The pad is one of the main requirements of the tampo printing machine, which is responsible for transferring color from the cliché to the piece. These pads are usually made of silicone, which comes in different shapes and sizes depending on the type of piece and its size. There are almost a few thousand different types of silicone pads for pad printing.
The silicone pads of the tampo pad printing machine, which are made in different shapes, are generally divided into three categories.
Soft silicone pads: These pads are used for weak and thin parts so that the part does not get damaged during printing.
Regular silicone pads: These types of pads are the most widely used and can usually be used for printing on all parts.
Hard silicone pads: These types of pads are used for printing on hard parts such as sharp metals to reduce the possibility of tearing the pad.
To make the pad of the tampo printing machine, first the silicone material is melted with sufficient heat and then it is shaped into its final shape in metal molds. These pads are used as a tool for transferring color from the plate to the final surface. The shapes and hardness of these pads vary depending on their uses.
Round pads, narrow pads, rod pads and various shapes such as compound, triangle, etc., which are available in small, medium and large sizes in each group. Pads with shapes appropriate to their application can also be prepared for specific uses.
The quality of tampo printing is directly related to the type of silicone pad material. There are different types of silicone pads, and a special and suitable pad must be selected for each piece to be printed in order to achieve the highest printing quality. The hardness of tampo printing pads is also measured by salt.
Tips for maintaining tampo pads
The life of tampo printing machine pads depends on various things such as the material and quality of their silicone, and their lifespan in high-quality pads can reach up to 100,000 strokes. When maintaining tampo machine pads, care must be taken to ensure that the pads are not injured or torn by sharp parts. It is also better to use glass tape to clean the pads instead of paint solvents such as retard or gasoline so that the pads have a longer lifespan.
It should be noted that things such as keeping the pads away from direct sunlight, choosing the right pad for each piece to print, and thoroughly cleaning the pad immediately after finishing the printing job, etc., should also be observed when maintaining a tampo printing pad.