Environmental Problems in Industrial Printing

Industrial printing and coding is a complex process that is dependent on several external factors that may have a significant impact on how effectively it works and what it generates. Even though they are often forgotten, these things are very important to the success of a print job.

If you are having trouble with environmental factors that are affecting your printing, let’s look at each of these problems more closely and talk about what you can do to fix them:

Optimal Operating Temperature

Temperature plays a crucial role in maintaining the consistency and quality of prints. Both high and low temperatures can cause problems in the printing process.

When the ambient temperature is too high, the solvent in the ink evaporates faster, increasing the ink’s viscosity. This results in thicker ink that is harder to transfer smoothly, potentially clogging the printhead and causing uneven prints.

In contrast, low temperatures may cause the ink to freeze or become less soluble, decreasing its flow. This may result in fading or uneven colors, lowering overall print quality.

Low temperatures may also cause ink to dry more slowly, thus limiting output. To avoid these difficulties, the recommended temperature range for most industrial printing applications is 16°C to 35°C.

Using HVAC technology to control the temperature in the printing room may be a viable option. Regular temperature monitoring using thermometers ensures that the atmosphere stays within the optimal range, allowing for fast modifications when necessary.

Controlling Relative Humidity

Humidity, or the quantity of moisture in the air, is another key component in industrial printing systems.

High humidity may cause paper substrates to absorb moisture, resulting in warping, wrinkling, or sticking together. This not only creates paper jams, but it also interferes with print alignment and registration, decreasing the quality of the final output.

In contrast, low humidity levels may make paper brittle and prone to tearing. Low humidity also increases the risk of static electricity, which may attract dust and particles to the substrate and create printing issues.

To get the greatest results, keep the relative humidity in the print room between 40% and 60%.

Installing humidifiers or dehumidifiers as needed may also help maintain correct humidity levels. A hygrometer is a useful tool for sensing humidity levels and making real-time adjustments to keep the atmosphere stable.

Solutions for Minimizing Electrostatic Discharge

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a major hazard in industrial printing facilities, especially those with low humidity.

This problem happens when static electricity builds up and then releases itself, which could damage sensitive electrical parts in printers and make printing less reliable. Static electricity can also lead to mistakes in printing, slower machine speeds, or even complete failure of the equipment.

The risk of ESD goes up a lot when media like paper or plastic move quickly past printheads. To mitigate the effects of problems produced by static electricity, the following remedies are suggested:

Use Shielded Cable Connectors

One of the most basic methods to avoid ESD is to use shielded cable connections. These connections are intended to avoid electromagnetic interference, which includes static electricity.

They are especially useful in shielding delicate electronic components like as printheads, which are susceptible to harm from abrupt static discharges.

Maintain Optimal Humidity

Low humidity settings (common in the winter or in air-conditioned areas) are ideal breeding grounds for static electricity. Thus, keeping the appropriate humidity level is critical in reducing static accumulation.

As previously stated, relative humidity levels in a print room should be maintained between 40% and 60% to create a conductive environment for dissipating static charges.

Also, employing industrial printing humidifiers may aid in maintaining these levels. Regularly checking the hygrometer lets you see changes in real time, which keeps the air in the right temperature and humidity range.

Grounding Equipment

Proper grounding of all electrical equipment is another important step in avoiding ESD. Grounding straps and conductive mats are two often utilized pieces of equipment.

When devices are not grounded, static charges may collect and potentially discharge, causing damage to sensitive components or safety concerns.

Anti Static Sprays

A quick and effective method for getting rid of static on materials like paper, film, and plastic is to use antistatic sprays.

By getting rid of the static charge in the material, these sprays make it less likely that dust or other bits will build up and hurt the quality of the print.

So, keep this in mind that the surroundings has a big effect on how well industrial printing equipment works. Ignoring these factors might lead to poor print quality, higher costs, and inefficient manufacturing.

Implementing the concepts and techniques mentioned above might be a very beneficial alternative for any industry. Also, for high-quality printing solutions, please see our full product range at Markcom Global!

Read About: Industrial Inkjet Printer Manufacturers: The Essential Guide for Your Business Needs

Referensi

https://www.kaocollins.com/inktank/troubleshooting-thermal-inkjet-coding-problems/

https://www.fsm-solution.com/news-blog/environmental-factors-that-cause-issues-for-your-multifunction-printer

https://flexopedia.net/temperature-and-humidity-in-your-print-room/

https://www.condair.com/humidifiernews/blog-overview/4-ways-to-reduce-static-electricity-in-print-production