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W76 – Leaflet | Flexo Printing

W76 - Flexo Printing
AMSTERDAM - Multi-purpose printability tester
Version 2022-09

Introduction

Flexographic printing is a printing technique that uses a flexible relief printing plate. This plate, mounted on a plate cylinder, is used as the image carrier being inked by the anilox roller which transfers an amount of ink to the printing plate. The inked printing plate prints the ink on the substrate.
In flexo three types of ink are used: water based, solvent based and UV-drying inks.

The prints, made with this system can be used to test the dry properties like colour, adhesion, light fastness, chemical resistance, and so on.

Principle

The ink is applied to the anilox roller and the surplus is wiped off with the doctoring system. The ink is transferred from the anilox roller to the printing form and from the printing form to the substrate.

The anilox force, the printing force and the speed can be adjusted. Also the number of inkings of the printing form can be adjusted. There is a wide range of anilox rollers (ceramic and copper engraved). All these parameters make the system very flexible. All flexible substrates like paper, plastic films, foils and so on, can be printed.

Flexo printing

Method of operation

Materials

360° sector for flexo for AMSTERDAM
  • [402.331.412] Printing disc aluminium (as impression cilinder), pin, 50 mm
  • [432.056.002.066] Impression cilinder, 66 mm
  • [402.226.412] Anilox disc, 4 engravings *)
  • [364.000.166] 360° sector for flexo for AMSTERDAM
  • [435.031.412] Doctor blade holder
  • [180.431.710.001] Doctor blade flexo
  • [403.010.001] Printing form photopolymer, 1,7 mm *)
  • [403.011.001] Compressible mounting foam tape
  • Flexo ink

*) other types are available

Disposable ink pipettes
  • strips of substrate to be tested, dimensions 55 x 200 mm
  • (disposable) ink pipettes
  • lint free rags
  • velvet
  • cleaning solvent for ink
  • ethanol

Testing conditions

Standard test atmosphere according to ISO 187 (23,0 ± 1,0 °C and 50 ± 2% RH)

Sample conditioning

Be aware of the fact that a different way of conditioning of the samples can have influence on the results.

Standard settings

AMSTERDAM – multi-purpose printability tester

  • Printing speed: constant, 0,3 m/s
  • Printing force: 100 /150 N
  • Inking revolutions of anilox roller: 3

Preparation

  1. Cut paper strips of 55 x 200 mm and mark with top and/or bottom side, machine and/or cross direction and a code for the paper.
  2. Select the method Flexography.
  3. Set the printing speed, anilox force, printing force, interval time and the number of revolutions to the desired values.
  4. MOUNT THE 360° SECTOR.
  5. Position the sector on the AMSTERDAM: press both side buttons to rotate the sector into the start position.
    Then release the buttons. Determine the position of the seam of the photopolymer: in start position it should be direct under the 2nd printing shaft. Mount the photopolymer with double-sided foam tape.
  6. Mount a test strip on the impression cylinder with a piece of tape at the beginning and the end of the strip.
    Doctor blade in holder

    The beginning of the strip must be at the location of the disc that is of about 90° before the pin.

  7. Mount the doctor blade into the blade holder.
  8. Place the blade holder onto the two pins of the accessory holder.
  9. Place the anilox roller on the 1st printing disc shaft of the tester.
  10. Place the impression cylinder with the test strip on the 2nd printing disc shaft of the tester.

Execution

  1. Touch the button [PRINT] to rotate the printing shafts into the start position.
  2. Press both side buttons to rotate the sector into the start position and to lower the doctor blade on the anilox disc.
  3. Apply a few drops of flexo ink on the anilox disc just left of the blade with the help of the (disposable) pipette.
  4. Press both side buttons to preink the anilox disc, to ink the photopolymer and to print the substrate.
  5. Release the side buttons.
  6. Take the printed sample and the aluminium printing disc from the tester and let it dry conform type of ink.
  7. Clean all parts.
  8. Repeat the points 1 through 7 for every strip.
  9. It is recommended to execute the test at least three times per combination of ink and substrate.

Cleaning

  1. Clean the anilox with lint-free rags with cleaning solvent for the ink and after that with ethanol.
  2. Clean the photopolymer.
  3. Clean the doctor blade.

NOTE: Follow the instructions in the manual for deep-cleaning of the anilox.

Assessment

Let the printed samples dry and observe the result.
Record accurately the conditions and the results of the test and refer to this testing method.

Randstad 22 - 02

1316 BX Almere

The Netherlands

P.O.box 22022

1302 CA Almere

The Netherlands

+31 20 40 99 300 +31 20 40 99 339 info@igt.nl
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