Reference

Screen Printing Knowledge-Part-1 Screen Stencil

• First of all, we’d like to introduce the dos and don’ts for cleaning a screen stencil. 

• Before cleaning the screen stencil, the ink on the screen must be scraped off.

• Press the button on the screen printer to let the squeegee move left to scrape off the ink on the graphics.

• If the squeegee is soft and there is still residual ink after scraping, a harder squeegee can be used to scrape off the ink manually.

• Do we only have to wipe the bottom of screen with a cloth? Does the top need to be wiped?

  • Of course, wiping both top and bottom sides of the screen is the best and cleanest way to clean.

 Notice: 

• Be careful when cleaning the screen stencil!(If we need to clean the screen stencil during printing).

  • Be gentle while cleaning the screen stencil.

  • Wet the cloth to the point where the solvent can be wrung out easily.

  • Do not use a cloth that is not wet enough to wipe the screen back and forth quickly.

  • Then wipe gently to prevent the thickness of graphics emulsion from thinning due to rubbing.

• How do we confirm that the screen stencil is clean?

  • Use a magnifying glass to check if there is ink residue.

• What if the graphics are too large to be checked one by one?

  • First, we need to use a clean cloth with cleaner or thinner slow.

  • The ink will block the screen mesh if it is not cleaned completely.

  • If the cloth becomes dirty, replace it with a new one.

• Repeated wiping. Until the cloth is not stained with ink.

• Do we have to use the Detergent to clean the screen stencil?

  • The cleaner has a very high volatility, which is convenient for rapid volatilization after cleaning.

  • If hardener is added in the ink, a thinner slow should be used to clean and remove the ink effectively.

  • After wiping, dry the thinner slow completely with a hair dryer under the screen stencil.

  • Use a hair dryer to dry. Then thinner slow solvent does not remain. Residual solvent will make printing 【blurred】.

 Notice: 

• The residual ink is invisible to the naked eye.Use 2.5D vision measuring machine to see

  • Use 2.5D vision measuring machine to see the difference after cleaning.

  • Use 2.5 disambiguation vision measuring machine to see the difference after cleaning.

• 75x magnification view

• • Enlarged view after wiping with cleaner.

  • Enlarged view after wiping with thinner slow solvent.

• Thinner slow solvent can dissolve the ink with hardener effectively.

  • Especially if the 【ink is added with hardener】, we should check the screen stencil carefully if the screen has been cleaned completely.

  • Otherwise, the ink will 【block the mesh】.

  • After the hardener 【reaction time is reached, the screen stencil will nt be cleaned completely】!

  • For fine graphic lines, a thoroughly cleaned screen is crucial.  

Please download the file if you need the complete content, please click the Download button to download.