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PADPRINT NOTEBOOK
USEFUL TIPS & INFORMATION © ITW Trans Tech An Illinois Tool Works Company |
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Got a Fixture Question? Hold It Right There...
ONE valuable special service that customers demand is
our in-house fixture building. It is a key element in the complete pad printing solution package. We can take a production part and fabricate a holding fixture that properly secures the part for accurate pad printing as well as enables easy loading and unloading.
Because there are an infinite number of possibilities in fixture design, it is important to specify customer requirements up front while the machine is in the concept stage. Here are some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) about fixtures that we hear from our customers:
Question:
Does my application require part-support?
Answer:
If the part is firm enough that it can be pad-printed without any bending or distortion of the material, then support is not necessary. But if some deflection or movement occurs, some part-support should be built into the fixture.
Q:
How about pad-support?
A:
If there is an opening or edge near the image area, some support for the pad may be required to avoid distorting the shape of the silicone pad as it prints.
Q:
Will I need securement to keep my part in place?
A:
Securement refers to any device that firmly seats or keeps the part in place during loading or printing. This is especially important if the part is lightweight or if the part must be secured in a specific orientation prior to printing.
Q:
What if the part needs to be inflated or needs suction to hold it down?
A:
Some parts are so lightweight that the action of the pad will pull them out of the fixture. These need to be held in place with suction and then automatically released. Also, some hollow parts are too flexible and need to be inflated with air to make them firm enough to accept the pressure of the pad without distortion. This can be done automatically as well.
Q:
If I need to mechanically turn or rotate the part before or after printing, what then?
A:
Rotating fixtures can be designed to turn a part to two or more angles. This is useful if more than one image or several colors need to be applied to the same part. Various devices can be used, depending on the required angles of rotation, part size and pad printing machine.
Q:
How would an ejection lever help an operator use the fixture?
A:
Once a part is carefully positioned and an image has been applied, the part can be quickly removed from a fixture equipped with such a device. Ejection devices are useful for speeding up the decorating process.
Q:
Why would a detent device be needed on a fixture?
A:
A detent functions as a slight catch or gripper to secure a part in a fixture. It is usually a small, flexible, spring-loaded knob or button. A detent enables a snug but not-too-tight fit of the part into the fixture, allowing for slight irregularities.
For More Fixture FAQs, Click Here
OR... Got a New Question? Ask Us @ www.itwtranstech.com
For more details on our custom designed and built fixtures, click here.
For Tooling, Re-Tooling or Fixture information:
Retooling Supervisor:
Owen Ault
630.909.5777
ITW TRANS TECH An Illinois Tool Works Company
475 North Gary Avenue • Carol Stream, IL 60188-4900
Phone: 630.752.4000 • Fax: 630.752.4460
www.itwtranstech.com
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© 2007 ITW Trans Tech • An Illinois Tool Works Company
  Owen Ault Tooling Supervisor Sample Part FAQs Question: Do you need a sample part? Answer: Yes; several, if possible. Also, if the parts come from different mold cavities, it is important that we get samples from each cavity and that they be sorted and labeled as such. Q: How about sending a SLA model part or prototype? A: It all depends. Prototypes or SLA (stereolithography) models will do, but only for quoting or to illustrate the decorating concept. Unfortunately, SLAs are so exact that they almost never match the normal variations and tolerances of actual production samples. Hence, they are almost too "perfect" to be useful for practical pad printing fixture patterns. Q: Are CAD drawings O.K. to send? So how? A: Yes; but again only for quoting or to illustrate the concept. CAD drawings are comparable to prototypes or SLA parts because they enable us to quote fixtures to actual specifications. We can work with electronic files in the standard (.DWG) format. They give us critical information about your part and speed up the entire design process. You can e-mail them to us or send them on a computer disc. Q: What about a sketch? A: Sketches are also useful in the general, concept stage of the solution. They help us to understand your entire process and how the fixture works as part of the whole system. For More Fixture FAQs, Click Here OR... Got a New Question? Ask Us @ www.itwtranstech.com Time To Re-Tool? Ask Our Experts! For Tooling, Re-Tooling or Fixture information: Retooling Supervisor: Owen Ault 630.909.5777 OTHER RELATED TOPICS: • Syringe Barrel Pad Printing: Adaptation & Innovation • Automation Case Study: 35mm Slide Mounts • Ergonomic Challenge: Build a Better, Manual-Load Golfball Fixture • Fixture FAQs: Practical Answers Contact Us |
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