Pad printing machines, like other printing machines, use printing plates. At present, pad printing resin plates and steel plates are used more frequently. Pad printing resin plates are made by special resin plate making machines, and steel plates are mainly made by corrosion methods. It is reported that some laser marking machines can directly engrave steel plates, but the response in the market is not very mature. If the technology of laser engraving machines is mature in making steel plates, it will be the dawn of pad printing steel plates to get rid of complicated and environmentally friendly processes.
    The corrosion method of pad printing steel plate currently occupies a dominant position in the market. It has two important steps. One is to use a laser phototypesetting machine to make the film, and the second is to use the film to bond the steel plate for printing, and then use the corrosion method to make the film. Pad printing gravure, you can find related files on youtube video website or some professional websites.

Brefie	Most of pad printing and screen printing use Film to make plate; When this film enter into laser output machine, Laser will exposure to words and drawing. the sensitive layer will be solid and other area keep its un-exposured state; Exposured layer will be not remove and un-exposured layer will be remove with developing liquid; Cover the film onto pad plate or screen plate. There are two areas to be made, one is open area, the other is closed.
Usage	Used by PM-410FL and PM-510FL Laser output film machine. Operating in dark room. It is formed that coating Photosensitive coating layer; Widely used to output films of pad printing process and screen printing process.
Package	Package size: 160*160*380mm; Weight: 3.5kg; CBM: 0.009
Store	Shade, cooling and wentilate place; Expiration date: 2 Years
Parameter	Max Density : 4.5; Width: 305mm; Length: 60m; Thickness of PET base: 0.1mm; Sensitization wavelength: 630-670NM
Advantage	Roller shape, easily to cut to correct size; Operating in dark room; Nice planeness to set up even Drawing layer; Very finess of Sensitive layer to set up halftone design; High photosensibility and high Exposure latitude; Rapid developing , well edge quality of words； High contrast and red light, suitable for the image record of He Ne laser source Base expansion and high stability.
Usage	Putting it on the enter of output machine; Start the computer to let it enter. Cutting it to fit size;
Reminding	Please process it in dark room with safe light, only have red and yellow safe light.Storage︰ Store in the shady ,Obturation and ventilation place

Development principle:

        After exposure, the film enters the developer of the film processor, and the chemical components in the developer react chemically with the exposed photosensitive material on the film. The photosensitive material in this area is converted into a visible black or other color image material, and the image gradually appears. In the unexposed area, the photosensitive material reacts very slowly or almost not at all with the developer. The photosensitive material in these areas remains basically the same and will be removed or retained as a blank part in the subsequent processing process, thus forming a developed image corresponding to the exposure pattern. After development, the film enters the fixer, and the unreacted photosensitive material on the film fixes the image that has been formed. The chemical components in the fixer can react with the unreacted photosensitive material, dissolve it and wash it off the film, leaving only the stable image that has been developed. After the fixation process, the image on the film will no longer be affected by subsequent chemical treatments or external factors. After the fixation is completed, the film needs to be dried to remove the residual developer and fixer on the film. Water such as dry film is dried for subsequent use and storage.

 

     There are three kinds of pad plate: thick steel plate, thin steel plate, nylon resin plate.  Making the pad plate is the first step to begin pad printing technology.

 

Pad plate styles

   Water-washed pad printing plates and alcohol-washed pad printing plates have independent and obvious advantages. Resin plates are widely used in countries and companies that pay attention to environmental protection, because the entire plate-making process is harmless, and it is used for developing after exposure. Both water and alcohol can be discharged directly into the water circulation system without worrying about polluting the water body. The resin used in the resin version itself is also easy to degrade and will not produce chemically toxic components.
 The thin steel sheet is subjected to surface quenching treatment, and the hardness can reach 60 degrees. The thickness is between 0.3-0.5mm. Common fabrication methods include ferric chloride etching and laser engraving. The iron trichloride corrosion method has been used to make steel plates, but it is basically banned in developed countries, and the laser engraving method is a technology worth promoting. It does not require film sheets and is very environmentally friendly.
Both thick steel and roller pad printing plates are used for high-volume printing tasks.
  Those high-end users should understand that the excellent flatness and smoothness of the steel plate ground by a high-precision grinding machine will definitely bring superior performance to your printing tasks.
  Of course, the obvious disadvantage of thick steel and roller plates is that they are difficult to replace because they are heavy and not easy to move.