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PADPRINT NOTEBOOK
Useful Tips & Information © ITW Trans Tech An Illinois Tool Works Company |
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Frequently Asked Questions:
You're Not The First Person to Ask...
HOLDING fixture issues are universal: anybody who needs to print
a part also needs to support that same part. Because every pad printing application requires some form of fixture, the need for information and customer help in this area is a common concern. Here are a few more FAQs that may sound familiar to even you veteran pad printers.
Question:
How will the direction of load and unload affect fixture mechanics?
Answer:
It is important for us to know how the operator (or robot) will be loading the part onto the fixture so that we can allow room for any hand or body movement during loading and unloading. If the part is loaded from the top, the design will be quite different from a left-handed or right-handed load/unload. Also, the fixture location and spacing will be dependent on that direction.
Question:
What is the preferred printing angle? Is that important?
Answer:
The ideal printing angle is flat but successful applications can fall within a narrow range. It is best to know up front what, if any, limitations exist that would prevent your part from being held at the flattest angle possible to avoid distortion or “pad slide”.
Question:
How does the selection of silicone pad affect fixture design?
Answer: The shape, size and contour of the pad must conform to the part and holding fixture. However, the fixture must allow the pad to reach the surface of the part, compress onto it, and leave behind an undistorted image; and do so over thousands of cycles. Thus, the selection of the pad is driven by the part and desired image; once selected, the design of the fixture must be matched to that pad.
Question:
How does size or location of printed artwork on the part affect fixture design?
Answer:
The size and location of the image determine the recommended size and kind of pad printer. This will thereby determine the way the part is loaded, held and moved. If, for example, the part is too large to fit entirely in the throat of the machine it may need to be loaded from the side. Its fixture then will also have to be oriented sideways, and so on. Or if the image is long and narrow, then a sealed ink cup machine fitted with an auxiliary cup slide might be used with a fixture that stretches the length of both images combined. Again, the application drives the fixture design.
Question:
What fixture material choices and surface finishes are available and why is each recommended?
Answer:
Our fixtures may be fabricated from anodized aluminum for normal usage, hardcoated aluminum for high durability, stainless steel for medical or cleanroom needs, or poured urethane for high-volume and solvent resistance.
Question:
When is fixture testing required and how? What about test printing?
Answer:
We test all fixtures as part of our custom-design process. Sample parts are loaded repeatedly and, if required by the customer, pad printed in our lab to ensure smooth fixture function and suitability. We do not, however, run actual production operations here.
• Ergonomic Challenge: Build a Better, Manual-Load Golfball Fixture
Time To Re-Tool? Ask Our Experts!
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 Question: "How quickly can I get a quote and then get a fixture made?" Answer: We handle fixtures as a consumable product and so any request for one comes in either through your rep or applications engineer and then is assigned to your area consumables representative. We generally can produce a fixture quote within three days. Question: What is a typical fixture manufacturing lead-time? Answer: That time will vary with the degree of difficulty of the design, the quantity and the existing workload. Generally, the lead-time is between two to three weeks. A firm date can be given once the fixture quote is accepted. Question: Is there a difference in ordering one-up versus multiple fixtures? Answer: Our one-up fixtures are custom-built to specifications “on the fly” without going through the usual design process. This speeds up the finished item but bypasses normal documentation procedures. With an order for two or more fixtures, our goal is exact duplication. So we systematically engineer and plan for multiples from the start. Question: If I need replacement fixtures later, what should I do? Answer: If a fixture was originally built as a “one-up” that is, custom-made to specifications without going through documentation process, the only way we can duplicate that item exactly is for you to return it to us as a pattern. This may create difficulties for your operation, even shut it down in the meantime. So it is best that you explain your requirements to us at the start. OTHER RELATED TOPICS: • Catheter Pad Printing: • Automation Case Study: • Service Tips: • More Fixture FAQs:
For Tooling, Re-Tooling or Fixture information: Retooling Supervisor: Owen Ault 630.909.5777 |
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