Pad Printing is the process of transferring a 2-D image onto a 3-D part. The offset printing process requires the use of an etched plate (also known as cliche) and pad to transfer the image. Pad printing machines range in style depending upon the number of colors and size of the image. Pad printing operations are used in a wide variety of industries, most prominently: industrial, promotional, and garments.
Pad printing machines utilize 3 main components to successfully deliver a print to a substrate: the plate, the ink cup, and pad. The plate is etched with an image. The ink cup houses the ink as it doctors (slides) over the etched plate and leaves a minuscule amount of ink in the etch. The printing pad is the delivery system where a somewhat soft silicone material is pressed onto the ink filled etch to pick up the image and moved over the substrate where it is pressed again to transfer the image.
Check out the pad printing processA pad printing pad is the ink transfer mechanism in a pad printing machine. The pad compresses onto the ink-filled etch to “pick-up” the image. The pad then slides over the part and once again compresses to apply the image.
Pads are made of a silicone material. The type of silicone and hardness (durometer) of the pad depend upon the application. Pads are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. The size and shape of a pad is dependent upon the application and the artwork. Common pads are round and rectangular. There are, however, specialty pads with unique shapes made for specific applications. Printing pads in numerous shapes and sizes can be found on the Silicone Pad Printing Pads page.
When to Change a Pad Printing Pad
Pad Printing Pad Problems? We Have the Solutions!
Learn more about our pad printing padsAn ink cup is the housing mechanism for the ink printed on a part. The ink cup slides across a plate over an etch and back again, leaving only a small amount of ink in the etch. This process is called doctoring.
Typically there are 2 main components of an ink cup: the ring and the cup. The ring is used for doctoring the plate and ensuring ink is only left in the etched portion of the plate. Depending upon the manufacturer, rings are made of ceramic, metal, and plastic. Ceramic is typically the best material as it is gentle enough not to scratch the plate and strong enough to handle the constant motion of the pad printer.
Make your Pad Printer Ceramic Ring Work Double Shifts!
Learn More about our ink cups and ringsA pad printing plate, also known as a cliche, holds the image to be printed. The plate is etched with the image. There are two type of plate etching process: photopolymer and laser.
Photopolymer plate-making requires the use of photosensitive plate material and a UV exposure unit. The plate is exposed to UV light numerous times, each with a different component such as a film-positive or line screen film. Exposing pad printing plates is the more cost-effective solution to plate-making, however, the photosensitive curing process is significantly longer than laser plate-making, taking upwards of 30 minutes to etch a plate.
How to Make Photopolymer Plates for Pad Printing Machines
Laser plate-making is the process of etching a plate with a Co2 or fiber laser. Computer to plate technology allows for complete repeatability without concern for variation in etch depth, dot pattern, and image quality. Laser plate-making is extremely fast, typically etching a plate in 5-7 minutes.
Can I Etch Laser Plates with My C02 Laser?
Image Sizing Template for Pad Printing Ink Cup
Learn more about our pad printing platesPad printing machines require consumable items to complete the print process. Pad printing supplies consist of ink, solvents, hardener, and primers. A fine balance of ink, solvent, hardener, and primer is needed depending upon the application and adhesion requirements.
No Minimum Order Quantities for Inkjet & Pad Printing Supplies
Learn More about pad printing suppliesPad printing ink is arguably the most important component of the pad printing process. A wide variety of ink series are available and choosing the correct one is critical for adhesion. Each pad printing ink series is developed for particular materials such as glass, metals, plastics, and more.
Pad printing ink is available in a wide variety of colors. Standard colors such as black and white are always available. Looking for more than just standard colors? Most inks are available as a Mixing Series to allow for custom color matching Pantone numbers are also a possibility.
What to Consider when Choosing the Correct Pad Printing Ink
Understanding Your Pad Printing Inks
Check out our line of pad printing inkSolvent is an additive to pad printing ink. Solvent is mixed with ink to assist in the transfer and drying of the ink from the pad to the part.
Solvent is available in a variety of types. Certain solvents only work with particular ink series. Other solvents work with multiple ink series and vary be evaporation rate (speed). Evaporation rate is an important factor because climate, print speed, and application all play a factor in how well the ink will transfer to the part.
Check out our line of pad printing ink solventsHardener for pad printing ink acts as a catalyst that assists in the curing process. Adding hardener will often make prints more durable and withstand abrasion. For example: adding hardener to ink for printing on glass cups will allow it to become dishwasher resistant.
Hardener is not always necessary to mix with all pad printing ink series. It is., however, recommend to use to increase the overall durability of the pad printing ink.
Check out our line of pad printing ink hardenerAuxiliary items for pad printing ink are additives to assist with the pad printing process. Most auxiliary items are not mixed into the ink, yet are applied to the part or pad printing components.
In addition to helping with adhesion, auxiliary items can assist with ink removal (Inkaway!) or prolong the life of your printing pad (Nu-Pad Conditioner).
check out our pad printing ink auxiliary suppliesPad printing machines are incredibly versatile because the equipment can print on nearly any substrate quickly. Pad printing equipment is not included with ink and there is not one ink that is necessarily used in a pad printer. A wide variety of inks exist for the sole purpose of adhesion to substrates, abrasion resistance, and opacity. Choosing the right ink is critical in the printing process. Pad printing is generally a quick process. One complete print cycle takes only seconds (depending upon the number of colors) and can often print upwards of 1000 parts per hour.
Pad printing equipment is generally available in one or two colors, four to six color pad printing equipment is available yet not as common. Pad printing machines are available with specialty loading/unloading arrangements such as over/under and linear conveyor systems. The typical image diameter of a pad printer is 90 mm and 150 mm.
Pad printing equipment is limited in the number of colors a machine can print, four to six color machines can be challenging to register each color on the part. Image sizes over 150 mm in diameter will pose a challenge for pad printing equipment. Graphics can be altered, however, the process to make a new plate may be time-consuming depending upon the method used.
Inkcups offers a comprehensive line of pad printing equipment, consisting of 1-color, 2-color, and 4-6 color sealed cup pad printing machine models. The ink cup sizes range from 60mm to 150mm, designed to meet a wide range of production needs. All Inkcups pad printing machines, including compact tabletop models, have robust compression capability and come with the VersaCup®, our Patented universal ink cup. Every Inkcups pad printing machine is a user-friendly industrial-grade system suiting both start-up and experienced decorators.
Check out Our Pad Printing EquipmentA 1-color pad printing machine. Small but heavy duty, this printer is perfect for Tagless Garment Printing as well as promotional products and 3-dimensional parts.
Inkcups Releases Automated Pad Cleaning Pad Printer
Why should you switch to printing garment tags?
More about the B100 pad printerA 1-color bench-top pad printing machine with 150 mm ink cup for larger images. This is industrial grade but compact pad printer, fitting perfectly in apparel factory production cells and small printing shops alike.
Introducing the ICN-B150 Benchtop Pad Printer
Why should you switch to printing garment tags?
More about the B150 pad printerAn enhanced-speed 1- to 2-color pad printer with a heavy-duty pad slide mechanism, enabling easy fixturing, flawless second color registration, and up to 1800 impressions per hour.
The ICN-2200 is also available with carousel or linear conveyor options.
Introducing the ICN-2200PS Two-Color Pad Printer with Pad Shuttle
ICN-2200-PSX High-Speed Pad Printer: The Fastest Ever?
ICN-2200L Video: 2 Color Pad Printing Machine
Why should you switch to printing garment tags?
More about the 2200-PS Pad PrinterA 1- to 2-color pad printing machine with 150 mm ink cups for images up to 140 mm in diameter.
Also available in a four color, four color carousel, and six color models.
More about the ICN-150 Pad PrinterA 1- to 4-color pad printing machine
featuring rapid job setup and changeover. Also available with a carousel option.
Applications for Inkcups pad printing equipment include printing on promotional products (such as pens, travel mugs, stress balls, calculators), sporting goods (golf balls, skateboard wheels), tagless garments, electronic devices, medical products, automotive parts, and more.
Check out all of our applicationsA common application for the garment industry. Pad printing tagless shirts has become the industry standard for applying garment tags.
Increase labeling efficiency, reduce costs, and increase quality.
Learn more about tagless label printingInkcups fully supports pad printing equipment installations with experienced technicians who assist with customer training, process troubleshooting, pad selection and ink recommendations.
Learn more about technical supportOur blog is full of great tips, applications, “how-to”s, and general information about all things pad printing.
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE PAD PRINTING INFORMATION!Our Support Hub is a wealth of knowledge to our current and future customers. We have a full pad printing FAQs section to answer any of your most important questions when it comes to pad printing. Questions include:
Make sure to check out all 50+ pad printing FAQs today!
Pad Printing FAQs
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