Define the application
Plastic parts that look alike can be made from different raw materials. Recording the plastic type and any coating in the sample file is the first step in ink selection. Do not select a series by appearance alone before confirming the material.
Clarify these three points first
| 1. Raw material identification | Check the actual product sample and add your findings to the technical file. |
|---|---|
| 2. Surface preparation record | Create a separate sample record whenever product or material details change. |
| 3. Part geometry and fixture | Define the sample acceptance criteria before production. |
Sample file for Plastic Slippers
Start the technical discussion with the polymer type, surface treatment, mould or coating details and artwork. Supply the artwork at actual print size and mark the product loading direction on a photograph or drawing.
Evaluate the machine and consumables together
The number of colours and artwork size narrow the machine options, while the substrate guides ink evaluation and the geometry guides pad and fixture selection. Do not automatically apply one component’s suitability assessment to the complete printing setup.
Moving from trials to production
- Match the product and material description to the final sample.
- Compare artwork position and colour separations with the approved file.
- Include loading and unloading steps in the cycle assessment.
- Keep the accepted sample with records of the equipment and materials used.