ITW Trans Tech: PADPRINT: Auto Bezel Project


	PADPRINT NOTEBOOK USEFUL TIPS & INFORMATION © 2007 ITW Trans Tech An Illinois Tool Works Company

Pad Assembly Shuttle Provides Flexibility:
Auto Control Bezel Project
Requires Several Images In Tight Spot

"PUSHING the envelope” is an expression for exceeding the conventional limits of a situation– whether mechanical or personal. When customers come to us with difficult applications that demand more than is normally possible for a certain machine, we force ourselves to push the limits by devising a creative solution beyond the basics. One such challenge was this recent project: a nine-image, two-color bezel for an automobile control panel.
automotive bezel with image locations

Above: Each of nine images are indicated where they are padprinted on the bezel using two ink colors. Some artwork distortion was required to compensate for the tapered surface of the part. The close proximity of the images of different colors required using the pad slide to shorten the distance between the two separate ink cups. Once the images are picked up, the assembly moves forward while the pad slide moves together. When the entire pad assembly descends with all nine images in both colors, the bezel is printed entirely in a single hit.

operator's view of printing area

Operator’s view of the system shows the pad assembly in its forward position, ready to descend onto the bezel, securely loaded in the fixture. The horizontal pad shuttle enables printing closely adjacent images with different colors by picking up the inked images from the cliche with two or more cups at wider positions, then moving into tighter locations for the entire image application on the down stroke.

Combi With Multiple Cups? No Problem – Usually
One of the features of our Combi line of sealed ink cup pad printers is the flexibility of using a wide range of cups of different sizes in various positions. This allows printing of multicolor images or multi-part images over a large area. But even this system has some limits. Two ink cups can only be mounted within specific pitches– the distance from center to center. The Combi 60, 90 & 130 machines have 3.5, 5.0 and 6.25-inch pitches, respectively. If two images are required to be closer than that, then some other means must be used to “push that envelope”. In the case of this application, a pneumatically-activated pad slide is used to make up the difference. By adding the pad slide accessory, the image range of the padprinter can be “extended” or “compressed” as needed by taking the inked images from the clich´e and then sliding into a wider or narrower position prior to application onto the part.

detail view of pad assembly shuttle

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Detail view of pad assembly and pad slide on left side of system, showing four pads with inked images, prior to moving into position over bezel. At right, full view of Combi 130 with part loaded.

Pneumatically Adjustable
The pad slide is driven by a separate air cylinder that is synchronized with the forward stroke of the pad shuttle. The exact left and right positions to which the pads are moved are adustable. This enables the images, once picked up from the clich´e, to be applied at different relative positions on the part. This accessory is especially useful when pad printing artwork that has separate, multicolor images in close proximity on the part.

SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS: Auto Bezel Printing

Application: Automotive control bezel. Substrate: ABS plastic. Images padprinted (nine total): vent open / closed icons, right & left sides; customer logo; push power; volume; push audio; tune / channel.

Concept: Operator manually loads bezel onto fixture and activates print cycle. Pad assemblies spread apart and pick up ink image from cliché. As pad slide moves forward, pads automatically come together. Pads descend onto the part, printing both colors at the same time. Operator unloads finished bezel; repeats process.

Printing Machine: Combi 130 equipped with two 90mm and two 60mm ink cups; printing two colors.

Custom Pad Assemblies & Pad-Slides: Nine individual pads are mounted to two air-activated slides that move pad assemblies with multicolor images closer together than cup limits normally allow, prior to printing on bezel.

Fixtures: Custom aluminum & urethane fixture supports part during printing and provides positive image locations.

For more ideas on using the Pad Assembly Shuttle in your pad printing application, feel free to contact your local Trans Tech rep at: www.itwtranstech.com

Detail view of printing area of Combi 130 showing loaded part, complete pad shuttle assembly of nine individual pads and four ink cups: two 60mm, two 90mm.

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	OTHER USEFUL TOPICS: • Custom Tooling & Accessories • Ink Pump Doubles As Dispenser • Auto Control Bezel Project Requires Several Images In Tight Spot • Remote Fixture Right On Button • Using Our Website As Resource Time To Re-Tool? Ask Our Experts! Tooling Supervisor: Owen Ault 630.909.5777