How To Pad Print With The Printa 990 Pad Printing System


The Basics Of The Printa 990 Series Pad Printing System

Mastering the operation of the Printa 990 series pad printer is simplicity itself. The following steps give a simple and straight forward explanation of how to use the machine. As you would expect from an industry leading supplier, a full technical training manual and video are provided with every Printa 990 series pad printing system to ensure fast and trouble free operation for both novice and experienced users. A full consumables supply pack can be supplied with each machine to ensure immediate use of the Printa system after delivery.

The following eight steps are intended to give a brief overview of how the Printa 990 pad printing system is setup and used. The information has been simplified and is covered in considerable detail in our technical training manual and video presentation, both of which are provided as part of the consumables supply pack.


Step 1

The Printa 990 pad printing system is designed to be very efficient to setup and operate. The first step is to make a printing plate. Artwork is generated using a 600 dpi laser printer to produce a film positive.The plate is then exposed for a specific time, rinsed in warm water, dried and post exposed to provide a long life, highly cost effective printing plate. Polymer printing plates can be produced in under 30 minutes and the process is simple to learn.

Step 2

Next, place a disposable tray liner and processed printing plate inside the ink well of the Printa 990 pad printer. Both of these items are held in place by a clamp to avoid movement during operation.

Step 3

With the bed of the machine moved to the left, centre the transfer pad so that when bringing down the print handle, the pad's first point of contact is the centre of the artwork.

  Step 4

Next move the bed to the right hand side and register the transfer pad with the product. First place the product in the fixture, then bring the print handle down until the transfer pad is just above the product to visually align the transfer pad. Adjust the X, Y and Z axis to bring the product directly underneath the transfer pad.

Step 5

Place your blank product in the fixture. Note that with the product underneath the transfer pad, once the ink has been added to the machine, the plate will have been automatically flooded with ink already.

Step 6

Slide the bed to the left. As the bed is moved to the left, the automatic inking system will clean the plate using the doctor blade leaving an image that can be picked up by the transfer pad. Pull the handle down and compress the transfer pad gently over the printing plate, then allow the handle to return upwards.

  Step 7

Slide the bed to the right. Bring the print handle down to print on the product. The automatic inking system will already have inked the plate again ready for cleaning and image pickup by the transfer pad.

Step 8

Remove the printed product and replace with a blank product. The ink should be dry to touch within a matter of seconds. After printing, some products may need to be cured using heat. This speeds up the curing time and allows product to be re-packaged in a very short space of time. Click here to see our range of coveyor based tunnel dryers.