Angled Stencil Printing to Prevent Squeegee Blade Dipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial screen-printing machines face challenges in maintaining high print quality when printing elongate deposits due to the orthogonal alignment of the major axis of elongate apertures and the printing direction, leading to issues like squeegee blade dipping into the stencil apertures.
Innovation Solution
The method involves aligning the workpiece and stencil apertures such that their major axes subtend an angle between 0° and 90°, and adjusting the squeegee blade's orientation to maintain consistent print quality by rotating the workpiece and/or squeegee blade during the printing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the major axis of the elongate aperture is orthogonal to the printing direction, then the printing process is simple and straightforward, but the print quality of elongate deposits deteriorates due to squeegee blade dipping into the stencil
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an asymmetric angular relationship between the squeegee blade major axis and the elongate aperture major axis. Instead of the conventional orthogonal (90-degree) alignment, the squeegee blade is positioned at an angle θ where 0° < θ ≤ 90°, creating an asymmetric configuration that prevents the squeegee from dipping into the stencil while maintaining printing efficiency and deposit quality.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the workpiece orientation is fixed during printing, then the printing process is stable and controllable, but the ability to prevent squeegee dipping into the stencil is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic adjustability to the printing system by enabling angular adjustment of either the workpiece, the stencil, or the squeegee blade relative to the printing direction. This dynamic configuration allows the system to optimize the angular relationship (θ) between the squeegee blade and aperture for each specific printing scenario, preventing dipping while maintaining process stability through controlled adjustment mechanisms.
3Productivity
If the squeegee blade is positioned orthogonally to the printing direction, then the printing operation is efficient and quick, but components on the workpiece underside are liable to damage from squashing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an angular offset as an intermediary parameter between the squeegee blade and the workpiece components. By positioning the squeegee blade at an angle θ rather than directly overhead, the printing force is distributed more favorably, reducing the downward squashing effect on components while maintaining printing efficiency. The angled configuration acts as a mediator that decouples the printing action from direct vertical compression of sensitive components.
Data Source
AI summary
The print quality of elongate deposits is improved by introducing an inclination offset between the squeegee blade and the elongate aperture of a stencil during a printing operation.