Digital Flexo Technology

Digital flexo platemaking not only improves the quality, but also brings many advantages for the printing process, such as faster press settings, fewer plate cleaning times, and higher quality consistency throughout the printing process. In addition, with digital flexo printing, jobs that would otherwise have to be completed with gravure are now available with flexo. However, in the Asia-Pacific region, due to the lack of knowledge of digital flexo, applications have lagged behind.

Definition of digital flexo

The main difference between a traditional flexo and a digital flexo is that during the production of a digital flexo, a layer of black laser light is added to the surface of the flexo. The main role of black film is to replace the film in the traditional flexographic platemaking process. Traditional flexographic production is the transfer of image data to an imagesetter, and then the production of a flexible version of the film, while the digital flexo plate is the plate directly on the flexographic CTP platesetter, the image data will be one by one It is transmitted to the laser and the laser emitted by it erodes the black film and volatilizes it, thus forming a desired image on the surface of the printing plate.

The plate is removed from the platesetter, exposed, and developed. In addition to the fact that the laser sensitized black film plays a role in blocking UV light, the UV exposure when producing a digital flexo is the same as that of a conventional flexo plate. The subsequent development is the same as that of the conventional plate making. In the VU exposure and development process, the purpose and role of each step is the same, and the dot shape produced with the digital flexo is completely different from the dot shape on the traditional flexo plate. Digital outlets are sharper than traditional flexo outlets. It is these sharp dots that improve the quality and performance of digital flexo, but the elimination of the precision of the film and imaging technology ensures consistency in the quality of the printing plate, which is essential in the control of printing and the completion of the final print. important.

Proper digital flexo technology

The appropriate digital flexo technology requires an external drum structure and multiple laser imaging heads to accurately and repeatedly corrode and volatilize the black film. Creo's ThermoFlex Thermal Plate Printing Machine explains that it uses multiple laser heads for imaging and laser diodes as laser light sources. These laser heads come in different models, and can be used up to 64 lasers depending on the user's needs. Multi-laser beam technology has strong advantages in terms of quality, repeatability, productivity and reliability.

In order to obtain high quality, repeatable images, the ideal imaging system should have perfect mechanical stability. Mechanical stability is directly related to the speed of the imaging drum. To obtain the same production efficiency, the greater the number of laser beams, the slower the rotation speed of the drum. Therefore, the more laser beams, the better the image quality and repeatability.

Image quality and repeatability are also directly related to the ability of each laser to completely remove the black film. The main purpose of laser imaging is to ensure complete removal of the black film. Gaussian imaging
Because of the irregular energy distribution of the device, the accuracy and consistency of imaging are limited. Creo's Thermal Platesetter uses multiple laser diodes. The technology used can provide continuous energy distribution, so imaging is highly accurate and consistent.