The cliche is the carrier of the print motif. Varying types of cliches are used depending on the desired print quality and quantity. The motif is recessed, etched into or washed out of the cliche. In order to assure smooth fitting and printing, the motif should be at a distance of at least 25 mm (1 inch) from the outer edge, and centered on the plate. In the case of long or fine lines, the motif must be at an angle of approx. 5° to 15° to the blade track in order for the doctor blade not to dip too low and scoop out too much ink.
Numerous trials have shown that an etching depth of 30-35 μm is optimal for pad printing. Since the pad can only transfer a limited quantity of ink, a greater depth is pointless. At an etching depth of 30-35 μm, the pad only picks up an ink film of 12 μm. The rest remains in the depressions of the cliche. Because the ink film consists of approx. 40 % to 60 % thinner, which evaporates during the transfer and drying, the actual thickness of the ink film left on the substrate comes to around 5 μm – 8 μm, in some cases, as little as 2 μm. As an exception to the above statement, very fine fonts are etched at approx. 15 μm, and very large motifs, at approx. 30 μm. For very large surfaces, the dip of the doctor blade can be avoided by additionally copying a fine screen into the motif.
Our cliche is produced from special high-grade, abrasion-proof steel. Its area of application is found primarily in the industrial sector. Steel cliches are especially suited to high quantity printing runs and closed ink systems. The qual- 5 ity of these cliches is unequaled. This is evident from their absolute sharpness of contour, multi-stage etching, utilization of screens of all types, very fine surface, low susceptibility to physical damage and consistency in high quantity printing runs. The number of prints which can be achieved using this cliche comes to at least 1,000,000 doctoring operations.
ATUL JAIN
PARTNER
CAREPRINT
5, DAVE BUILDING, OPP. INDIAN BANK,
BEFORE PATKAR COLLEGE, S.V ROAD,
GOREGAON(WEST),
MUMBAI 400062.
INDIA.
PHONE / FAX : +91-22-28721545
PHONE : +91-22-28763031
CELL: (ATUL JAIN) : 91-9323812142
WEBSITE
www.careprint.in
EMAILS
[email protected]
