Automatic Pad Printing Machine – Troubleshooting, Maintenance & Operation Notes

1. Common Printing Defects & Causes

1. Bubbles, stains, sticky or damaged pad surface during printing

   • Pad center directly presses on the pattern

   • Deteriorated ink

   • Incorrect thinner (783 or 718)

   • Blunt doctor blade

   • Insufficient pad curvature

   • Over-diluted ink

   • Insufficient ink additives

2. Rough, blurry lines

   • Damaged pad surface

   • Over-diluted ink

   • Damaged steel plate etching

   • Blunt or nicked doctor blade

   • Poorly designed pattern

   • Overly deep etching on steel plate

   • Overly thick/dry ink

3. Faint print color

   • Over-diluted ink

   • Sedimented ink

   • Excessive filler (normally controlled at approx. 5%)

   • Worn steel plate pattern

   • Insufficient etching depth on steel plate

4. Unwanted extra lines

   • Worn steel plate pattern

   • Nicked doctor blade

   • Loose pad slider

   • Excessive pad pressure

5. Distorted pattern

   • Insufficient pad height

   • Improper pad shape

   • Pattern exceeds printing range

   • Pad too small or too hard

   • Excessive pad pressure

Maintenance & Repair of Automatic Pad Printing Machine

1. General maintenanceRegular maintenance extends service life, ensures stable performance and high printing accuracy.
2. Environmental requirementsKeep the production area clean and low in dust.Keep the machine clean; cover it with a plastic bag during long-term storage to prevent dust.
3. Air supply requirementsSupply clean, dry compressed air.Drain accumulated water from the water filter cup regularly.
4. Ink controlWipe off spilled ink immediately to prevent it from entering moving parts, hardening and causing adjustment failure or inaccurate positioning.
5. Component careClean the steel plate, pad, doctor blade, ink tray and ink roller after each job for future use.
6. LubricationApply lubricant to sliding guides, bearings, rollers and all moving parts to ensure smooth movement, reduce wear and extend service life.

Operation Notes

• Match steel plate size with ink tray, blade holder and ink roller.

• Choose the correct pad:

  Pad hardness comes in soft, medium and hard. Use hard pads for fine details; soft pads for uneven surfaces. Pad size and shape should match the pattern and product surface.

• Ink application:

  Use dedicated inks for different materials (plastic, glass, metal, etc.). Stir ink before pouring into the tray.

  When paused, press the “Idle” key to keep the doctor system running and prevent ink from drying.

  Add appropriate thinner according to drying speed and stir immediately.

  Clean contaminated pads with cleaning solution.

• Prepare custom jigs based on product shape.

• Clean the steel plate and remove the ink roller for washing after printing.

• Safety operation:

  Do not operate the machine by two people at the same time to avoid accidents.