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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Confirm job specifications
   • Job requirements are read and interpreted from job documentation or production control system
   • Set up is carried out correctly in minimum time with minimum wastage
   • Availability of all job related components is checked
2. Install tampons (printing pads) into machine
   • Appropriate tampons are selected according to job specifications
   • Tampons are secured into machine
3. Set up fixtures onto machine bed
   • Appropriate fixtures are selected and secured to xy table
   • Height of machine bed is adjusted to suit size of object to be printed
   • Xy table of machine bed is adjusted to suit position of image on object
4. Select and prepare inks and additives
   • Inks and additives are selected according to job specifications and end-user requirements
   • Quality and suitability of inks and additives are checked and appropriate action is taken
   • Inks and additives are prepared according to work health and safety (WHS) requirements and manufacturer’s/supplier’s instructions with suitable precautions to minimise waste
   • Correct colour and weight/volume of ink are mixed and prepared to match requirements of the printing process and routine job specifications
   • Formulation of ink, colour match and approved colour are appropriately recorded
   • Inks and additives are appropriately labelled, handled and stored according to manufacturer’s/supplier’s instructions to prevent damage and hazards to personnel and prolong shelf life
5. Set up machine for basic pad printing
   • Plate holder is set up and adjusted according to job specifications
   • Appropriate plate and plate holder are selected and plate is secured into plate holder
   • Tampons are set up and adjusted according to job specifications
   • Spatula and doctor blade are set up and adjusted according to requirements of the pad printing process and routine job specifications
6. OR
   • Ink cup is set up and adjusted according to job specifications
7. Set up manual pre- and post-treatment processes
   • Manual loading is set up according to routine object requirements and job specifications
   • Manual pre-treatment is set up to suit routine object and according to job specifications
   • Drying racks are set up to suit object and according to job specifications
8. Conduct proof run
   • Material to be used for proof is organised correctly
   • Machine is operated according to manufacturer’s requirements and enterprise procedures to produce a specified proof
   • Proof is visually inspected and/or tested or laboratory testing is organised according to enterprise procedures
   • Production does not commence without client approval or authority where appropriate
   • Results are interpreted and adjustments are carried out according to product and machine specifications

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

correctly set up a pad printing machine on TWO occasions (if possible on different substrates) for routine print jobs to meet enterprise procedures, manufacturer’s and job specifications; including setting up manual pre- and post-treatment processes and completing a proof run.

demonstrate all safety devices on the machine.

Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.

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Knowledge Evidence

To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:

Substrate identification

identify what class of substrate the (given) object came from

Ink selection

explain how to determine if an ink is appropriate to use with a particular substrate

explain how to determine if an ink is mixed to the correct viscosity

explain the pot life of a two-component ink

Pad selection

explain how to determine the correct pad shape for applications

describe what effect pad shape and hardness has on print quality

outline the ideal storage conditions for pads

Plate selection

explain how to determine the correct plate type for given applications

Doctor blades

explain work health and safety (WHS) concerns of setting presses and doctor blades

describe how to adjust the machine so the doctor blade operates correctly

describe the effect of a damaged doctor blade

Pre- and post-treatment requirements

explain WHS concerns of using pre- and post-treating substrates

explain how to pre-treat an oily surface to ensure it is ready for printing

Print problem identification and correction

identify causes of and solutions for common print problems (eg hairlines around image, loss of density in the centre of a solid image, fine lines of ink running through image, distortion of image)

Information sources

identify machine manuals, safety and other documentation relevant to this task, where are they kept and the information contained.

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