The main difference between plastic and composite blades is their coating type. A durable low-friction coating offers benefits, including reduced chipping and cylinder wear. Hard coating, however, can chip more efficiently and provide less wipe.
Choosing between plastic and composite blades
When choosing between plastic and composite blades for your printing machine, consider the thickness of the blade. If you have a high tolerance for surface ink, you may want to use a metal blade.
If you want to buy a composite blade, you’ll want to choose a high-quality version. Plastic blades are durable and typically last for a longer time than steel. They also reduce the need to change blades often, allowing your printing machine to run for longer.
The disadvantages of plastic blades include dot gain, hard particle damage, and embedded particles under the lifted tip. For these reasons, plastic blades are better suited for line work where anilox screens are less than 400 and water-based inks on board and paper. Plastic blades have also been used as containment blades in printing machines to prevent back doctoring and reduce wear on the anilox roll. Another benefit of our high molecular plastic is its excellent chemical resistance to all specific cleaning solutions.
Traditional blades frequently leave grooves in the rubber lip where the edges of oscillating rollers grind against it, reducing cleaning quality. The latest generation blades do not have this issue. Instead, they degrade gradually and evenly. In addition, because of the material’s elasticity, a sufficient but not excessive amount of pressure is supplied to the roller.
Squeegee blades
Squeegee blades are critical components of printing machines and are made of plastic or composite materials. The proper squeegee blade is essential for depositing printing material on a printed circuit/wiring board. In this invention, an electroformed squeegee blade is uniformly used to deposition printing material on a printed circuit board.
The type of squeegee blade you choose will be dependent on the printing process you are performing. Some are more suitable for printing with aggressive inks and solvents, while others are best for less aggressive inks and lower squeegee pressures.
While metal squeegee blades are more durable and offer better results, they can cause problems with solder paste and printing material. Manufacturers have investigated various coatings on metal squeegee blades to reduce these problems. This method can minimize squeegee compliance and deformation. It also improves aperture filling and minimizes scooping.
Metal squeegee blades can cause excessive wear and tear and result in coins. Plastic squeegee blades are a good choice for printing machines. Both metal and composite squeegee blades have benefits. However, longevity is a significant investment.
Cleaning problems
Some might wonder if they should clean printing blades for their printing machines. You should replace them after each use, too. They can become highly sharp even if you only clean them once a week or two. In addition, cleaning them after each use will prevent the machine from wasting money on ink.
