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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 non-routine job specifications
   • Job requirements are read and interpreted from job documentation or production control system
   • Set up is planned and carried out correctly in minimum time with minimum wastage
   • Prior inspections are completed and signed off
2. Prepare flexographic plates
   • Plate height is measured according to non-routine job specifications
   • Plates are trimmed and prepared according to mounting system requirements
   • Mounting adhesive is selected to achieve correct Pitch Circle Diameter (PCD) of specified plate cylinders and gears
3. Prepare plate cylinder
   • Plate cylinders/seamless sleeves are selected, cleaned and prepared and correct gears are mounted
4. OR
   • Sleeves and correct gears on mandrels are selected, cleaned, prepared and mounted to meet non-routine job specifications
   • Total Indicated Runout (TIR) is checked to be within specified tolerances on plate cylinders
   • Selected mounting adhesive is applied to plate cylinders
5. Mount and demount flexographic plates on mounting/proofing machine
   • Plates are prepared and mounted on cylinders using pin mounts or microdot systems or sleeves according to chart number/print direction

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

prepare and mount flexographic plates and plate cylinders for complex printing to meet job specifications, including checking registration if necessary

mount and demount plates and install in a flexographic printing machine for a variety of different complex print jobs on TWO occasions according to job specifications.

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:

explain the need to ensure job specifications are read and properly understood

describe production problems that could be created by not reading or understanding the job specifications

identify who to discuss any production problems with

list work health and safety (WHS) concerns of mounting and demounting plates

describe the most common cause of photopolymer plates crazing on the image side

explain the importance of printing plate resiliency

list the main advantage of using thin photopolymer plates in process printing

outline faults that may be detected on new plates

identify type of solvents used on photopolymer plates

describe benefits of optical mounting

explain the purpose of binding plates after mounting

outline possible print faults that could be eliminated by using cushion mount

describe the result of air being trapped under plates

explain how to select the correct cushion mount for a particular job

explain how to eliminate low spots

explain how to minimise press bounce in jobs that are mounted more than one across

list some possible causes of print slur

explain how to prevent or minimise plate lifting

explain the method used to make registering the job easier on the press

locate machine manuals, safety and other documentation relevant to this task, and explain the information contained in them

identify other sources of available information.

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