A DIVISION OF PAD PRINTING · 1 a division of pad printing consumables catalogue & information guide. sydney - 02 9663 3911. melbourne - 03 9465 0166 adelaide - 08 8234 5466. a division

1

A D I V I S I O N O F

PAD PRINTING CONSUMABLES CATALOGUE

& INFORMATION GUIDESYDNEY - 02 9663 3911

MELBOURNE - 03 9465 0166ADELAIDE - 08 8234 5466


2


SYDNEY +61 2 9663 3911 | MELBOURNE +61 3 9465 0166ADELAIDE +61 8 8234 5466 | NZ freecall 0800 883 911

www.astor.com.au

©2018, 2019. Aldus-Tronics Pty Ltd - Milford Astor Division.


company/aldustronicsA D I V I S I O N O F

aldus_tronics

3


CONTENTS Introduction to pad printing 5

Basic elements of pad printing 6

How pad printing works 7

Pads information 8

Inks and additives information 12

INKS AND ADDITIVES 15 17

PLATES 27

How to make polymer plates 28

ADDITIONAL ITEMS 30

Ink Jet Film & Supplies 33

GREEN INK CUPS 34

FILM & ARTWORK 36

MACHINERY 38

TROUBLESHOOTING 40

4


About Milford AstorMilford Astor was established in 1954 as a subsidiary of an English company, Milford Astor Ltd. It was subsequently purchased by Mr Victor Newman who designed, built and sold hot stamping machines. He felt hot stamping foil would be a useful adjunct to the sale of his hot stamping machines. Foilmakers is the only Australian manufacturer of foil and exports products worldwide.

The Australian market for hot stamping continued to expand as industrial decoration and graphic art embellishment grew. As a result a second company Milford Astor Printing Systems was formed to supply pad printing, foil stamping and screen printing machinery as well as all the associated printing consumables. Milford Astor Printing Systems grew in to the market leader in these areas.

In early 2019 the companies were sold and now operate as a division of Aldus-Tronics Pty Ltd.

Milford Astor is a quality assured company and has held an ISO9001:2015 since 1993.

5


Introduction to Pad Printing The process of pad printing opens up new possibilities which are not available with traditional printing processes as it can transfer a 2-D image onto a 3-D object. Pad printing is used for printing on to otherwise impossible products in many industries including medical, automotive, promotional, apparel, electronics, appliances, sports equipment and toys.

In the 1960’s and 70’s the pad printing process underwent a period of rapid development when Silicone Rubber was introduced as the method for ink transfer. Silicone is used because it can be easily moulded into a variety of shapes and it’s resistance to colour absorption. This gives Pad Printing a number of advantages over more traditional methods of printing: •Printingirregularshapesandsurfaces •Printingcomplicatedsubstratesatreasonablespeed •Printingoffinedetailedimages •Offeringenormousversatilitytotheprinter •Highqualityprintingonirregularsurfaces(suchasmulti-cavitymoulds)

Pad printing is still not a well known printing process, but we see and touch pad printed products every day such as:

Electronic Micro Components: cables, connectors, IC chips, relays, etc.Industrial Buttons and Keys: calculators, telephones and computer keyboardsElectrical Household Appliances:iron,TV,coffeepots,telephones,etc.Large Industrial Appliance panels: dishwashers, washing machines and dryersToys:figurines,dolls,cars,infantbottles,pacifiers,rattlesandnightlights.Advertising Specialty Items: pens, lighters, key chains, clocks, watch faces, rulersSporting Goods: golf balls, baseballs, tennis rackets, footballs.Pharmaceutical Industry: syringes, ampoules, IV Bags and many other medical devices.

6


Basic Elements Of Pad Printing

The pad printing process consists of four main elements: pad, plate (cliché), ink andmachine.

Silicone Transfer PadThe transfer pad, constructed of silicone rubber, is the key ingredient that enables printing on to three-dimensional surfaces. They are available in a variety of shapes and hardnesses (shore), the pad picksup the ink image from the cliché plate, acting as acarrier, and then transfers the image on to the part. The unique nature of silicone rubber allows the pickup and release process to occur.

Cliché PlateTheclichéismanufacturedthroughaspecialphoto-etching process or more recently laser engraving, and is available in an assortment of sizes and materials. Themostcommonlyused isa steel clichéwhich insome cases has a life expectancy in excess of one millioncycles.Temporaryclichématerials,likepolymerplates, can be used for shorter production runs. The choice between using steel or temporary clichés isbased on volume and print quality considerations.

Pad Printing InkThereareawidevarietyofinks,alldesignedspecificallyforthepadprintingprocess.Mostclichésareetchedtoadepthofapproximately18-30µm(micron).Thisis an extremely shallow etched depth, and so the ink deposited within this space must be highly pigmented to obtain the necessary opacity. Additionally, thinners are mixed with the ink to control viscosity and to facilitate ink “tackiness”, a critical factor in the image transfer process.

Pad Printing MachineThe pad printing machine is the fourth element. There arethreebasicconfigurations:theconventionalopeninkwell design, the rotary gravure process, and the sealed ink cup system. As with the other elements, many variations exist within each of these categories.

www.astor.com.au Sydney (02) 9663 3911

Melbourne (03) 9465 0166 Adelaide (08) 8234 5466

7


How Pad Printing Works

1. Home When the pad is in the home position it is located abovetheobjecttobeprinted,andtheinkcup(fullofink)islocateddirectlyovertherecessedimageareainthecliché.Therecessedimageareaisonlymicrons(millionthsofameter)indepth.

2. Doctor OutAstheclichéactuatesoutfromundertheinkcup,(orinsomemachinestheinkcupactuatesoverthesurfaceofthecliché)thesharpedgeoftheinkcup(commonlyreferredtoasthedoctorring)cleans(doctors)thesurfaceoftheclichéclean, leaving ink only in the shallow image area. Once the ink is exposed to the air, solvents immediately begin to evaporate, causingphysical changes (increase in surfaceenergy) in theink making it “tacky” on the surface.

3. Pick-Up The pad is evenly compressed onto the surface oftheclichéandthenliftedaway.Thephysicalchangesthatoccurredintheinkfilmasaresultofsolventevaporationallowtheinkfilmtoleavetheclichéandadheretothesiliconetransferpad.

4. Doctor InAstheclichéactuatesbacktoit’soriginalposition(or in somemachines the inkcupactuates forwardover therecessedimagearea)theoutsidelayerofink(whichusedtobethebottomlayerwhentheinkwasinthecliché)continuestoundergo physical changes, ideally becoming a cohesive layer, tacky on the outside surface.

5. Transfer The pad is compressed onto the surface of the object to transfer the image. Even though the pad is compressed considerably during this step, the contour of the pad is designed torolloutontotheobjectratherthancompressflatagainstit.This enables the pad to evacuate all of the air from between the inkfilmandtheobjectastheimageistransferred.Becausethepad is made of silicone, the ink layer wants to leave the surface of the pad and adhere to pretty much any object that has a higher surface energy than silicone.

6. Return The pad returns back to the Home position. When all of the variables in the process are correctly controlled, all of the ink will have released from the pad during image transfer, and the pad will be ready for the next print cycle.

8


Pads All the pads included here are stock items at Milford Astor. If you require a pad that is not shown please contact us and we will source it for you.

Pad life ranges from 10,000 cycles to 100,000 cycles depending on the application. The averagelifespanisapproximately50,000.Printsurfacesthatareflatandfreeofridgesorprotrusions will have a longer life than surfaces that contain these factors.

Extended operation and contact with solvents that mixed in to ink, silicone oil that is present in the pads is depleted. As the pad dries over time, its ability to pick up and release an image is severely reduced.Propermaintenanceof pads can significantly extend their life.Oneeasywayistousesiliconeoil(MOASILICONEOIL).Aftereachshift,removethepadfromthe machine and rub a small amount of oil onto the pad’s surface, then store the pad on a shelf positioned on its base. This will allow the newly applied oil to penetrate the pad body.

Shape and SizeShape is the most important variable in selecting a pad.

Choose a pad shape that will achieve a “rolling” action when the ink is both picked up from theclichéanddepositedonthesubstrate.Withoutthisrollingaction,aircanbetrappedbetweenthepadandeithertheclichéorthesubstrate,resultinginprintdistortionandpin-holes due to irregular ink pickup or deposition.

Inordertoachieveasatisfactoryprint,thepadsurfacemustrollontothecliché(plate)andthe image area of the substrate, as shown below..

The shape of the pad largely determines how well the pad will achieve this rolling action. This makes shape the most important variable in selecting the correct pad. Milford Astor keepshundredsofpadsinstock.Theyarebasedonthreebasicshapes(seeFigure2):

ROUNDRECTANGULARBAR

There are hundreds of pad shapes are available though most are based on three shapes: round,rectangular,orbar.Avoidpadswithperfectlyflatprofiles,sincethesecantrapair

Pad “rolls” across substrate surface, depositing ink.

Pad “rolls” across tacky surface of ink.

9


during ink pickup or deposition. Use the largest pad size that is practical for the item to be printed.

Regardless of the shape the pad has, it must roll ontoboththeclichéandsubstrateforgoodprintingresults, the better the rolling action achieved, the more ink that will be transferred.

Another important variable to consider is pad size relative to image size. In screen printing, the larger the screen is in relation to the image size, the less distortion will occur. The same applies to pad printing. The larger the pad, the less the image

is likelytodistort. Often,thedistancebetweentheclichéandthebodyofthemachine(sometimescalledthe“throat”ofthemachine)willdeterminethemaximumpadsize.

Generally, most pad-printing companies have a favourite shape that covers 90% of their applications. But standard shapes are available for all sorts of unusual applications. An example is a standard shape that will print onto oven-control knobs. These special pads have holes in them to accommodate the raised portion of the knobs and allow the print to be applied to the bevelled edge.

For unusual imaging, a custompadmay be used that combines two different profiles.These “combination” pads can be expensive and they are prone to print distortions unless they are very carefully designed. A preferable solution is to use two separate pads and mount them close together on a single machine. Another advantage of using two pads is that if one is damaged, the cost of replacing it is much less.

Always use as little pressure as possible to pick up and print the image.Use these guidelines when choosing a pad shape for a particular job.

1. First, try your standard pads that you think would do the job for this particular part. Do a test print to verify if the proposed print area is imaged accurately.2. If the chosen pad shape provides a satisfactory print over just a part of the area, lookforsimilarpadshapesthatextendstheprofileinawaythatwillcovertheentire image. Distortion at the image edges is almost always caused by undersized pads.3. If the obvious pads fail, try ones that may appear to be unsuitable. Perhaps the pad has a sharper angle than would seem to be appropriate, or is clearly too large for the image. This may still solve the problem.4. Irregular ink pickup during the test print usually means air is being trapped between thepadsurfaceandthecliché.Watchcarefullyasthepadisbeingimagedtobe sure that a rolling action is occurring.5. Whenever possible, ensure that the point or apex of the pad does not come into contactwiththeimageareaofthecliché.Thistendstothintheinkatthatpoint, causing inconsistent ink deposit.6.Ifthepadis“overstressed”(thatis,toosmallfortheimage)ortheimageistooclose to the edge of the pad, distortion is likely to occur. Always use as little pressure as

Figure 2:

10


possible to pick up and print the image. If the machine is running too fast, excessive pad pressure can cause distortion as well as poor ink transfer.

If experimentation doesn’t reduce the print distortion to an acceptable level, and a custom padisoutofthequestion,thelastresortistodistorttheimageontheclichétocompensate.This is often done by printing a grid onto the substrate and measuring the distortion of the grid to guide in the alterations that are to be made to the original artwork. This will shorten the time it takes to test print, but it won’t eliminate the trial-and-error altogether. This methodalsoleadstoongoingproblemssincepositioningofthepartandthepad(relativetotheimageofthecliché)mustbeabsolutelydeadoneachtimethejobissetuptoavoiddistortion.

Remember if there are quality problems with the print image, Milford Astor has expertise that could assist you.

ACTIVATING YOUR PADWhen using a new pad for the first time, it may take a while to ‘run in’ and give the print quality and consistency needed.

This problem is usually caused by a build up of excess silicone oil near the printing surface of the pad and will lead to an uneven transfer of ink.

Wiping the surface of the pads with a standard thinner used with ink is a common way of activating the pad and of course helps to clear away some of that silicone from the surface, but if a pad is rubbed too hard or if the thinners evaporate leaving the cloth dry while rubbing it can cause permanent damage to the pad surface, meaning poor print quality and low pad life.

An alternative way to activate the printing pad is to wipe the thinner on to a sheet of plain paper leaving the surface of the paper coated with the thinner.

Next place the paper directly in the print position and start the machine cycle allowing the pad to print directly on to the thinner coated paper, the thinner will now be carried back on the surface of the pad and as it is compressed during its next ink pick up. It will begin to activate directly at the most important area of the pad, the area where our image is going to be picked up / transferred from.

Make around 20 print cycles and then swap the thinner coated paper for a dry sheet of paper and continue to cycle the machine for another 10 - 20 prints until the pad is dry.

The pad is now activated and ready to use without the damage that can be caused by the conventional rubbing of printing pads.

Use Long Life Silicone Pad Oil to rejuvenate and store your pads.

Order Code: MOASILICONEOIL

PAD MAINTENANCEAlthough there are no hard and fast guidelines regarding pad life a number of steps can be taken to extend the life of your pads:Use a strong solvent only for the initial removal of the excess silicone oils on the surface. Use adhesive tape or the cleaning cycle on the printing machine if the pad must be cleaned during or prior to production. (For heavy soiling a mild solvent such as alcohol can be used sparingly). Always use tape to remove debris and dried ink before starting a production run.Use as little pressure as possible on the pad during production runs.Never print onto an empty nesting fixture, sharp edges can cut your pad.Ensure that the substrate is free of debris, particularly sharp particles, before printing.With wood backed pads (those without a threaded insert), don’t let the wood screws penetrate into the rubber.Whenever possible, avoid printing near sharp substrate edges.Use as large a pad as is reasonable for the job at hand.Never store a pad on top of another one. Before storing apply a light coating of Long Life Oil (MOASILICONEOIL)Handle and store the pads very carefully. Keep them in a storage cabinet at room temperature.Certain inks have aggressive solvents that will be absorbed by the pad during printing. This solvent absorption will cause the image area to “swell” on the pad, to the point where it will eventually affect the print quality. At this point, stop the machine and replace this swollen pad. This isn’t a permanent condition, and if the pad is allowed to stand unused, the solvents that have penetrated the rubber surface will evaporate and the swelling will go down to the original size.

11


Milford Astor Pad RangeMilford Astor has a vast range of pads available that are made in our pad printing laboratory in Melbourne.

Each pad is made from the highest quality silicone to ensure the longevity of the pad so that you get the best quality print every time.

Pads can be made to any shore hardness you require. If you need a custom designed pad we are able to accommodate your request.

You can view the full range of shapes available in our Pad Catalogue which is available from your sales representative.

1REV 14.10.2019


PAD CATALOGUE SYDNEY - 02 9663 3911MELBOURNE - 03 9465 0166ADELAIDE - 08 8234 5466


12


Inks & Additives

To achieve optimal print quality, special pad printing inks have to be used. These inks have been specifically developed to show high pigmentation as such a small quantityis transferred during the printing process. The corresponding additives such as thinner and hardener ensure a good processing of the ink. The ink should preferably possess the following characteristics: •Longstability(pot-life)intheinktray/cup •Safe •Notharmfultotheenvironment •Easytoclean •Adhesiononallpartsandmaterialswithoutpreorpost-treatmentifpossible •Oneinktypepreferablyforallmaterialstobeprinted

Depending on where they are being used ink requirements vary greatly. For marking only, the requirements are low, but for a decorative print the requirements are very sophisticated. Thefinishedprintonthesubstrateshouldshowthefollowingcharacteristics: •Highopacityoftheink •Extremeadhesionandscratchresistance •Highchemicalresistance •Safe(eg;fortoys)All these demands cannot be met by one single ink type. Therefore, a variety of special inks havebeendevelopedtomeetdifferentdemandsandapplications.

Intheprintinginkrangewedifferentiatebetweensingleandtwocomponent,baking,andUV-curableinks.Inksconsistofdifferentbinders,pigments,extendersandadditives.Thisleadstothespecialcharacteristicsofeachindividualtypeandisthereasonthatdifferentink types cannot be mixed with each other without losing the original characteristics.The mixture of a pad printing ink is as follows:

BindersThe binders of pad printing inks are based on one or more types of resins. The choice and the combination of the resins are dependant on the ink’s application eg. adhesion on various materials, level of gloss and chemical resistance. As the resins are usually available in the form of granulates or powders, they have to be dissolved with adequate solvent or solvent combination, to achieve a printable binder.

SolventsSolvents differ mostly by their evaporation time and solubility. The combination of thesolvents in the printing ink will be responsible for the drying behaviour, the printability, as well as the ink adhesion onto certain substrates.

PigmentsThe pigments in the pad printing ink will determine the colour and the opacity. There are organic and inorganic pigments. For inorganic pigments only those that are free of heavy metal substances in their chemical structure are used.

13


AdditivesAdditivesareadditionalsubstancesthatarenormallyusedinsmallamounts.Theireffecthelpstofinetunetheinkcharacteristics,forexampletheflow,theviscosityortheopacity.Theyaretheflowagents,thickeningagents,andfillingagents.

Pad printing inks can be divided into various groups because of their drying process, these groups are:•Physicallydryinginks:one-componentinks•Chemicallyhardeninginks:two-componentinks•Bakinginks

One component inksThis ink system dries by physical evaporation of the solvents. At the same time, the surface ofthermoplasticmaterials(forexamplepolystyrene(PS),polycarbonate(PC),PVCetc.)isattacked by the solvents. Through this attack of the substrate’s surface, a direct fusing of ink and material is created. In this case, a high scratch resistance and a good ink adhesion is guaranteed. Single-component inks are very fast drying.

Two component inksThese ink systems show a very high chemical resistance with good adhesion and scratch resistance,especiallyondifficultsubstrates.Ahardenermustbeaddedtotheink,whichwill cause a chemical reaction with the binder. Using the correct ratio of hardener to ink is vital. The addition should be made shortly before printing, as the ink with added hardener canonlybeusedforalimitedtimespan(potlife).Dependingontheinktype,thepotlifelasts for approx. 6-12 hours. The complete hardening and adhesion of these ink systems is sometimes reached only after a few days. A common mistake is to try adhesion and chemical resistance tests too early. It is important to follow the information contained in the corresponding technical date sheets available from Milford Astor sales representatives or from our website, www.astor.com.au.

Baking inksThe baking inks have similar characteristics to the two component inks. The chemical reaction of this ink system is a cross linkage of the binder, which will only take place under the influence of very high temperatures. Further information can be found in thecorresponding technical data sheets.

14


Pad printing inks cannot be taken straight from the can into the ink cup or tray of the machine. Depending on printing speed and print design the ink must have various viscosities, and for two-component inks, the hardener must be added. Here, already two handling mistakes can be made which would have negative results for printing. The ratio of ink/thinner/hardener mustbeveryaccurate,astheamountofinkneededtofillaninkcuporinktrayissosmall(between50and150g),justafewgramserrorwouldcauseabigdeviation.For example: Two component ink: ink/ hardener 10:1 + 10 % thinner amounts to 100 gram ink + 10 gram hardener + 11 gram thinner.A deviation of 2 grams in this example when adding the hardener will change the mixing ratio by 20%!! This can cause terrible results because this wrong ratio will completely change the ink characteristics like adhesion as well as the pot-life. A complete day’s production could be useless as the scratch resistance and adhesion of the ink can only be tested after 48 hours.

Rule of thumb for two component inks:Too little hardener: longer pot life but bad adhesionToo much hardener: shorter pot life and ink becomes brittle

For these reasons, an exact weighing of the components is a must for trouble free production. The age of the ink and the hardener can also be important. Hardeners are mostly hygroscopic (waterattracting),andthereforelosetheircharacteristicswhenanopenedcaniskeptforalong time unsealed. Please refer to the shelf-life data of the ink manufacturer.

The choice of thinner is important mostly for extremely fast printing, double printing or multicolour printing. Fast thinner is used for fast printing or multicolour wet on wet printing. Aslowthinnerisusedforslowprintingprocessesorwhenprintingextremelyfinedesigns,to avoid drying of the ink in the plate.

PMS colour matching of pad printing inks is possible, but there can be slight variations in theendproduct,as thebase rangeofpadprinting inks isdifferent to thoseused toformulate PMS colours. A great deal of experience and patience is required for optimal results.MilfordAstoroffersaPMSmatchingserviceifyourequire.

The use of inks and solvents calls for certain safety measures to be followed. Some of the contentsaredangerousduringprocessing (contact, inhalation,swallowing,flammability)and others during disposal (groundwater contamination). Specific information can beobtainedfromtheSafetyDataSheets(SDS)availableonrequest.

When handling inks and solvents, the following precautions should be taken:• Protectiveglovesshouldalwaysbewornwhenmixingandcleaning;theprintingarea

should be well ventilated.• Remnants of inks, thinners and other solutions should be collected and disposed of as

special waste.• Read and follow all the handling and storage guidelines listed in the SDS available on

request.

15


Coates Inks

TP 300•Universalinksystem•Highgloss•Mediumdryingspeed•Verygoodprintability

Ink type TP 300 is one of the most popular pad printing inks world-wide. Due to its good printability, TP 300 makes the process easy for pad printing beginners and helps experienced operators create real masterpieces.

It is suitable for printing on wood, coated surfaces, various plastics and even metals. Therefore the applications for ink range TP 300 are multifarious: from printing onto promotional items (lighters, pens etc.),printing of industrial articles (housings,mobilephonesetc.)tohighqualityprintsoncollectors items like miniature models. TP 300 can be processed with or without hardener. When processed as a 2-component system, resistances and adhesion are improved.

TP 313• Glossy Finish• 1 or 2 component• Very quick drying

speed.

TP 313 has been formulated with especially environmentally compatible raw materials. TP313 does not contain aromatics, GB-ester, cyclohexanone, BPA or PAH.Suitableforprintingonflatsystemsaswellas high speed rotation systems.Very good abrasion resistance is demonstrated, as well as resistance against alcohol and benzines.Suitable for outdoor use.Certified according to USP Medical ClassVI, therefore can be used for printing on to medical devices.

Z/GL-S•ForGlass,Ceramicsand metals•GlossFinish•2componentInk•Airdryorovencure

Z/GL-S ink is specifically formulated forglass, duroplastics, ceramics and metals including rhodium or gilded surfaces. These inks can be air dried or oven cured resulting inaglossyfinishwithgoodopacity.Z/GL-Sinks show high mechanical resistance and resistance against many organic solvents, chemicals, thinned alkalis and acids, oils and grease. Z/GL-S pigments are heavy metal free and correspond to EN71, part 3, safety of toys, migration and certain elements.

TP 218• Glossy Finish• 2 component• Medium drying speed

TP 218 are suitable for a variety of applications, especially for the technical/industrial applications requiring high resistances.Cured prints exhibit high mechanical resistances as well as good chemical resistances against organic solvents, thinned alkalis adn acids, oils and grease.Suitable for indoor and short-term outdoor use.Certified according to USP Medical ClassVI, therefore can be used for printing on to medical devices.

Download Technical data sheets from our website. www.astor.com.au

NOTE: Only high demand ink grades are listed here, additional specialised inks are available on request, please contact your Milford Astor Sales Representative for further details.

16


Coates Inks (continued)

TP/PP-B•HighGloss•Mediumdryingspeed•PrintontountreatedPolypropylene(PP)

Polypropylene (PP) isgenerally difficult to print, usually requiringpre-treatment. This ink is an alternative for printing this difficult material without pre-treatment.

This ink can be proceed on fast running equipment, and is best suited to disposable items not requiring high resistance.

TP 253L•2Componentink• Screen and PadinkTP 253L is a screen printing and pad printing ink specificallydesigned for use on Silicone Rubber. It does not contain any conventional solvents (100% solids). Mustbe used with TP 219L hardener.

TP 253•2Componentink•ScreenandPadinkTP 253 is specially formulated for TPE, Sanoprene and Soft Touch. This ink must be used in conjunction with TP 219N hardener to retain the elasticity of the ink.

TP 318•2componentink•Mediumgloss•Fastdryingtime•Easyprintability even at high speeds

An especially environmentally compatible and user friendly ink system designed with technical and industrial applications in mind. TP 318 is exceptionallyresistantonvarious"difficult"substrates such as glass, metals, pre-treated PP and PE, PMMA, PA as well as duroplastics.

This one ink could potentially replace various grades of ink you currently use, it'sversatilitycomesfromthe2differenthardeners used, allowing it so cover such a broad range of materials.

17


TP 318

Coates Inks Substrate Compatibility

Hardener Ratio

Drying

ABS, SAN

Polystyrene (PS)

Polycarbonate (PC)

Acrylic Glass (PMMA)

PVC Rigid

PVC Plasticised

Polyamide (PA)with pre-treatmentPolypropylene (PP)Polyethylene (PE)without pre-treatment

Polypropylene (PP)

Polyacetal (POM)post-treatment required

Polyester

Polyurethane (PUR)

TPE/TPU, Synthetic Leather, Rubber

Silicone Rubber

Duroplastics

Glass

Metals

Coated Surfaces

Leather, Textiles

Wood

TP/PP-B TP 253 TP 300 TP 313 TP Z/GL-S TP 253 L TP 218

✶ preferred ❷ Hardener required ♦ Suitable ❷ Hardener required

✧ potentially suitable ✧2 potential with hardener 1 Component 2 Component

1 and 2 Component Air Dry ◗ Oven Dry ❖ Air or Oven Dry

10:1 10:1 10:1 20:1 10:1 4:1*

❖ ◗ ✧ ✶ ❷

✶✶ ✶✶ ✶ ❷♦ ✶

✧❷ ❷ ❷

❷ ❷ ❷

✶

❷ ❷

❷ ❷ ❷♦ ❷ ❷ ❷

❷

❷❷ ❷ ❷

❷❷ ❷ ❷

♦ ✶ ♦ ❷ ❷✶

♦* NOTE: This shade has different ratios for different opacity of ink, please check technical data sheet prior to mixing.

4:1

10:1

❷

❷

❷

❷

❷

❷❷

❷❷❷❷

❷

18


Thinners & RetardersThinners AOrdering Code: CTPV-A1(1L)CTPV-A5(5L)CTPV-A20(20L)

Thinners B Ordering Code: CTPV-B1(1L)CTPV-B5(5L)CTPV-B20(20L)

Thinners U (cyclohexanone free)OrderingCode:CTPU(1L)

Thinners CAN (VD40)Ordering Code: CTPV-CAN(1L)CTPV-CAN20(20L)

Thinners S5Ordering Code: CTPV-S5

Thinners 700017Ordering Code: CTPV-7000017(20L)

Cleaning Agent TP262Ordering Code: CTP262(1L)CTP262-5L(5Litres)CTP262-20L(20Litres)

Thinners HVGOrdering Code: CTPV-HVG

Retarder TPDOrdering Code: CTPD(1L)CTPD-5L(5Litres)CTPD-20L(20Litres)

Super RetarderOrdering Code: CSUPERRETARDER1(1L)CSUPERRETARDER5(5L)CSUPERRETARDER(20L)

SV1 RetarderOrdering Code: MUSV1-A1(1L)MUSV1-A20(20L)


SV9 RetarderOrdering Code: MUSV9-A1(1L)

Coates Additives

Thinner Evaporation Rate

Solving Power

Application

Thinner A 1 good universal, standard printing inks. Used for approx 70% of applications.

Thinner B 0.5 good universal, quick printing speeds

ThinnerCAN(VD40) 1 very good, aggressive

to increase adhesion on plastics

TP262(VD10) 0.6 mild sensitive plastics, plastic cleaner, do not use with TP219

VD60 5 good slowprintcycles,quickinks(egTP313)

TPD 25 good universal retarder in combination with Thinner A or B

TPV 25 good retarder for printing sensitive plastics

NOTE: Evaporation rates are calculated in relation to Thinner A.

19


HardenersTP219Ordering Code: CTP219(1L)CTP219-TUBES(200mL)CTP219-500(500mL)

TP219/02Ordering Code: CTP219/02-GL-500(500mL)

TP219/03Ordering Code: CTP219/03-GL-500(500mL)

CTP219-NOrdering Code: CTP219-N(1L)CTP219-N-200(200mL)

CTP219-LOrdering Code: CTP219-L(1L)CTP219-L-500(500mL)

CTP219-GL (Glass) Ordering Code: CTP219-GL(1L)CTP219-GL-500(500mL)

Hardener Description

TP219 Standard hardener for most ink ranges. Reaction temperature: from 15°C. Not recommended for outdoor applications, has a tendancy to yellowing.

TP 219/N Hardener for ink ranges TP247, TP 253, TP273/T, TP300, TP307, TP313. Reaction temperature from 20°C. Recommended for outdoor applications

TP219/L Hardener for TP253/L. Reaction temperature 160°C for 15 minutes.

TP219/GL Hardener for Glass inks TP218/GL, Z-GL/S, LAB-N 341705. Reaction temperature: from 20°C. When oven curing 140°C for 30 mins. Oven cured prints show higher water and chemical resistance.

TP219/02-GL Hardener for Glass inks TP218/GL, Z-GL/S, LAB-N 341705. Suitable for metal and duroplastics. Reaction temperature: Oven curing 140°C for 20 -30 mins. Oven cured prints show higher water and chemical resistance.

TP219/03-GL Hardener for Glass inks TP218/GL, Z-GL/S, LAB-N 341705. Reaction temperature: from 20°C. When oven curing 140°C for 30 mins. Oven cured prints show higher water and chemical resistance.

20


Coates Ink Additives CompatibilityAdditives

Thinner AThinner BThinner UThinnerCAN(VD40)Antistatic Paste LAB N111420Hardener TP219Glass Hardener TP219-GLHardener TP 219 NHardener TP 219 LBonding Agent FX209Antistatic Agent TPCRetarder TPDPP PrimerSuper RetarderVM1 Flow AgentVM2 Flow AgentVM3 Flow Agent

TP 300

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

TP 218TP 318

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

TP 313

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

TP 253

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

TP 253L

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

TP/PP-B

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

Z/GL-S

■

■

■

■

■

21


Marabu Inks

TPR•HighResistance•Highgloss•Fastdryingspeed•1or2Component

The glossy and very fast drying ink Tampa® Star TPR is especially suited for high-quality products such as cosmetic packaging, housings, and other items requiring high resistance.

It exhibits good opacity and is a very fast drying 1 or 2 component ink system that is resistant to petrol.

It is suitable for printing on to rigid PVC, polystyrene, ABS, SAN, polycarbonate, acrylic glass, wood, paper, and varnished substrates as a one component ink but may be suitable for other substrates with the addition of hardener.

TPU• Glossy Finish• 2 component• Extremely good

mechanical and chemical resistance

Tampa® Pur TPU is used when extremely high mechanical and chemical resistance on thermosetting plastics, polyethylene, polypropylene, and metals are required.

In addition to the materials above it can also be used on resins such as Melamine and even on textiles, such as cotton.

This quick curing 2-component ink shows outstanding mechanical and chemical resistance and excellent adhesion.

TPGL•ForGlass,Ceramicsand metals•GlossFinish•2componentInk•Airdryorovencure

Glossy, fast drying 2-component pad printing ink for glass and many other substrates.

TampaGlass TPGL impresses with excellent appearance, is easy to use and universally applicable thanks to very good adhesion and high resistances.

Outstanding ink flow, easy processing,Veryhighmechanical, chemical, fill goods,anddishwasher resistance,High efficiencythanks to fast printing speeds. Wide substrate range

PP• Satin Gloss Finish• 1 component• Fast drying speed

MaraProp PP is a satin gloss, quick-drying one-component inkwith a very flexible ink filmand good adhesion properties. Especially developed for untreated and pre-treated polypropylene materials.

Mara® Prop PP is mainly used for pad printing onto advertising products or to mark injection- moulded parts.

Download Technical data sheets from our website. www.astor.com.au

NOTE: Only high demand ink grades are listed here, additional specialised inks are available on request, please contact your Milford Astor Sales Representative for further details.

22


Thinners & RetardersTPVA - StandardOrdering Code: MUTPV-A1(1L)MUTPV-A4(4L)MUTPV-A20(20L)

TPV2-A - Fast Ordering Code: MUTPV2-A1(1L)MUTPV2-A4(4L)

GLTPV - TPGL inkOrdering Code: MUGLTPV-A1(1L)MUGLTPV-A5(5L)

PPTPV - PP inkOrdering Code: MU35010650(1L)

QNV-A ThinnersOrdering Code: MUQNV-A1(1L)MUQNV-A5(5L)MUQNV-A20(20L))



SV9 RetarderOrdering Code: MUSV9-A1(1L)

Marabu Additives

HardenersH1 - StandardOrdering Code: MU351971005(100mL)MU3519005(1L)

H2 - Fast Ordering Code: MU351971006(100mL)MU3519006(1L)

GLH - TPGL inkOrdering Code: MU35190040(50gram)

23


Marabu Inks Substrate Compatibility

Hardener Ratio

Drying

ABS, SAN

Polystyrene (PS)

Polycarbonate (PC)

Acrylic Glass (PMMA)

PVC Rigid

PVC Plasticised

Polyamide (PA)with pre-treatmentPolypropylene (PP)Polyethylene (PE)without pre-treatment

Polypropylene (PP)

Polyacetal (POM)post-treatment required

Polyester

Polyurethane (PUR)

TPE/TPU, Synthetic Leather, Rubber

Silicone Rubber

Duroplastics

Glass

Metals

Coated Surfaces

Leather, Textiles

Wood

TPR TPU TPGL PP

KEY

✶ preferred

❷ Hardener required

♦ Suitable

❷ Hardener required

✧ potentially suitable

✧2 potential with hardener

1 Component

2 Component

1 and 2 Component

Air Dry

◗ Oven Dry

❖ Air or Oven Dry

10:1 4:1 20:1 - ❖ ✶✶✶✶✶✧❷ ❷

❷ ✶

✶

❷ ❷

❷ ❷ ❷

❷ ❷❷ ❷ ✧2

❷ ❷ ✧2

❷✶ ❷

* NOTE: This shade has different ratios for different opacity of ink, please check technical data sheet prior to mixing.

24


PP PrimerWiped on to pre-treat PP prior to printingOrdering Code: CPPPRIMER1L(1L)CPPPRIMER5L(5L)

Antistatic PasteOrdering Code: CLAB-N-111420

FX209A special binder mixed in to TP300 for printing on to PP.Ordering Code: CFX209(1L)

Flow Agent VM1OrderingCode:CVM-1(1L)



Abrasion Resist PowderOrdering Code: CLAB-N-561645

Abrasion Resist LiquidOrdering Code: CLAB-N-561644

Solvents & Cleaning AgentsCleaning Agent TP262Mild cleaning agent and thinner for use with sensitive materials ie: plastics prone to surface tension cracking.Ordering Code: CTP262(1L)CTP262-5L(5Litres)CTP262-20L(20Litres)

SuperWashGeneral purpose clean up solvent.Ordering Code: MOA17011217 (4 Litre)MOA17010217(20Litres)

URS Plate WashSolving of dried ink residues from tools, plates and other equipment. Suitable for solvent based and UV inks.Ordering Code: MOAURS0005(5Litres)MOAURS0020(20Litres)

Ink Cup Cleaning SolutionA strong thinner able to disolve difficult to clean ink resins. Also ideal for ink cup washing units.Ordering Code: MOA17CS1(1Litre)MOA17CS5(5Litres)MOA17CS20(20Litres)

88 RemoverFor the removal of un-cured printed image from plastic parts without cusing damage.Ordering Code: MOA17010262(1Litre)MOA17010263(4Litres)MOA17010264(20Litres)

Special Purpose Additives

25


2

3

4

INK VISCOSITY

Quick Tips

When mixing your ink, always mix in the following order:

1. INK 2. HARDENER 3. OTHER ADDITIVES (eg flow agent) 4. THINNERRemember, ratios are important, you can find all the relevant information in the Technical Data Sheets avail-able from your Sales Representative.

Method 1

1. Dip your mixing stick in to the ink 2. Remove mixing stick allowing the ink to drip/drizzle from the end, 4. Draw / form a figure 8 with the ink drizzle as large as you can in the mixing cup.

• If the figure 8 disappears before you complete it, the ink is too thin. • If the ink puddles on top or if the 8 does not start disappearing by the time you finish it, the ink is too thick.

Method 2

Watch the flow of ink as it runs down the ink mixing stick and settles on the surface of the ink in the mixing cup.

If the ink piles up on the surface it is too thick

If the ink flows smoothly out at the same level as the surface it is the correct viscosity

If the ink forms a crater or depressed ripple in the surface it is too thin

Getting the correct ink viscosity is vital. Below are a couple of methods for manually checking the viscosity of your ink.

The following are a starting point only, a Viscospatula or Viscometer may be a better option if you require more accurate results.

To reach the proper ink viscosity. Depending on the ink type and room temperature, the time may vary. If you notice during printing, that the ink is handling particularly well, make sure to measure the viscosity so that this level of ink viscosity can be repeated.

Ink Viscosity

26


ComplianceRoHSREACHUSP Class VI

The manufacturing industry is constantly changing in terms of compliance and regulation requirements. Some that we are seing more and more of are REACH and RoHS.

AllCoatesinkscomplywithREACHandRoHSrequirements.AdditionallytheyhavespecificrangesofinksthatthatalsohaveUSPClassVIMedicalcompliancecertification.

CopiesoftheseCertificatescanbedownloadedfromourwebsite.

Both at Coates and here at Milford Astor we consider the personal and environmental impact of all the goods we supply and where possible we strive to supply the safest and greenest items we can. This is an area of continual growth.

We encourage anyone who uses our products to refer to the Technical Data Sheets and SDS prior to use to ensure you are following correct mixing ratios, disposal recommendations and safety requirements.

27


Steel Printing Plates0.25mm Thin Steel Printing PlatesThin steel plates have a precision ground surface. They are etched on one side only and can only be used on ink cup machines. They are supplied punched or un-punched to suit various machine make and models. Expected life of the plates is around 60,000 impressions.

0.5mm Thin Steel Printing Plates0.5mm thin steel plates have a polished surface. They can be etched on one side and are suitable for open ink tray and some sealed ink cup machines. The plates can be supplied punched or un-punched to suit most types of machines. As the plates contain a percentage of chrome, they can be used for medium to long production runs. The life expectancy of the plate is around 150,000 impressions.

10mm Thick Steel Printing PlatesThick steel plates can be supplied lapped on one or both sides. Plates are etched on one side only. They are suitable for open ink tray and ink cup machines. Made from hardened steel(62Hrc)withalifespanofaroundonemillion impressions.

10mm Chrome Thick Steel Printing PlatesChrome thick steel plates contain a percentage of chrome (so are corrosionresistant) and hardened to 63 Hrc whichresults in an extremely long life of around 2 million impressions. Suitable for both open ink tray and ink cup machines. These plates will produce the finestprintquality.

*We cannot guarantee the number of impressions as the above figures are based on plates being properly cleaned, stored andmaintained in the correct conditions. Variables such as equipment typeandinkchoiceswilleffectplatelife.

STORING AND CARING FOR YOUR STEEL PLATES

Steel Plates should be stored in the original Blue VCI Paper that they are delivered in. Alternatively they can be coated liberally withplateoil(ordercode:MOAPLATEOIL),once plate oil is dry they can be wrapped in greaseproof paper. This wrapping will prevent corrosion allowing plates to be reused at a later date.

28


Polymer Printing PlatesAqua Gold Printing Plates (MOA07)Aqua Gold water wash plates are green/gold in colour, have a thickness of 0.73mm and when cured have a shore D hardness of 65. They are suitable for open ink tray machines. The nylon polymer provides a high quality image reproduction, ideal for halftonesandfinedetailsorlines.

Red Water Wash Plates (MOA09)Red Water wash plates are red in colour, have a thickness of 0.73mm and when cured have a shore hardness of around 75. The high density of the cross linked polymer means this plate is suitable for open ink tray and ink cup machines. The expected life of the plate is around 20,000 impressions. The plate also provides high quality image reproduction for half tones andfinedetailsorlines.

AlcaTuff Printing Plates (MOA04)AlcaTuff alcohol wash plates are red incolour, have a thickness of 0.52mm, and when cured have a shore D hardness of 90. The high abrasion resistance of the plates means they are ideal for long runs of 50,000 impressions. This plate is best used for high resolution images with half tones and fine details or lines, resulting in superiorreproduction quality for complex printed images. Alcatuff plates are particularlysuited for closed ink cup machines.

Making Polymer PlatesStep 1Ensure theartworkfilm,diffusion film, screenpositive and exposure unit glass are clean and free of all dirt and dust.

Step 2Remove the protective covering (plastic film)from the face of the plate

Step 3Place the plate in the exposure unit face up, positionthefilmpositive(emulsionsidedown)ontotheplate.Ensurefilmpositive is lined up and straight on the plate.

Step 4Close exposure unit and turn on vaccuum (if applicable). Turn on the UV lights andexposeyourplateforthespecifiedtime.

Step 5If your film is pre-screened(hasadotinit)skipthisstep.If your film is solid(is100%solidblackintheimageareas)youwillneed to expose a screen in to your plate. Repeat steps 1-4 using your screen positive instead oftheartworkfilm.

Step 6Remove plate from the exposure unit and washout using the appropriate solution (alcohol or water).NOTE: ALWAYS READ THE SDS AND USE APPROPRIATE PPE PRIOR TO USING CHEMICALS

29


Alcohol Washout - Pour approx 1cm of Nyloplate Alcohol Wash Solution (MOAALCWASH) in to a plastic lidded tubthat is big enough to hold the plate and has plenty of room to move the plush cloth brush around. Immerse the exposed plate in the solution and rub in multiply directions orinafigure8motionusingtheplasticclichéwashout brush (MO103627) for approx 2minutes. The remaining solution in the tub can be kept for the next plate, ensure the lid is sealed to prevent evaporation.

Water Washout - Place the plate in to a sink and preferably using a hose sprayer with a shower setting and medium/hard water pressure (the same as astrong shower) spray theplate and while (wearinggloves) gently rub with yourfinger tipsuntil thereare no more suds forming on the surface of the plate. Step 7The image should by now appear as an

etched depression that can be felt with fingertips. Remove plate from solution and using low pressure compressed air blow away any excess solution until the plate is dry on both sides.

Step 8Place the dry plate back in to the exposure unit directly exposed to the UV lights (not behind thediffusion film) and exposefor approx 20 minutes to post cure and harden the plate.

The plate is now ready for use!

FINDING THE CORRECT EXPOSURE TIME

Ifthereisn'taspecificexposuretimeset,asastartingpointuse4minutesforalcoholwashout plates and 2 minutes for water washout plates - adjust exposure accordingly aseachexposureunitisdifferent.

Enough exposure for the image to appear in the plate is required but not so long that the plate over hardens and ends up too shallow.

Longer exposure time = shallower plate, Shorter exposure time = deeper plate

RECORD THE EXPOSURE TIME HERE:

30


Additional ItemsInk Mixing Supplies

Mixing Sticks (50pk) MO103609

Viscosity Spatula PAT900104

10 Pack PT900104

Paper Cups (50pk) MOA01200000

DYN Testing

Quicktest Pens - 38 MOA01500000

Dyn Pen - 44 MOA01500044

Dyne Test Set - 8 bottles MOA01510ASELF (Special Order Only)

Lapping

Lapping Cloth MOA02400000

Kent Lapping Compound (120mL) KELPA020

Lapping Table 150 x 200mm KELPA010

150 x 300mm KELPA010-30

Polymer Plate Making

Plastic Cliché Washout Brush MO103627

Plush Cloth for Washout Brush MOA05PLUSH0

Nyloplate Alcohol Wash Solution

1L: MOAALCWASH1L

5L: MOAALCWASH5L

20L: MOAALCWASH20L

Disposable Nitrile Gloves

SMALL MOAGLOVESS

SMALL MOAGLOVESS

SMALL MOAGLOVESS

SMALL MOAGLOVESS

31


Pad Cleaning Tape

Morlock (100mm) MO10370500

Kent 72mm x 75M KEMT34072X75M



75mm x 50M PAT585940014

100mm x 50M PAT585940013

130mm x 50M PAT585940007

Doctor Blades

19mm width, 0.25mm thick PAT582020001

20mm width, 0.2mm thick, 0.1mm lamella MOA02000000

40mm width, 0.2mm thick, 0.1mm lamella MOA02100000

40mm width, 0.25mm thick PAT582020002

40mm width, 0.38mm thick PAT582020003B (Blueblade)

Protective Coatings

Silicone Pad Long Life Oil (200mL) MOASILICONEOIL

Steel Printing Plate Protective Oil (200mL) MOAPLATEOIL

Dispensing

Thinner Bottle MOA01300000

32


Screen Positives

200mm x 250mm

80lcm/200lpi MOA06080250

120lcm/300lpi MOA06120250

200mm x 500mm

80lcm/200lpi MOA06080500

120lcm/300lpi MOA06120500

Diffusion Film for Exposure Unit

500 x 600mm MOA018DIFSN

33


Ink Jet Film Inkjetfilmisagreatoptionformanyprinters,itisstillaspecialisedprocessthatreliesontherightprinter,ink,printset-upandfilm,everyaspectofthisprocessiscrucialtoobtainquality output.

CurrentlytheinkjettechnologydoesnotrivalthequalityofimagesetterfilmsoiffinedetailorgradientprintsarerequiredwestillrecommendusingfilmpurchasedfromMilfordAstor'sspecialised art department.

Theinkjetprocessonlyworksonspecificmodelinkjetprinterssoifyouareconsideringthis option it is recommended that you contact your Milford Astor sales representative prior to purchasing to ensure your investment will work.

Rip software may also be required depending on how plates are to be made. Again speak to your MA representative for further direction.

Jet Film 329mm X 30M roll MOAAU020 suits Epson Surecolor-P405JetFilmA425(Pk/25) MOAAU025JetFilmA3(Pk/25) MOAAU030JetFilmA3Plus(Pk/25)329X483mm MOAAU035JetBlackInk(1L) MOAAU04Special Jet Black Ink Cartridge MOAAU050 suits Epson ArtasanCleaningFluid(1L) MOAAUCF1

34


Green Ink Cups for KENT machines

There are many advantages to using KENT’s patented Green ink cup system including:

• Not having to clean ink cups with solvents, simply remove the ink cup liner.

• Excellent for use with ink-hardener mixes.

• The green ink cup minimises ink and additive consumption as evaporation is greatly reduced.

• Improvement in productivity due to very little clean up time.

• Noneedforspareinkcups(fornon-stopproduction)asinkscanbemixed directly in the liners and placed straight in to the ink cup.

• Ink(notmixedwithhardener)canbestored directly in the inner cup for later use. Lids for the inner cups are available.

35


Green Ink Cup Parts

Description

90mm with Metal Ring

90mm with Ceramic Ring


130mm with Ceramic Ring


Complete Assembly

KE15-GIC-A010

KE15-GIC-A011

KE15-GIC-A020

KE15-GIC-A021

KE15-GIC-A040

Replacement Ring

KE15TCIC902

KE15KCIC9001

KE15TCIC125

KE15KCIC130

KE15TCIC165P

O Ring

KE15-GIC-020

KE15-GIC-021

KE15-GIC-210

KE15-GIC-210

KE15-GIC-060

Inner Cup/LinerPk/50

KENIC-VA-010

KENIC-VA-010

KENIC-VA-020

KENIC-VA-020

KENIC-VA-040

Inner Cup/Liner Lids Pk/50

KENIC-VA-050-50

KENIC-VA-050-50

KENIC-VA-060

KENIC-VA-060

KENIC-VA-070

Ink Cup Inner Cup/Liner

O-ringMetal Ring

Ink Cup Liner Lid

Ceramic Ring

36


Film & Artwork

ARTWORK

The first step to achieving theperfect padprint is getting the artwork right.

Milford Astor provides a complete artwork and design service that will take the product from original concept and sketches right throughtofinalprint-readyplates.

We are familiar with the requirements for pad printing and which images can be reproduced successfully, starting with art proofs and ending with etched plates, ours is a comprehensive service that means the project can be manufactured within the timeframe.

We are an ISO accredited company, so we assure quality.

Low resolution images can be redrawn, or recreated in the correct format for pad printing.

ARTWORK AND FILM SPECIFICATIONS

Often our customers send us images to be used to make plates for pad printing.

We require all artwork to be supplied as a PDF or Illustrator vector file with all fontsconverted to outlines.

Colours are to be saved as spot colour or CMYK(notRGB).

Artwork to be supplied to us as a Black and White PDF. Please send all artwork to [email protected].

Please check all EPS, AI and PDF filesare NOT Flattened or contain Bitmapped images.

The specificplate size is i m p o r t a n t so include a guide line or template to show plate size, image p o s i t i o n and image or ientat ion (this is notthe artboard size).

Pad printing is not ideal for tonal graduations or vignettes but there a a few “tricks of the trade” that can assist to print these types of images.

Screened film positives, suitable for PadPrinting can be purchased to make polymer plates.

Customised, duplicate screen positives add ascreentoyour100%blackinkjetfilm.

• 200lpior80lcm• 300lpior120lcm

Colour separated customised films withimagescanbegenerated,thesecaninclude;

• 133lpiscreenedfilmpositives• 175lpiscreenedfilmpositives• 200lpiscreenedfilmpositives• 300lpiscreenedfilmpositives

NOTE: Dead On Positioning

55m

m55

mm

37


Vector GraphicUnlike Raster �les like JPEGs, GIFs, and BMP images, vector graphics are not made up of a grid of pixels.

Vector graphics are comprised of paths, which are de�ned by a start and end point, along with other points, curves, and angles along the way.

A path can be a line, shape, or an outline of an object. These paths can be used to create simple drawings or complex diagrams. Paths are even used to de�ne the characters of specif-ic typefaces.

A vector-based image is not made up of a speci�c number of dots, so they can be scaled to a larger size and not lose any image quality.

If one enlarges a raster graphic, it will look blocky, or "pixelated."

However when one enlarges a vector graphic, the edges of each object within the graphic stay smooth, crisp and clean.

This makes vector graphics ideal for logos, which can be small enough to appear on a business card, but can also be scaled to �ll a billboard.

Common types of vector graphics include:-

• Adobe Illustrator,

• Macromedia Freehand,

• Corel Draw and EPS �les.

File extensions: AI, .EPS, .SVG, .DRW,(some .pdf can also be vector �les if created from the �le types mentioned before.)

Many Flash animations also use vector graphics, since they scale better and typically take up less space than bitmap images.

Raster ImageBitmapped

Vector Image

A M E M B E R O F T H E M I L F O R D A S T O R G R O U P

SYDNEY 60 Ashford Avenue, Milperra, 2214 NSW

AUSTRALIATel: +61 2 9663 3911, Fax: +61 2 9662 1020

[email protected]

WHAT IS A VECTORWHAT IS A VECTOR GRAPHIC

UnlikerasterfilessuchasJPEGs,GIFs,andBMP images, vector graphics are not made up of a grid of pixels.

Vector graphics are comprised of paths, whicharedefinedbyastartandendpoint,along with other points, curves, and angles along the way.

A path can be a line, shape, or an outline of an object. These paths can be used to create simple drawings or complex diagrams. Pathsareevenusedtodefinethecharactersofspecifictypefaces.

A vector-based image is not made up of a specific number of dots, so it canbeaccurately scaled to a larger size and not lose any image quality. If one enlarges a raster or bitmap graphic, it will look blocky, or “pixelated” and the image quality will be compromised. Vector graphics enlarge perfectly, the edges of each object within the graphic stay smooth, crisp and clean. This makes vector graphics ideal for pad printing and other design applications like icons or logos, which can be small enough to appear on a business card, but can also be scaled tofillabillboard.

Common types of vector graphic software include:- •AdobeIllustrator,•MacromediaFreehand,•CorelDraw

File extensions: AI, .EPS, .SVG, .DRW,(some.pdfcanalsobevectorfilesifcreatedfromthefiletypesmentionedabove.)

Many Flash animations also use vector graphics, since they scale better and typically take up less space than bitmap images.

TERMINOLOGY

Outlines: A font is converted into a graphic element eliminating issues with font substitutions.

CMYK: Great for printing - CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black.

RGB: not suitable for printing - RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue and is used for computer monitors, phone and television screens.

Vector file: An image created using paths and points as opposed to a bitmap image where image is created using a pixel grid.

38


Machinery

Kent PP-150 Kent Turbo 90

Kent Ink Viscosity Tester

Kent Laser Plate Engraver

39


Kent G Turbo 90S-2 Kent Kipp 200 IDS

Plate Exposure Units

Lambda NIR Dryers

40


INK CLICHÉ PAD SUBSTRATE OTHERINK CLICHÉ PAD SUBSTRATE OTHER

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDEPad Printing SYDNEY +61 2 9663 3911 | MELBOURNE +61 3 9465 0166

ADELAIDE +61 8 8234 5466 | NEW ZEALAND +64 3 485 9105


Troubleshooting Guide

41


INK CLICHÉ PAD SUBSTRATE OTHERINK CLICHÉ PAD SUBSTRATE OTHER

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDEPad Printing SYDNEY +61 2 9663 3911 | MELBOURNE +61 3 9465 0166

ADELAIDE +61 8 8234 5466 | NEW ZEALAND +64 3 485 9105


42


Notes

43


SYDNEY +61 2 9663 3911 | MELBOURNE +61 3 9465 0166ADELAIDE +61 8 8234 5466 | NZ freecall 0800 883 911

www.astor.com.au


company/aldustronicsA D I V I S I O N O F

aldus_tronics

Documents

A DIVISION OF PAD PRINTING · 1 a division of pad printing consumables catalogue & information guide. sydney - 02 9663 3911. melbourne - 03 9465 0166 adelaide - 08 8234 5466. a division