|
 |
 Round
The first shape designed for pad printing and one of the most common pads used today.
These pads minimize distortion while placing an image on to a cylindrical surface.
Round pads are the preferred pad to use, unless there is a size restriction on the pad printer or interference transferring an image onto a part.
Loaf
Derived from the round pad, size limitations required the round shape to be squared-up on 2 or more sides, developing the loaf pad.
Excellent ability to print on convex, concave and flat surfaces with very minimal distortion.
This narrower profile, allows the loaf pad, to be positioned in restricted areas. The design of the loaf pad allows for 2 or more pads to be easily grouped together.
Bar
Shaped like the roof of a house, these pads were designed for long narrow applications. Long lines of text are difficult to print with round or loaf pads due to the over-compression it would take to pick up the lengthy image
The bar pad allows for items, such as long lines of text, to be printed with very minimal compression on the pad.
Recommended for printing on flat surfaces, due to the shapes inability to minimize distortion on rounded surfaces.
This is not a shape of preference, but more a shape of necessity.
Sizes
There are many different sizes of all the pad shapes we offer. The reason for this is to accommodate different sizes of artwork. Choosing an undersized pad will over compress the silicone, breaking down the pad prematurely, while using too large of a pad, even though it will work, runs the risk of picking up any ink residue and it is not very cost effective.
Durometer (Hardness)
We recommend selecting the maximum amount of hardness that the product can support for the best possible print.
Hardness of the silicone pad is achieved with the amount of silicone oil that is used while producing a pad.
More silicone oil produces a harder pad, these pads tend to be longer lasting and provide the best quality imprint, but it may be impractical to use a hard pad on some fragile surfaces or a particular machines ability to compress the pad. In this case it is necessary to step down in durometer.
Printex offers 3 Standard Durometers
SOFT (yellow backing) 45 shore
MEDIUM (blue backing) 55 shore
HARD (red backing) 65 shore
We will also manufacture any of our pads, in any other durometer you may find necessary. |
