Reference

The Relationship Between Pad Printing Plate Etching Depth and Printing

■ Etching Depth of Pad Printing Machine Steel Plates(Clichés)

• Coarse/Fine Line Printing: Fine lines are suitable for using steel plates with shallower etching, while coarse lines or large designs require steel plates with deeper etching.

• Material Surface: Smooth surface materials should use steel plates with shallower etching; on the other hand, textured surfaces or ink-absorbent materials (such as nylon fabric) require steel plates with deeper etching.

• Color Matching: For light-colored materials printing with dark ink, shallower etched steel plates are suitable; for dark-colored materials printing with light ink, deeper etched steel plates are needed.

■ Range of Steel Plate Etching Depth(Cliche plate)

• Typically, the etching depth of steel plates ranges between 5μm and 45μm.

• For printing on absorbent materials like fabrics, paper, or ceramic blanks, steel plates with deeper etching are commonly used.

• Printing dots or four-color separation works generally use steel plates etched to a depth of around 15-20μm.

• For fine text printing on plastic or metal materials, steel plates with a 20-25μm etching depth are typically used.

• Coarser lines require steel plates with a depth of around 28-35μm.

• The deeper the etching on the steel plate, the faster-drying and more viscous the ink required.

• The shallower the etching, the slower-drying and more fluid the ink should be.

※ 1μm = 0.001mm

■ Characteristics of SKD11 Pad Printing Plates

• High Wear Resistance: Excellent wear resistance with good quenching performance and minimal deformation after quenching.

• High Hardness: After heat treatment, the hardness of the steel plate can reach HRC58-62.

• Cost-Effective: High hardness and moderate price make it one of the most commonly used steel plates.

• Suitable for Mass Production: Widely used in mass production of molds.

• High Carbon, High Chromium Alloy Steel: Extremely high hardness and adequate toughness, with temper hardening properties. It is a typical air-hardening steel and one of the best wear-resistant alloy tool steels available.

• Multi-Element Alloy: With added molybdenum and vanadium, the steel plate combines wear resistance, deformation resistance, and impact resistance.

• High Purity: Undergoes secondary refining, ensuring excellent cleanliness and fine grain structure.

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