Red_Right_Arm
Well-known member
We currently make water wash flexo plates following an established workflow of exposure and washout times. I am wondering how much of this workflow is accurate, and how much of it is someone's guess that sounded good. The process times we use are as follows...
- 2 minutes 15 seconds for back exposure. Aiming to get a .44 floor.
- 6 minute 30 second main exposure. Aiming to hold 3% hybrid screening dots.
- 12 minute 30 second washout time.
- 6 minute post exposure.
- 6 minute detack exposure
The back exposure is easy to check. We just increase the time if the floor is too shallow, or decrease the time if the floor is too thick.
The main exposure is easy to check. So long as we aren't changing the washout time, we expose for longer if the dots don't hold.
The washout time is easy to check. If there is still soft plate material we wash the plate longer.
The post exposure is a guess. We were told to expose for 6 minutes because it seems it sounded like a good number. Is there any way to know what the post exposure is supposed to be?
The detack exposure is a guess. Other than feeling for tack by hand, is there any way to know if we've exposed for too long or too short?
- 2 minutes 15 seconds for back exposure. Aiming to get a .44 floor.
- 6 minute 30 second main exposure. Aiming to hold 3% hybrid screening dots.
- 12 minute 30 second washout time.
- 6 minute post exposure.
- 6 minute detack exposure
The back exposure is easy to check. We just increase the time if the floor is too shallow, or decrease the time if the floor is too thick.
The main exposure is easy to check. So long as we aren't changing the washout time, we expose for longer if the dots don't hold.
The washout time is easy to check. If there is still soft plate material we wash the plate longer.
The post exposure is a guess. We were told to expose for 6 minutes because it seems it sounded like a good number. Is there any way to know what the post exposure is supposed to be?
The detack exposure is a guess. Other than feeling for tack by hand, is there any way to know if we've exposed for too long or too short?
