5 Important Steps in Preparing the Screen

Although this may not be rocket science, preparing the screen for screen printing involves several different variables. If you want your print job to produce acceptable results, you must take special account of factors such as the number of screens and diameter. The following are five very important considerations that can effectively prepare a screen to get the maximum result when printing.

1. Choose the right number of screen printing mesh: The right number of screens will help determine the amount of ink deposited on the substrate you want to print. Choose special effect inks with low meshes, such as glitter (25-40 mesh), reflective or fluffy ink (110-125 mesh). Choose a high grid number (200-305) for more detailed or softer handprints.

2. Select the required wire diameter: For any given number of meshes, a thinner wire diameter will reduce the overall fabric thickness of the mesh, and allow more ink due to lower flow resistance and larger open area Deposited on the substrate. The thinner the wire diameter and the larger the mesh, the easier the printing. This becomes important when clean, clear images or detailed designs are required, because the thinner the thread diameter, the smoother the template.

3. Make sure your screen frame is clean, straight and level: A properly clean and level frame will help ensure that the printed image is clear and clear. Personally, I prefer metal frames to wood, because metal frames last longer, can resist warping and chipping, and can maintain mesh tension for longer. In addition, I also prefer to keep the frame because the grid tension can be easily tightened or adjusted.

4. Tighten the mesh appropriately: According to the manufacturer's instructions, recommend the ideal tension for the specific mesh used. Make sure that the warp (longitudinal) and weft (transverse) tensions are equal to obtain a uniform mesh opening. Once the desired tension is reached (measured in Newtons with a dynamometer), tighten the grid in the frame to fix it, and then re-tension it again when needed. After the first tension, the mesh usually stretches a bit, so letting it relax and then recalibrating the tension will more accurately reach the desired tension.

5. Dehazing and degreasing on both sides of the grid: Dehazing removes the previously designed ghost images, ink stains and other impurities, which may have accumulated in the reused grid. Although it is not necessary to de-haze every time the screen is reclaimed, it depends on how much detail is required for the next design, but it is a good idea to de-haze regularly, perhaps after two or three jobs.

Degreasing is an important step before applying the emulsion on the screen to remove oil, dust, fingerprints and other dirt that may be deposited on the screen. This step can improve the adhesion of the emulsion and prevent pinholes and other defects, which may appear if the emulsion is applied to the dirty net. I recommend degreasing as a mandatory step in prepping the screen prior to applying emulsion. After degreasing, keep the frames in a dust-free environment until they are ready for coating.

The above information is provided by squeegee blade supplier.