Transcript Film Positives for Flexo - Flexographic Pre

Sustainability of Liquids with
Inkjet Technology
Daniel J. Fry
February 25, 2008
Definition of Sustainability
• According to Webster
– of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so
that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged
• According to Wikipedia
– is a characteristic of a process or state that can be maintained at a
certain level indefinitely.
Concerns of the Trade Shop
• Film image setters are becoming harder to find and more difficult
to maintain and repair
• Silver film is getting expensive, the longer term viability is
unknown
• Lost margins from converting liquid plate production to digital
sheet production
Options Available to the Trade Shop
• Remain on Silver Films
– Acquire backup processor or processor parts
– Secure long term supply agreements with the film suppliers
• Go Digital
– High cost of entry
– Higher raw material costs
• Identify alternative options for film supply
Silver Film Alternatives
Thermal films
•
Slow, low quality, film does not store well
Ablative film
•
A digital image setter is required
Ink jet film systems
•
Proven technology in the Screen Printing market since 1996
•
Cost neutral position to silver film
•
No processor effluent or silver recovery issues
Aspect Quadra Systems
•
Introduced in 1996 to the Screenprint market and currently there are
over 600 systems installed
•
Aspect Quadra is a Proven reliable
and inexpensive “all-format” turnkey
system
•
Printer, film, hardware, and ink are
designed for best results of a
commercial user
•
Established regional technical
support system already in place
Aspect Thermal System 1996
Aspect Quadra Advantages - Flexo Customers
•
Proven high quality commercial grade
printer
•
Film & ink cost are comparible to silver film
•
In house control of production schedules
•
Interactive layouts for job “nesting”
•
Scalable system, ability up to 4 printers to
the RIP for increased productivity
•
Waterproof, durable instant dry film
•
Color Halftone Simulation Proofs option
Aspect Quadra System Details
•
Roland Pro-II commercial printers
•
Film widths 16” to 65.75” on 100
ft. rolls
•
High density Quadra-K waterbased dye ink
•
Wasatch RIP Software for quality
process color screening
•
Custom-built Windows XP
workstation and 17” LCD monitor
Roland Pro-II Printers
Roland Pro-II FJ-540
54” width, Piezo
printheads
Film take-up reel
(optional)
Roland Pro-II SJ-645
64” width, Piezo print
heads
Film take-up reel
(optional)
Wasatch RIP Software
• Wasatch SoftRIP is used for all Quadra
systems - partner since 1995
• Wasatch version provides vital features
–
–
–
–
Monochrome drivers for film output
Ink volume/droplet control
Special precision rosette screening
Layout features for film savings
•
•
•
•
Auto-nesting
Manual nesting
Cropping/rotation
Distortion scaling
– Pre Linearized configurations to 85 line
– Color Halftone Proofing profiles to 85 line
• Ability to print on boards up to 4mm thick (e-flute)
Quadra-K Ink
• Dye black, water-based ink
provides
– Maximum film penetration
– Excellent halftone dot formation
– Bulk ink options, available in
cartridges, liters, gallons
• Color ink available
–
–
–
–
–
Cyan
Yellow
Magenta
Light Cyan
Light Magenta
Quadra Inkjet Film
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1 - Anti-static back coating and
traction enhancer
2 - Primer coat
3 - Polyester base material
4 - Primer coat
5 - Blocking layer and seal to
prevent spreading
6 - Absorption layer and microencapsulation
7 - Topcoat-receiving layer with
matte particles
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
Quadra micro encapsulation film
- cross section
Quadra film attributes
• Quadra film is designed for quality line and dot images
• High density = 3.5 to 4.0+ U.V.
• Instant dry via total encapsulation (dye ink)
• Totally waterproof (submersible)
• Anti static traction back coat, eliminates droplet deflection
• 100 foot rolls maintain register accuracy
• Dimensionally stabilized for excellent registration properties
Finished Film
•
75 lpi, round dot
– Output on a Roland FJ540
using 1440dpi output
•
Compatible with typical film
cleaners
10% dot
70% dot
System Productivity
• Quadra Output Speeds
• As with all output devices
slower = higher quality/resolution
faster = more throughput for less critical jobs
• Quadra speed is adjustable to meet requirements
Customer Output Times
• Times listed below are to produce a 40” x 40” film
Output Setting
(dpi)
Time (minutes)
720
7 min 20 sec
1080
10
1440
15
Aspect Quadra Specifications
•
Registration – start to finish accuracy
and fit between films
–
0 .014” over 8 feet
Factors that affect registration
• Film loading - tensioning
• Weight of roll (100 foot rolls)
• Cleanliness of printer media
deck and pinch rollers
•
Skew - the ability to produce
geometrically square output
–
0.039” or less over 4 feet - grid test
Factors that affect skew
• Film loading and initial
calibration
• Mechanical accuracy of printer
• Tension in media
120” 5 color job
Summary
• Aspect Quadra System offers the Trade Shop the
following benefits:
• Proven commercial technology
• Durable, archivable film in widths up to 65.75”
• Cost effective replacement to silver films
• A means to keep Liquid plate manufacturing sustainable