Control panels – why screen printing is the best choice for their production?
The unique properties of screen printing have made it the most effective method for producing control panels for electronic devices for years. Among its greatest advantages are the quality of the print, the large selection of materials and the efficiency with large print runs. While it’s not the only method you can opt for, why choose this one? From the following article, you will learn why screen printing is the best solution and learn the answers to the following questions:
- What is screen printing?
- What are the advantages of screen printing when producing control panels?
- What are the types of control panels?
What is screen printing and how do we use it in printing control panels?
- Screen printing, which was originally used as a method of decorating fabrics, today at Graffiti Printing House is used, among other things, for marking components of electronic devices, including decorative and utility panels for the home appliance, consumer electronics and automotive industries.
- The printing process involves squeezing paint, glue, varnish or other substance through a fine mesh (nylon or metal) with a prepared pattern. Each color is applied separately. The applied substance is evenly spread over the mesh with a squeegee, and then squeezed through the small meshes (whose diameter is only 20-50 micrometers). It creates a precise print created from overlapping colors.
- The screen-printing machinery of Graffiti Printing House, a company that is part of the Etisoft Group, uses the aforementioned technique to print control panels on an industrial scale, and the details are produced in accordance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 norms and standards, ensuring not only high quality, but also repeatability of the printed designs.
Advantages of screen printing in the production of control panels
Screen printing offers a number of advantages that perfectly meet the needs of manufacturers of electronic devices where control panels are located:
Durability – screen printing is resistant to abrasion, chemicals and high temperatures, making it an ideal choice for devices that come into direct contact with both household chemicals in the bathroom and dried food residue in the kitchen. The additional ability to print from the back of the detail so that the paint layer does not come into direct contact with the environment is a reliable way to keep the information on the panels legible for years to come.
Precision – the machine park of the Graffiti Printing House easily maintains dimensional tolerance in accordance with ISO 2768. The ability to achieve tolerances as tight as 0.1 mm, combined with the strong opacity of screen-printed inks, is great for printing light holes that must be perfectly matched to the electronics installed in the device.
Wide selection of materials – screen printing is suitable for printing on plastic, glass, metal and other materials that are used to create electronic devices.
Cost-effectiveness – screen printing requires the preparation of special tools, the cost of which when ordering a few pieces of panels may not be cost-effective and in some cases the other benefits may not compensate for it. However, the unit cost decreases as the number of pieces ordered increases. This makes screen printing ideal for industrial-scale production.
Etisoft Group offers three types of control panels (front and control panels, membrane panels). Although they perform the same function, they are used interchangeably, depending on the needs arising from the specifications of electronic devices.
What are the types of control panels?
Membrane panels – are control elements used for consumer electronics. They consist of several layers and, despite their thinness, are very durable. The top layer of the panel is usually made of transparent polycarbonate film. This makes the panel resistant to repeated pressing. On the other layers, conductive paths with contact fields are made, allowing the device to be controlled. Touch elements can be additionally made with embossing and embossing. The last layer is an adhesive layer, which is used to permanently attach the panel to the device.
Control panels – are elements located on the front of the device. They have both a decorative function and are used for control. Control panels can be of any shape, which can be adapted to the shapes of the entire device. A panel made this way can easily replace a touch panel or traditional buttons and knobs.
Front panels – some controls, in addition to light points, must have cut-outs for buttons, sockets or knobs. This type of control panels are used, for example, in household appliances, power tools or batteries.
Control panels vs. faceplate – learn the 3 most important differences!
Etisoft Group control panel printing
The Etisoft Group company that is specialized in printing control panels using screen printing is Graffiti Printing House. The quality of the details produced at the print shop is confirmed by reputable quality certifications – all components and panels are manufactured in accordance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards and norms, thus ensuring consistently highest quality and repeatability of the product.
If you are planning to use faceplates or control panels that fit your device perfectly….
Pictures: UNSPLASH
