What is Pad Printing: Process, Pros and Tips

The process of pad printing is famous for different products when it comes to printing. It has helped create 2D images of the products.

If you want to know everything about what is pad printing, the process, and its applications, this guide below can help you.

What is Pad Printing?

Pad printing is a process in which silicon features ink on a component or products from a base plate.

It is also known as tampo printing and is used for printing detailed and high-quality images on small, irregular-shaped components. The process of pad printing is quite effective for flat and raised surfaces.

How Does Pad Printing Work?

The process of pad printing and the basic components associated with it are discussed below:

Stepwise Process of Pad Printing

The printing place, which is the main surface for pad printing, goes through the etching process using a laser. The etching holds the ink until the silicon pad gets it from the plate and passes it to the object.

The step-by-step process of pad printing is featured below:

• The first step requires placing an ink cup on the etched plate, which comprises the etching. The ink cup opens and fills the area with etching using ink.
• The ink cup releases the excessive ink and leaves the etched plate. The ink exposure to air makes the upper layer a bit sticky and facilitates the adhesion between the workpiece and the silicone pad.
• The silicone pad then compresses the plate with an ink-lifting image and releases the trapped air.
• The silicone pad then moves with the lifted images to the workpiece and applies it.
• The ink cup comes back to its actual position and refills the printing plate to prepare it for the next cycle.

Key Components of Pad Printers

There are some important components of pad printers that carry out the process of printing effectively, and these are as follows:

Pad Printer

There are different variants of pad printing machines which consist of closed ink cups, rotary gravure, and open inkwells. These machines work differently with different styles.

• The open inkwell is quite versatile and has a spatula. By flooding the printing plate with ink, it works.

• The rotary gravure machine and open inkwell are quite similar and can work around a component for 360-degree printing.
• The closed ink cup consists of storing the print ink in a cup that is inverted.

Pad Print Ink Cup

The pad print ink cup stores ink, slides over the etched part, and leaves ink over it. It has two components: a cup and a ring. The ring conducts doctoring to the plate edge, and the cup holds the ink.

Pad Print Ink

The pad print ink is a very important part of the pad printer; it has raisins, thinners, and pigments. Thinner manages the viscosity of the ink, pigment helps produce different colors, and resin enhances the mechanical characteristics of the ink.

Printing Pad

The printing pad lifts the ink from the printing plate using silicone to deposit on the component. The process consists of transferring the image by pressing it on the ink-printed plate.

It creates a very good quality ink on the component as silicon can adapt the part shape.

Pad Printing Plate

A pad printing plate holds the image which is to be transported to the object. These plates are very thin metal places and are enclosed in photosensitive plastics.

They are suitable for moderate production sizes and can offer flexibility, affordability, and easy printing.

Pros and Cons of Pad Printing

The process of pad printing comes with pros and cons, which are highlighted in this section.

Prós

• Pad printing allows printing different colored images on surfaces that are chemical resistant.
• They have a silicone pad, which is highly compatible with irregular surfaces.
• The process of pad printing is highly suitable for custom components.
• Pad printing can be carried on various materials like plastic, metals, and even glass.
• The pad printing machine is very easy to use and offers effectiveness.

Cons

• Pad printing is suitable for small images but cannot cover larger areas for printing.
• The process of pad printing is very slow.
• In many cases, pad printers may lead to inconsistent tones, especially when printing large blocks of one color.

Applications of Pad Printed Parts

The application of pad-printed components can be seen in many industries, and some of these are as follows:

Cosmetics: The cosmetic industry uses pad printing to produce decorative images of objects like bottles, jars, and caps of cosmetics.

Automóvel: Automobile industries also use pad printing to label automobile components with details and images.

Electronics and Appliances: Label instructions and branding on the appliances and electronics are created using pad printing. The components opted for are usually laptops, keyboards, cables, relays, etc.

Pad Printing vs. Screen Printing: What’s the Difference?

Screen printing is a process in which ink is transferred with the help of a screen that has a mesh and a stencil with an ink block.

The material on which print is created is below the screen, and it is forced on it with the help of a roller. It works on almost every material, from plastic to fabric, and is ideal for large-scale printing.

Pad printing is also equipped with excellent resistance, but it works on irregular shapes. It is affordable and easy compared to screen printing.

Tips for Successful Pad Printing

When working with pad printing and needing to have seamless results, you can consider the tips below.

• Always select equipment that offers high-quality prints; there are three styles of pad printers, and you must choose the one that is compatible with your process. Moreover, try to opt for automation for an error-free result.
• When you don't have the desired color, make sure to consider mixing ink. It requires having sufficient knowledge to attain the results perfectly.
• Select the pads that are of the right type; there could be different shapes and sizes of each pad. Larger ones minimize distortion; hard pads offer fine lines and shapes and are suitable for asymmetrical surfaces. Steep pads allow air to be trapped easily, which helps with the transfer of ink.
• Do not apply excessive pressure on the printing pad during the printing process, or it may cause flaws in the print.

Conclusão

Pad printing is a versatile process that is used in many products. If you are looking forward to selecting the right service provider for pad printing on your components, contact DEK.

Our team has evolved over time with experience in the process, and our expertise will provide you with high-quality prints.

FAQs

What affects the longevity of the printing pad in pad printing?

There are different aspects that may impact the longevity of printing pads, which include careless machine operation, lack of appropriate use of pads, or stray grits.

What is the accuracy level of the pad printer?

The pad printer can transfer the images on components with high accuracy with the 0.0001 line definition.

How thick is the pad printing’s ink?

The pad printing ink is about 4 to 10 microns.

Can you print it on paper?

Yes, pad printing is highly versatile, and printing on paper can also be done.