Universal inkjet CTP - for offset, screen and flexo

[bobaloo]

YES YOU CAN !!!...
Well done Elvin with perserverance you have achieved a milestone for the limited budget Prepresser, or the remote printer, nowhere near a service engineer.
Using a standard PS plate will take the reliance off the few plate suppliers who may have wash, fountain solution and print run length problems to date.
If you can refine the ink/fluid your'e exposing the plate with, it may be commercially worthwhile, 40-50,000 run ? Can I sign up as a customer?
Im working on a way to ensure registration between plates, though will need much more meditation and testing.

As a parting shot... What thoughts about a Screen Printing Flash Dryer as a plate curing unit?

[color_matters]

Very interesting topic, this worked very with us up until now, the procedure is almost the same the only difference is that we are using an "Inkjet CTP Plate" (a PS plate which has a special coating) which is receptive to inkjet inks, we then use Photo Black ink only to print on the plates after which we expose it wash out the special coating and then develop it. We are using an Epson 9800 and a Wasatch SoftRip SP, the quality is great for AM screening up to 175lpi and 21 microns for FM screening using 2nd order stochastic screening.

I find Elvin's way to be more cheaper and much faster, I'll will have to experiment for a while what kind of ink he used

[color_matters]

Hi UnlimitedBT, Craig,

I used a conventional alumunium plate, I exposed it under my platemaker and developed it, so the emulsion was washed away.

I print the blank plate with local ink (not genuine ink) maybe it is not dye-ink, because it dried fast, then I cured it.. I dont have curing unit, so I heated it above fire 40cm(16inch) for 30-60sec

of course the curing process is the weakest at my experiment, so at some area, the result of printing is good, the other was washed away (because it's not cured well yet). the other experiment, I over-cured it, then the result is cloudy print (oxidized?)

I want to do more, can anybody tell me how to make curing unit?

Elvin, may i suggest something for your plate curing unit, this is just a suggestion feel free to try it, i saw a turbo oven yesterday and made me think of how that generates certain amount of heat and has a timer, why now used that, it sound a little funny but you see my point right? to even out the distribution of the heat is something i haven't thought of