1. Pad Printing PLET 370 Benton Lewis, Ben McElhaney, Luke Miller

2. Objective Ease of Pad Printing Inform about process Very useful in many markets

3. Outline I. Background II. Equipment & Technologies III. Process IV. Advantages V. Disadvantages VI. Applications

4. Pad Printing Background Also known as ©Tampo Printing Dates back over 200 years Similar to other decorating techniques

5. Equipment & Technologies Transfer Pad –Generally made from silicon rubber –Tip should never contact graphic Cliché –Made of steel or polymer –Artwork critical; photoengraved into cliché –Normal detail -.001” deep

6. Equipment Cont’d Ink –Extremely high pigmentation levels –Polyolefins and Thermosets need pretreated Part Fixture –Steel or plastic –Parallel to cliché, held firmly Doctor Blade –Wipes cliché, use minimum pressure

7. Process Ink Flooding -Cliché is flooded with ink Pad Wetting -Pad pressed down into ink Head Stroke -Pad is lifted

8. Process Continued Ink Deposition -Pad pressed onto the part Pad Release -pad is lifted away

10. Process Cont. Degreasing molded parts -organic solvent cleaned Surface treatment -corona discharge etc. Ink curing process -thermal curing -UV curing

11. Advantages Variety of geometries and surface finishes Works on most materials Wet on wet capabilities Very fine detail -widths to.003” Permanent decoration Multi-color process Low pressures required

12. Disadvantages Some materials difficult to decorate Cost of waste Large graphics difficult to print Cannot print in confined areas

13. Applications Cell phones Alarm clocks Shower heads Anything with small lettering or graphics