - polypropylene, polyethylene), polyurethane, rigid polyvinyl chloridePVCand as a two-component paint onPET/ PETG.

Peculiarities: The 700 ST series paint is glossy, physical drying (if as a one-component) and physical-chemical drying with the addition of a hardener. At the same time, it has a high degree of fixing, without losing elasticity. This paint does not contain toxic elements in its composition. It fully complies with the European safety standards (Europa-Norm EN 71, teil 3) of 1994. The 700 ST series paint shows high water resistance, mechanical resistance and chemical resistance to various alcohols, acids, oils, fats, and is also suitable for outdoor advertising because of the high lightfastness of paints and resistance to weather conditions.

Colors: The paint consists of 12 basic colors that can be mixed according to Pantone, HKS, RAL, NCS according to a proven recipe and a large selection of special colors.

Standard base colors: Base colors with high light and

color fastness:

Light yellow G1 700 ST 2102 Light yellow B1 700 ST 2138

Yellow G2 700 ST 2139 Yellow B2 700 ST 2139

Orange G3 700 ST 3296 Orange B3 700 ST 3413

Light red G4 700 ST 3414 Light red B4 700 ST 3414

Red G5 700 ST 30107 Red B5 700 ST 3415

Pink G6 700 ST 3300 Pink B6 700 ST 3416

Purple G7 700 ST 5284 Purple B7 700 ST 5418

Blue G8 700 ST 5285 Blue B8 700 ST 5419

Green G91 700 ST 6761 Green B91 700 ST 6761

Brown G10 700 ST 8086 Brown B10 700 ST 8108

White G11 700 ST 1020 White B11 700 ST 1022

Black G12 700 ST 9004 Black B12 700 ST 9005

Transparent base 700 ST 0003 Transparent base 700 ST 0003

High opacity colors:

High Opacity White 700 ST 1014

Black high opacity 700 ST 9005

Bitmap colors:

For raster printing in accordance with DIN 16538, 4 raster colors according to the Euroscale are offered.

Yellow 700 ST 2109

Purple 700 ST 3328

Blue 700 ST 5312

Bitmap black 700 ST 9007

Additives and auxiliary chemistry:

Varnish for selective varnishing 700 ST 0003

Screen paste 700 ST 0007 (can be added to the paint no more than 10%)

With the help of raster paste, you can improve the reproduction quality of fine elements in raster printing.

The 700 ST series inks are produced ready to print. If necessary, you can change the viscosity of the paint with a thinner.

Thinner, very fast evaporation VS 35 353 (added to the paint 15-25%)

Thinner, standard VD 38 571 (added to paint 15-25%)

Thinner, special 35 696 (added to paint 15-25%)

With the retarder VZ 35 928 you can increase the drying time of the ink when printing. Also for this purpose, the retarder VZ 34 392 can be used (can be used in cases where it is necessary to further increase the drying time). When working in extreme climatic conditions (at temperatures above 28 degrees), it is recommended to use VZ 35 928 retarder and as a thinner to change the viscosity.

Retarder, slow VZ 34 392 (added to the paint max. 5%)

Retarder, standard VZ 35 928 (added to paint 5-10%)

Please note that the use of a retarder increases the drying time of the impression. These retarders are only recommended for use in combination with Thinner 38 571.

A flow enhancer can be used to enhance the fluidity of the paint.

Flow enhancer VM 100 VR 133 (can be added to the paint no more than 0.5-1%)

As a hardener, it is recommended to use the standard hardener 37 172. The paint life with this hardener is 12 hours (at a temperature in the workshop of 20 degrees). If fast drying of the print is required, it is recommended to use the SE 5214 hardener. The paint life with this hardener is 8 hours (at a workshop temperature of 20 degrees).

Hardener, standard 37 172 (5 parts paint and 1 part hardener)

Hardener SE 5214 (5 parts paint and 1 part hardener)

Complete drying of paint 700 ST with the addition of hardeners occurs within 36 hours at a temperature of 20 degrees. After that, the colorful print has all the final properties. Also note that if the air temperature drops below 15°C during printing or drying. the chemical curing process is interrupted. Also, the process of chemical curing of the paint is interrupted if the air humidity rises by more than 65%.

When using a hardener, any subsequent overprinting is only possible within 36 hours.

Printing instructions:

Preliminary processing

A high degree of ink adhesion when printing on polyethylene and polypropylene can only be achieved if these materials are activated qualitatively. Activation can be either an open flame or a corona discharge. The surface tension should be at least 42 mN/m for polyethylene and 52 mN/m for polypropylene.

Printing form and equipment

When working with inks of the 700 ST series, any types and numbers of grids, as well as any type of printing machines, can be used (the maximum possible printing speed with 700 ST inks is 3,600 passes per hour).

Any doctor blade known on the market can be used as a doctor blade.

Drying conditions

All colors in the 700 ST series are physically cured by evaporation of the thinner, if using a hardener, chemically by crosslinking molecules. For multi-color printing, it is recommended to use intermediate IR drying or hot air blowing. Complete physical drying occurs within 1-2 minutes at a temperature of 70-80 degrees.

Cleaning:

The stencil, doctor blade and other parts can be cleaned with cleaner 32335. When cleaning is not done in an automatic machine, rubber gloves must be worn by personnel.

Universal cleaner UR 32335

Universal cleaner for automatic systems WR 100 VR 1240 C

Biological cleaner BR 100 VR 1272


After printing it is necessary to clean the TPF from paint residues. If this is not done, then the paint will dry on the mesh, after which the stencil will have to be thrown away. (this does not apply to plastisol paints and some others). To do this, form cleaners are used both after printing and during printing (not allowing paint to clog grid cells during operation).

PREGAN 235S.

Description. A unique, unparalleled tool for cleaning matrix cells during printing and for cleaning screen printing plates from ink after the printing process is completed. The matrix is ​​preserved (not blurred). Exceptional ease of use. An indispensable tool in terms of ease of use and efficiency, which allows you to clean the cells of the printed matrix clogged with ink that has dried up during the printing process. Used for ALL types of paints.

Application area.

1. When printing with drying inks, the cells of the matrix become clogged with dried ink. The smallest particles of an aerosol effectively physically and chemically influence the smallest volumes of the dried-up paint; the spray has no unpleasant odor; spent very sparingly; allows you to protect the health of the worker, excluding physical contact with the solvent. Printers around the world use the KIWO PREGAN 235 S very widely.

2. Removes the remnants of any ink from the matrix after the end of the printing process. The matrix is ​​saved and allows you to resume the printing process if necessary.

Application.

When printing.

The spray is applied in a circular motion from a distance of 20 - 30 centimeters on the printed or squeegee side of the matrix after the ink dries or before drying (if the printer feels that the matrix is ​​starting to clog). After that:

1) the matrix is ​​​​slightly wiped with a rag

2) dried cells are opened with a very slight movement of the squeegee.

The cleaning process is completed. You can print again.

After print.



  • apply the spray in a circular motion from a distance of 20 - 30 centimeters on the printed and squeegee side of the matrix. After that, wipe the matrix well with a soft sponge or swab on both sides of the mesh;

Active Screen Cleaner

after printing

PREGAN 244 E
Description. highly active and a liquid substance designed to remove ink from screen printing plates after the printing process is completed. The matrix is ​​preserved (not blurred).

The most versatile tool to date.

It cleans matrices more effectively than any other means for both water-soluble paints and solvent-based paints. Particularly suitable for drying pigment inks, pressure-sensitive and flock adhesives, as well as for printing with various pastes and varnishes. It is more biologically harmless than any other similar cleaner. Virtually odorless. Color - colorless.

Characteristics:


  • liquid;

  • high cleaning efficiency;

  • low odor level;

  • liquid is chemically stable.

Application area. Removes the remnants of any ink from the matrix after the end of the printing process. The matrix is ​​saved and allows you to resume the printing process if necessary.

Application.

When cleaning the sensor:


  • after printing with a spatula (spoon), remove the remaining paint from the matrix;

  • wipe the matrix well with a soft sponge or swab moistened PREGAN 244 E on both sides of the grid;

  • for dried paints, leave the solution on the matrix for 10 - 15 minutes, then rinse with water and rinse the matrix with a strong stream of water;

  • dry the net.

Screen printing consists in forcing ink onto the printed material through a stencil applied to the mesh. This is a very common printing method, characterized by high quality image transfer to any material, including those inaccessible to all other types of printing, saturation, large thickness and stability of the ink layer, low productivity, a large number of applications, including not only printing, but even electronics. .

Screen printing technology

A frame with a metal or polymer mesh stretched over it acts as a printing plate. The number of threads in the mesh depends on the characteristics of the work being performed and on the method of applying a stencil to it, on average it is 50-150 threads per cm. The thickness of the paint layer depends on the thickness of the threads and the distance between them. At the origin of this method, silk stretched over a wooden frame was used as a mesh, which is why screen printing is also called silk-screen printing.


The image can be formed on the grid in a direct and indirect way.

  • The direct method consists in applying a copying solution (colloidal polymer solution) to the grid. The solution is then dried to form a photosensitive soluble copy layer. An image is exposed on it, while the blank areas harden, and the printing ones are subsequently washed out with water.
  • An indirect method consists in applying an image to a special film material with a copy layer. A copy of the image is being processed, whitespace elements are solidified. Then the copy is rolled to the grid.
  • The combined method is a combination of the two above. The image is applied to the grid, previously connected with the copying material and copying solution. This allows you to create more durable forms and achieve high definition printing.

Printing occurs as follows: the printing form is placed on the form holder. The material to be sealed is installed in a horizontal position, its immobility is ensured by stops and vacuum. The paint is fed onto the mold, then with the movement of the squeegee it is pressed into the mesh, while the squeegee pushes through the mesh and simultaneously cuts off the remaining paint. Then the form is removed, and the printed material is removed to dry.

The production of printing products in the stencil method is carried out both manually and by means of special printing machines.

Areas of application of the screen printing method



A variety of surfaces are printed using the silk screen printing method: paper, fabric, plastic, glass, metal. In addition, the stencil method allows you to print uneven surfaces. All this leads to the use of screen printing in various industries.

Due to the high quality of image transfer and low cost when printing small runs, silk screen printing is used in the production of representative printing products: printing business cards, postcards, folders, invitations, creating booklets with a circulation of 50 copies. and others. In addition, screen printing allows the use of inks that are difficult to use for digital printing, such as metallized (gold, silver). On large runs, printing in gold and silver, as well as other colors from the Pantone palette, is carried out in an offset way, and small runs can be printed with silk-screen printing.

In contact with

Classmates

From this article you will learn

  • Who Invented Screen Printing
  • What are the types of screen printing
  • What other materials are used in screen printing
  • What affects the time and cost of screen printing

Screen printing is recognized as one of the simplest and most economical types of printing today. The technology of its work in large production is similar to the technology of the screen printing printer. The undoubted advantage of this printing method is that it is suitable for many materials: cardboard, paper, synthetic fabrics, textiles, ceramics, glass, wood. Dimensions here do not play any role, because the work goes both with huge sheets and panels, and with objects, for example, household utensils.

What is screen printing and screen printing

In order not to mislead anyone and avoid tautology, first of all, we note that the printing method itself is one, and it has two names: screen printing and silk screen printing.

Silk screen printing is a printing method that transfers an image by forcing ink through a form called a stencil.

It is used in the form of a thin mesh of natural (silk) or synthetic and metallic threads with a ready-made image. To save on production, networks made of artificial materials are more often used. Through their open niches that transfer the pattern, the printed material is colored. It turns out that the combination of a template and a grid is called the form of this printing method.

The quality and technical characteristics of the mesh (fabric) is a combination of material; the number of its threads per centimeter of its length (lineature); mold thickness; the percentage of the total area of ​​all niches to the grid area (network openness level).

The impression is determined by the set template. It is placed so that it is on the side of the grid opposite to the movement of the squeegee. This is done so that the material does not deteriorate or wear out. Templates can be made manually (designed for the wrong side of the mesh) or mechanically, depending on the degree of complexity of the work being done.

In the process of creating a template, only diazo-type light-sensitive copy layers are used. This is required by the progressive quality of printed products. Making a template goes through several stages:

  • Applying a layer;
  • Drying;
  • Material processing with UV radiation (UV screen printing);
  • hardening of the copy mold;
  • Removal of contour excess with water jets;
  • Re-drying;
  • Correction of defects by varnish processing.

The template is ready for use.

The History of Screen Printing

The name "silk printing" (from Greek: "writing on silk") came to us from Ancient Greece, where this term denoted handicraft work, which consisted in decorating silk fabrics with a pattern or inscriptions. It is still not known for certain where silk screen printing originated, but modern historians attribute its appearance to Ancient China, because this country has been called the “Homeland of Silk” for about 2500 years. However, many scientists argue that by the time this art flourished, almost all existing countries had the ability to process silk.

The current methods of silk-screen printing have almost nothing in common with the ancient methods of printing.

If you look at authentic sources, this craft probably originated on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, where states such as Phoenicia and Mesopotamia were located. However, preference in the issue of the emergence and development of silk-screen printing is still given to the Phoenicians.

The Phoenicians are a small people of Phoenicia, whose ancestors are Semitic tribes. In the period from the 9th to the 3rd centuries BC, this state flourished and was the master of the Mediterranean Sea. Phoenician sailors were famous for their stamina and campaigns. Having founded the first port cities, the Phoenicians were actively engaged in trade, selling both self-made and conquered goods. If you look at the modern map of the world, we can say that these sailors traveled to the territory of modern Denmark. Imagine how powerful the state was!

It was the Phoenicians who learned how to extract purple - the first, one might say, dye obtained from the purple glands of some gastropods. It was used as a cosmetic, a substance for processing and dyeing fabrics, and as a material for paintings. In Phoenicia, for the first time, the art of writing on clothes was born.

It is worth noting that the painting of the robes was carried out by the “stamping” method, not by hand. But how? There is an assumption that Phenicia, as the most advanced state of that period, “collaborated” with distant civilizations, which at that time already had equipment suitable for such a thing. The fact remains that it was impossible to do it manually. This is how silkscreen was born. This art has nothing to do with modern printing methods, but the name is still preserved, as is the process of “copying” an image by applying several layers of paint.

As it has already become clear, we do not use the achievement of silk-screen printing as a craft and art, we use its technological progress, which both then and now is based on the transfer of different drawings and inscriptions through various “prints”, templates and stencils. The paint was applied to them with materials similar to modern sponges and rollers. Of course, people did not immediately learn to "stamp" production. In ancient times, “stamping” was almost the most expensive way of applying a pattern: the pigment layer was unsaturated, which allowed craftsmen to use only thick fabrics that could absorb moisture well. Over time, the process has become much simpler, having come a long way of improvement.


Only after 1800 years (somewhere in 1190 - 13337) did the screen printing process jump to a completely new stage of development. In the city of Kamakura, which at that time was the capital of Japan, there was an unprecedented flowering of Japanese culture. Undoubtedly, the whole country prospered, but Kamakura was considered the cultural capital of the world. Medieval Japanese culture embraced all forms of art, not excluding printing. At first, the screen printing method was used to decorate the armor and equipment of the samurai, but after the discovery, the technology spread to many areas of production. So that the material would not be distorted, which subsequently deformed the pattern, something like a mesh was glued under the template, the fibers of which were made from human hair. The image on such a grid did not slip, did not wrinkle, did not tear, and thin hair was not noticeable after applying the pigment.

It was from that moment that silkscreen began to look more like modern printing technology. Later, meshes will be made from natural and artificial thin fibers, as well as synthetic metal threads.

In Europe, the emergence of screen printing was associated with the invention of wallpaper (1750, Jean Patillon). Britain and France were the leading European powers at that time. With them, the spread of silk-screen printing on this mainland began.

Thus, by the second half of the 18th century, this printing method was spreading all over the world. And here America plays a leading role, where silk-screen printing began to be used as an element of any decoration item: dishes, fabrics, furniture, walls, ceilings, metal products. From the "hair" mesh they switched to silk and muslin, but they had to be tinkered with.

The second leap in the improvement of this printing method occurred in 1907 in England, when the process of screen printing through stretched silk fabric was first patented, which was more stable, provided an extended range of print sizes and interacted conveniently with rubber rollers (squeegees). Thus, the screen printer himself was born. The invention was called "silk screen printing", its creator was a certain Simon from Manchester.

It can be said that the term "silk-screen printing" appeared precisely from the moment of the patent of this invention. The way we are used to seeing screen printing, it became in the middle of the 20th century, when almost everything was printed with this method: business cards, brochures, posters, fabrics, postcards, and even license plates. Screen printing has completely ceased to be perceived as an art, as a special type of transferring a pattern due to its commercial orientation. Routine "stamping" has turned it into an insignificant medium-sized production, subordinate to corporations.

Today, this method is widely used in various industries. Screen printing has advantages over other types of printing. And most importantly - that it is universal: textiles, electronics, automotive, construction. All of these industries are not complete without screen printing.

What are the types of screen printing today

Small format screen printing

This type of printing includes everything that can be called flat printing (substrates, plastic bags, paper bags, paper, cardboard). The name speaks for itself - the format should not exceed 70x100 centimeters. Printing is suitable for large bulk orders that require high quality prints.

Printing on small items

The image can be applied to pens, lighters, glasses, key rings and other trinkets. To apply a pattern to round objects, rotary semi-automatic machines are used here. Despite the fact that the image made by silkscreen printing is more durable, pad printing is still a competitor of this type of printing.

Textile printing (printing fabrics)

The modern branch of the textile industry is immense. The screen printing method is always in demand here, because this is a universal production, which is the basis of the economy of many countries of the world. Screen printing on fabric in reels, carpet, textile machines and machines designed to work tirelessly.

Screen printing on finished products

Basically silk screen printing. Machines called "carousels" print designs on T-shirts, puzzles, mugs, logos, and so on. However, screen printing on T-shirts is especially popular, as there is a huge selection of prints for every taste. In addition, you can order any pattern of your choice.

Screen printing on plates and metals

A very broad area dealing with sheet printing, roasting, etching, anodizing, metal working.

Screen printing on glass

The main fields of application are electrical engineering and the automotive industry. There are also "exclusive" applications (printing on bottles, windows, cans).

Screen printing on bottles

Mainly used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and some minor other industries.

PCB industry

Full service for electronic multilayer conductive as well as professional circuits throughout the industry.

Additional screen printing

This includes everything that was not included in the previous nine points.

What are the advantages of screen printing

Variety of colors and textures

For promotional items, silk screen printing (screen printing) provides customers with a huge selection of paints with properties and color solutions for every taste. The quality of the image depends largely on the paint, so today you can choose the best option for yourself: drawing a picture with fluorescent, fluorescent, metallized paints. In addition, there is also all-foam printing, which allows you to add volume and realism to the drawing.

The colors of the Pantone model, which are spot, will give color, brightness and beauty to any product. To bring the print as close as possible to achieving such a rich color gamut as Pantone colors have, the design is applied to a substrate.

Permanent application

It is worth noting once again such a plus of screen printing as durability: the pattern does not fade over time, withstands optimal washing, is resistant to temperature changes, etc. This advantage has gained immense popularity among customers. Of course, everything is relative, and each product and each paint has its own expiration date. With careful use and standard washing, an image, for example, on a T-shirt, can serve you for about a year without any problems!

Here it is worth mentioning such a type of application as silk transfer. It is less durable than screen printing and may crack if used carelessly or washed frequently. These things need more care.

Large application area

For screen printing of T-shirts, jackets, T-shirts, vests and sweatshirts, the most optimal image format is A3.

Technologically, it is sometimes not possible to apply a pattern by screen printing on any plastic, wooden or glass object. You need to pay attention to the card with information about a particular product, which usually indicates whether silk-screen printing is possible or not.

Low unit cost for large runs

If you want to print a small print run, the optimal choice is from 50 to 100 copies. This is where the affordability-benefit ratio comes into play. Anything above 50 is available; anything above 100 is profitable!

The cost is affected by the circulation and the number of colors applied.

If color printing is performed, then the substrate is used here as an additional paid color.

What inks are used for screen printing

  • Colored paints. The thickness of the ink layers applied to the printed material during silkscreen printing depends on the type of mesh used in printing. The thickness has its own small range, which can be controlled in offset. The advantage of screen printing is that the thickness of the ink layer here is many times greater than in offset, and therefore the saturation of the image will be much higher. This screen printing method allows you to print, for example, yellow ink on a blue sheet, because it uses "covering inks" that remain as they were originally applied: the blue will remain blue, and will not turn into green, as happens in offset printing.
  • Gold, silver, metallic paints. In general, silver and gold shades can also be printed in offset, but the effect of metallic sheen in silkscreen is certainly higher due to the large thickness of the transfer layer. If you need to do everything at a pace, then screen plating is a real find!
  • Fluorescent paints. The thickness of the paint layer also played a role here. There are many fluorescent inks that are silkscreened to give a colorful, full, vibrant look to the designs. Again, we note that all of the above is used for various printed materials, among which there are plastic, wood, metal, glass, etc., which are slightly unusual in this area. Each material suits its individual color range. Consequently, the ability to combine any paint included in a particular gap is really incommensurable.

What other materials are used for screen printing

Fabrics used in screen printing

They have several selection criteria. Some fabrics are suitable for a certain product, some are not. The material is divided according to the following criteria:

  • The type of thread that makes up the fabric. There are two main types of thread: multifilament and multifilament. The second one is better than the first one, which has more sloppy edges. That is why the price of multi-fiber is usually higher.
  • Net density, which is determined by the number of threads per inch. The denser they are, the more clearly small elements are visible, which improves the quality of the result.
  • Strength, which depends on the diameter of the thread. The larger it is, the stronger the material, but the lower the quality of the finished product.
  • The pattern for fabric in screen printing is divided into three categories: even, one might say, standard, as it is used in most cases; mesh, which, due to its strength, is suitable for printing large runs; twill (diagonal), one might say, “budget”, does not have high quality, but has an affordable price.

Materials from which almost all textiles for screen printing on fabric are made:

  • Silk is the most resistant, reliable and durable material. However, it gradually loses its high status, and other fabrics with similar characteristics, but cheaper, take its place. Synthetic fibers are considered the most expensive of them today.
  • Organdy fabric suitable for small and medium orders. The advantage here is the price.
  • Natural or synthetic nylon, which is an "eternal" fabric. If the surface is uneven (convex or concave), then nylon is the best choice for such printing.
  • Polyester is a versatile, durable, strong fabric. Versatility is a major plus.
  • A mesh made of metal (copper, steel, brass, bronze, stainless steel) is used in the process of applying heated ink to a plastic base.

Stencil types

There are three types of handmade stencils: paper, water soluble and varnish soluble. They are cut out with a scalpel.

  1. For simple drawings and small runs, paper stencils are cut from the appropriate material.
  2. Water-soluble: gelatin is removed from the plastic base of the stencil, which has the ability to dissolve in water. After it is cleaned where the dyes should be applied. The plastic base is placed on the stencil, and water acts as a “glue”, which holds the gelatin and the stencil material together. At the end of the process, the gelatin remaining on the fabric is removed.
  3. Varnish-soluble: the printing process on such stencils is very similar to the previous one, but the main difference is that the substrate is coated with varnish, and different varnish solvents are used during the work.

Automatic stencils are called photo stencils. In the process of their production, the necessary transparencies are used. The materials on the basis of which they are made are photosensitive. Photographic stencils are also divided into types according to the method of manufacture:

    . Indirect way. They are made independently of the mesh and are attached to the mesh fabric only at the end of the process. Direct way. Here, a photosensitive dye applied to the stencil mesh is exposed to ultraviolet light, after which the material is inseparable from the fabric. This method is used only in the manufacture of large print runs, as it is very long. direct/indirect way. "Tandem" of the two previous ways to create a stencil. Due to this, this material is more resistant, and the print quality is higher.

Ink

To date, the choice of ink for screen printing is huge. They are resistant to ultraviolet and abrasion (depending on the chemical composition of the substance), but, on the contrary, they are erasable and tarnish. However, all these indicators depend on the type of printed matter. The ink is applied in a thick layer, and therefore they need to dry for quite a long time. This process proceeds naturally only when the print area is small or standard. But in most cases, high temperatures are used in this case for faster drying. This is mainly necessary for products produced on machine tools and requiring high speed and large circulation.

Which screen printing machines are used

If the volume of printing is large, then the manufacturing process takes place on machinery, which increases the speed of printing and reduces the material cost of the goods. Any exclusive printing or products of small circulations are made by hand. There are several types of automated screen printing machines:

  • Tablet. Used for flat printing.
  • Tablet-cylinder. The type of application is similar to flatbeds, but rather large runs are printed here, due to the higher production speed.
  • Cylinder. Used for printing on convex and concave surfaces.
  • Textile. Involved in screen printing on T-shirts, caps, T-shirts, jackets, sweatshirts and other clothing.
  • Tablets of high precision. They are used in the field of electrical equipment in the manufacture of printed circuit boards.
  • Rotary. The ink is in a printing form (cylinder) and is distributed by a special roller, which is located inside this form, which greatly increases productivity.

Features of screen printing that affect the timing and cost

The circulation of products in screen printing, like other types of printing, has a huge range. However, printing criteria are also its cost and production time. Here it is worth noting some features of screen printing.

  • Due to the technology of the process itself, silk screen printing is not a fast printing method. The squeegee, which presses the dye, passes through each cell of the grid, slowing down the process. There are several reasons for the slowness of production, but the main one is the degree of density of the coloring matter or high viscosity, as professionals call it. At the moment, the speed of offset equipment exceeds the speed of screen printing equipment, even if it is the most modern type. There is, however, a rotary stencil, the performance speed of which is much higher than the others, but it is suitable only for printing large runs of labels and is not involved in other areas of the process. Therefore, it becomes clear that screen printing does not have the ability to print quickly, and large print runs still have to wait for some time.
  • To date, the processes of screen printing mainly involve semi-automatic equipment, where the material is fed manually. Because of this, there is a problem of printing large print runs.
  • Drying also takes time, as it is necessary to dry each sheet of product. To perform this process, you need to spread the material on the racks and hangers intended for this. This not only increases the production time, but also puts large print runs within certain limits.
  • However, the invariable advantage of this equipment is the ability to print large formats, which allows you to apply the coloring matter on several units of production at once.
  • Time is also spent on the production of the screen printing form itself. Offset plates are produced faster and are much cheaper, which gives them an advantage in short-run printing.

In order to correctly determine whether it is worth giving a print run to screen printing, it is necessary to take into account all the above-mentioned features of it. The conclusion suggests itself: the optimal circulation for silk-screen printing varies from a couple of hundred to five thousand copies.

Screen printing, the price of which will suit everyone

Naturally, each printing house sets its own price for screen printing. Employees of each of the companies you have chosen will help you to study the price range in more detail.

There are two factors that affect the price of a product: color (one color per stencil) and the cost of the print material itself.

Silk screen printing is perfect for printing on convex and concave surfaces, as well as for printing on a variety of materials: glass, wood, leather, fabric, metal, ceramics. In this matter, screen printing wins on two criteria: quality and material benefits. The optimal number of copies for the order will be 50-100 units.

However, as already mentioned, screen printing is a rather long process, and you will have to be patient and wait for your order. Do not forget that during silk-screen printing a large layer of coloring matter is applied. The downside is that the print resolution is low. There is no possibility to apply a full-color drawing. All these details should be explained to you by the employee of the printing house you are applying to.

Screen printing allows you to apply contrasting, colorful, three-dimensional images. It is also used for printing with velvet or rubber effect. At the request of the customer, glitters (sequins), rhinestones and other decorations are applied to the drawing.

Do not think that screen printing is an easy process that even a beginner can manage. If you want to get high-quality products, you need to apply for this only to professionals in their field, to a top-level printing house. One of these is the SlovoDelo company.

SlovoDelo is the largest offset printing company in Moscow, which is also equipped with the most modern screen printing machines that can produce absolutely any printed product. The equipment is made in Germany and has the highest level of performance. With its help, any orders for full-color printing of A1-A4 formats, as well as non-standard formats chosen by you, are carried out.

Post-printing machines, also available at SlovoDelo, play a huge role in the manufacture of products. Thus, the company undertakes the full cycle of production of advertising and office printing, guaranteeing the high quality of the final product. Working with clients is aimed at minimizing their costs and terms of order fulfillment. Any order is treated as an individual task, which allows us to fulfill all the requirements of the client without delays and flaws.

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Screen printing- this is a printing technology in which ink penetrates onto the media through a special form with a finely porous mesh of nylon, polyester or metal stretched over it with a thread frequency of 4 to 200 units per centimeter and a thickness of 18 to 200 microns.

Screen printing is perhaps the most ancient printing method that has survived to this day and has not lost its relevance. It is often referred to as screen printing, but silk screen printing is only one type of screen printing.

Work on a sheet stencil machine

Screen printing compares favorably with other printing technologies:

  • firstly, a wide variety of materials are suitable for stencil machines, ranging from sheet and roll paper to fabric, wood, leather, plastic, glass, ceramics and metal;
  • secondly, stencil machines are unpretentious to paints, they are able to work on metallized, heat-sensitive, electrically conductive, foaming, reflective, fluorescent and many other types of paints;
  • thirdly, in the printing process, you can use all sorts of effects, such as sequins (glitters), 3D printing, rubber or velvet imitation;
  • fourthly, stencil machines create images from layers of paint of different thicknesses, providing a slight visual 3D effect.

Stenciled products can be found in most sectors of the national economy. Screen printing is used to design various types of business products, promotional items, home and work wear, sporting goods, home goods, art products, etc.

Screen printing occupies only a small segment of the printing market, but at the same time a huge variety of applications is available to it.

Distribution of screen products by market segments served by screen printing

In the electronics industry, screen printing is used in the production of membrane switches, soldering stencils and circuit boards. Printing on clothing and fabrics includes the decoration of finished clothing and materials, it covers the areas of product identification, ceramic production, jewelry, etc. Printing on cardboard displays is offered for the design of retail outlets and the manufacture of various signs.

In outdoor advertising, this method is used for various purposes, ranging from quick marking to the design of billboards. Artistic screen printing allows you to make art reproductions and a variety of printed products: calendars, posters, postcards, diplomas, etc.

Screen products

The list of materials that can be printed or decorated with screen printing is truly endless.

For screen printing, both conventional installations and devices are used, as well as large devices for work on an industrial scale.

Machines for roll and sheet screen printing

The screen printing machine can consist of one section, or it can be a production line of 16 sections. Accordingly, the staff of the printing house may consist of one person carrying out the admission of one type of product, or hundreds of people producing different types of stencil products.

With the help of screen printing, it is possible to produce both huge images intended for decorating large-sized objects (trucks, airplanes, shop windows), as well as tiny drawings and diagrams no larger than 0.2 mm (for example, circuit boards for microelectronic devices).

Screen printing development trends include the following:

  • Increasingly, the method of direct exposure of forms from a computer to a printed grid is used, especially for large volumes of printing in sections with rotary devices of a stencil machine;
  • An innovative method of filmless production of printing plates using inkjet printheads is proposed. This direction is very promising when sealing large format materials. It is currently little used.
  • New types of high-strength materials are being developed, as well as ultra-thin meshes and wires for screen molds with a large number and density of cells.
  • We should expect the appearance of printers with an extended color layout for printing on sheet materials.

Screen printing is not fast enough, so in the near future it will be necessary to develop new quick-drying types of inks that allow you to increase the printing speed.

Screen printing is one of the most technologically advanced printing methods. It covers a wide range of applications, from handicrafts to high-tech industrial solutions, from the smallest formats in PCB manufacturing to the largest posters of around 3x6m, and from single copies to large print runs. The screen printing method prints paper, textiles, ceramics and synthetic materials in the form of a web, individual sheets, as well as products of various purposes and shapes, such as cans, glasses and panels.

Color palettes are characterized by great variety. Special paints are widely used for a wide variety of areas. In the screen printing method for printing illustrations, four-color printing is widely used. Apparatuses, machines and devices used for screen printing cover both ordinary fixtures and installations used in handicraft production, and large machines for work on an industrial scale.

Screen printing, sometimes referred to as screen printing, is a special form of pattern printing. This means that during the printing process the inks are pressed through the printing plate onto the printed material (Section 1.3.4, which describes the methods and principles of screen printing using a frame).

Template printing methods are among the most ancient. Font templates (stencils), templates for applying originals that help to embroider monograms on linen or apply texts and markings on packaging of any kind, have been known for a long time. The use of templates allows you to quickly transfer text information, symbols and icons from the form to various documents and materials. In this case, the templates are fixed on the printed surface, and the ink falls on the open areas of the template. Paints can be applied with a brush, brush, squeegee, syringe gun or air spray (Figure 4-1).

However, template printing has a significant drawback that limits its use: all parts of the template must be interconnected. This means that to connect the internal parts or fragments of the image in most cases, jumpers are needed that break off easily. Because of this, template images must have jumpers, due to which solid lines (stencils) are interrupted at certain distances (Fig. 4-2).

Rice. 4-1 Principle of screen printing (spray ink supply)

Rice. 4-2 Ornament Template

Rice. 4-3 Printing Plate: Grid with Template/Stencil: A view from the side of the press; b section of the printed form. Note. According to screen printing technology, it is preferable to place the copy layer on the side of the squeegee to protect and stabilize the mesh.

In screen printing, this disadvantage is eliminated. Here, the stencil base of the printing plate takes on the function of a bridge, without limiting the character and appearance of the image. The ink penetrates through the holes in the grid cell and forms continuous areas between the printed pattern elements. The template in this case is placed on the grid, glued and fixed in this position.

So, the grid is just a template carrier. The combination of the grid and the pattern forms the printing plate. Provides almost complete freedom for the design of the plot and drawing a template on the grid up to raster elements. As a result, ink transfer in closed areas is partly prevented or at least reduced. This limits the possibility of using high-line screens and the transmission of a high gradation range.

When choosing raster angles, you need to pay attention to the position of the grid threads so that moiré does not appear when printing. The stencil and ink must meet a number of specific requirements in order to achieve the desired print quality. For a stencil, screens with lineatures up to 40 dots/cm at a grid frequency of up to 200 threads/cm are typical. The screen angles correspond to the screen angles of offset printing with an additional rotation of 7.5 degrees relative to the position of the stencil threads.

Production of printing forms

The printing plate for screen printing consists of a special mesh stretched over a frame and a template on it.

frames

Screen printing frames are made of wood, steel, but aluminum profile frames are the most common. There are devices for tensioning the mesh on the frame with clamping devices. Frames are produced in which clamping elements are located on each side of the frame, which allows the tension to be distributed along two coordinates in order to avoid distortion of the image structure. Frame preparation is critical to print quality. The low weight of the frame is especially favorable for work in handicrafts and small businesses.

Screen meshes

The choice of screen mesh is determined by the requirements for the printing method. The mesh material should work well with the template material. It must not be damaged by solvents and cleaning agents. The mesh must have sufficient wear resistance to the pressure of the squeegee in the process of contact with the printed material. The mesh sizes must be sufficiently large if inks and copier materials with coarse pigments are used. On the other hand, cells should not be large in order to ensure reliable reproduction of the smallest image structure during raster printing. The requirement for direct photographic transparencies to be exposed to the grid and for the development of the pattern to be of high quality implies a high resistance of the grid material to UV radiation. UV scatter in the fibers of the mesh, leading to reduced image quality, can be eliminated by using a colored mesh that matches the light source.

In presented and described a large number of types of materials for meshes. One of the most important mesh parameters is the number of threads/cm. Nets are offered with a number of threads from 10 to 200 per centimeter. The quality of the mesh is determined by the thickness of the threads used in it. It is given by four gradations from "light" to "heavy". Lineature in threads/cm and thread thickness in µm (for example, 180/27) determine the cell size and the percentage of open surface of the material (Fig. 4-4). This size, along with the thickness of the form, affects the transfer of the ink layer. During the final processing of the grid in the calender before covering its surface with a copying material, a high smoothness of the printing plate template is achieved (low wear of the grid and squeegee).

Rice. 4-4 Screen Printing Grid Geometry

The print quality of bitmaps is limited by the template and grid options. Template elements must have certain minimum dimensions in order for them to be fixed on the stencil. Open parts must be at least of such dimensions that they are not covered by the threads of the net and their intersections. Next, you should make sure that the holes are at least half the thickness of the template, otherwise the ink channels will not ensure perfect ink transfer to the printed material. The grid line should be at least 4 times higher than the raster used, which will reliably provide gradation coverage from 5 to 95%. Moire can occur as a result of non-optimal coordination of the grid lineature, screen lineature and the required thickness of the ink layer (exceeding the template).

Proper mesh tension in screen printing is a critical parameter to ensure high quality. Insufficient mesh tension leads to image distortion during the printing process. It may also cause damage to the printing plate. Particular attention should be paid to the tension in multicolor printing or, for example, in the production of printed circuit boards, where high demands are placed on image dimensional stability.

The tension of the mesh depends on the material, its lineature, as well as on the quality of its manufacture and tension. The load on the web can be, depending on the requirements, from 0 to 25 N/cm. Depending on the type of screen mesh and printing load, as well as the printing speed, the tension may loosen. So, for example, after two days of operation of the synthetic mesh, the tension is reduced by 50%. Deformation of the frame also leads to uneven tension, which, when printed, can lead to distortion of the printed elements of the form. On fig. 4-5 shows a manual mesh tensioner with clamps and a measuring device. Pneumatic self-adjusting device provides uniform tension and influences the alignment of the deformation of the frame.

Information carriers, templates, are made in various ways. Manufacturing methods range from simple handicraft to high-tech "Computer-Stencil" methods.

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