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Ink Viscosity Problems Eliminated For ID Tag Maker
Thanks to the Viscolite® 700 portable viscometer from Hydramotion Ltd, ink viscosity problems are a thing of the past for a world-leading manufacturer of plastic identification tags.
The tags are printed with MEK solvent-based ink using a patented laser marking technology. Controlling the viscosity of the ink is essential, because if the viscosity is not correct the ink drop cannot be charged properly and the printing machine will misprint. With the company’s high-volume production this can be costly.
The nominal viscosity setting for the printing machines is 3.8 centipoise (cP). Operators check the machines regularly and make the necessary adjustments to keep the viscosity set between 3.4 and 3.8 cP, adding ink or make-up fluid (thinning agent) as required. When the company’s production engineers saw the Viscolite being used by the technicians who installed the printers, they were impressed by its convenience and ease of use. “It was a simple decision to buy our own,” commented one.
Measuring viscosity with the Viscolite is simplicity itself. The solid-rod probe is simply dipped into the ink and the measured viscosity is immediately displayed on the read-out unit. After use, the probe is just wiped clean.
The Viscolite can detect a viscosity difference of as little as 0.1 cP with excellent repeatability even at low viscosities. The fully-portable instrument is factory-calibrated to traceable international standards, making it ready for use straight out of the box without requiring calibration or set-up by the user. Maintenance is minimal, as the sensor is an all-welded 316 stainless steel probe with no moving parts or delicate accessories. An integrated temperature sensor enables measurements to be taken ad hoc and corrected to a reference temperature, enabling operators to check ink viscosity instantly at the working temperature of the machine (29 degrees C).
The benefits to the company have been immediate. “We haven’t had any down time due to viscosity issues and we can now perform our own preventative maintenance and ink head calibrations,” said the engineer. “The performance of the Viscolite 700 has been great and the service from the people at Hydramotion has been outstanding. Viscosity problems have been eliminated.”