Ink Preparation Procedure for Pad Printing

Ink Preparation Procedure for Pad Printing

Proper ink preparation is essential for achieving high-quality pad printing results. Follow these detailed steps to ensure your ink is ready for production:

• Store the ink in a dry, cool and well-ventilated area, room temperature between 15 and 22°C and store in accordance with local regulations…
• Keep ink-container tightly closed and eliminate all ignition sources!!
• Check on the inkbottle, if the expire date for the ink has not yet been exceeded.
• The inkbottle should be firmly shaken at least for 5 minutes; this can be done in a special shaking device that shakes the entire bottle or by hand.
• Check also the “bottom” of the bottle, to make sure there is no “ink residue” sticking to the bottom. Use a special tool if necessary.
• A good print quality starts with a correct ink setup; therefore it is absolutely necessary to check the ink before its being used. Measure the viscosity of the ink with a viscosity meter, Printing International uses the Ford N°4 measuring cup. The start-viscosity of most inks should vary between 50 & 60 sec., measured with a Ford N°4 cup. This value is variable according to the type & shape of the pad, the form & depth of the etch in the Etch plate, the temperature of the production room, the type of coating on the tablet, the type of ink, etc… so it becomes clear that the value of the start-viscosity has to be determined when the machine is installed at the customer by means of several tests. If the viscosity is too high, the ink should be diluted with its original thinner(s) until the viscosity complies with the required result.
• After the ink has been set to its correct viscosity, pour it trough a fine filter with a mesh of 75µ to remove any particles which can be present in the ink. This to prevent the etched image in the etch plate from being clogged by those particles.
• Never use “old” inks, (ink whish was already used for production) or “expired” inks.

By following these steps, you can ensure your pad printing ink is properly prepared for successful print runs.

Contact us and we’ll find a best pad printing pad for your needs.