ТОВ "Лазер Флекс" | Analog technology for making cliches
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Analog technology for making cliches

The main advantage of the classical analog technology of manufacturing photopolymer plates is the ability to obtain dot and solid elements of the same height on a plate. It allows printing from combined plates.

 

The manufacturing process of analog photopolymer plates includes the following steps:

1. Pre-exposure of the reverse side of a photopolymer plate.

Polymerisation of the photopolymer layer on a reverse side and formation of the substrate for the plate printed elements.

2. Main-exposure.

Main-exposure of the working side of a photopolymer plate using films in the absence of oxygen. Relief formation.

3. Washout process.

Removal of photopolymer plate’s areas which were not exposed to polymerisation.

4. Drying.

Evaporation of washout solvent which was absorbed in the relief layer. The thickness of the swollen plate due to the washout process returns to its initial value.

Постэкспонирование аналоговых флексо форм

5. Post-exposure.

Post-exposure causes complete polymerisation and gives the plate optimum hardness.

Финишинг аналоговых флексо форм

6. Finishing.

Finishing eliminates the stickiness of the plate by exposing with UVC-light. Resistance to ink solvents is obtained.

Nowadays, the analog technology is rarely used due to the following drawbacks:

 

  • There exists a high probability of dust particles between a film and a photopolymer plate;
  • There exist problems due to insufficient film contact caused by the influence of oxygen during the main-exposure;
  • Soft edges of a dot and its flat profile lead to dot gain during the printing process;
  • There are difficulties in the reproduction of fine details and reverses.
  • Discharge and inspection of films result in time consumption.
Interested in cliches made by analog technology?