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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
   • Availability of all job related components is checked
2. Install tampons (printing pads) into machine
   • Appropriate tampons are selected according to non-routine job specifications/requirements
   • Tampons are secured into machine
3. Set up fixtures onto machine bed or conveyor
   • Appropriate fixtures are selected and secured to X-Y table or conveyor jig plates
   • Adjustments are made to height of machine bed to suit size of object to be printed
   • Adjustments are made to X-Y table of machine bed to suit position of image on object
4. Select and prepare inks and additives
   • Inks, and additives are selected according to non-routine 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 is mixed and prepared to match requirements of the non-routine job specification and the printing process
   • 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 to prolong shelf life
5. Set up machine for complex pad printing
   • Plate holders are set up and adjusted for register according to job specifications
   • Appropriate plates and plate holders are selected and plates are secured into plate holders
   • Tampons are set up and adjusted according to job specifications
   • Spatula and doctor blade or ink cups are set up and adjusted according to printing process and job specifications
6. Set up pre- and post-treatment in-line processes
   • In-line loading is set up to suit non-routine object and according to job specifications
   • In-line pre-treatment is set up to suit non-routine object and according to job specifications
   • In-line drying is set up to suit non-routine object and according to job specifications
   • In-line ejection is set up to suit non-routine object and according to job specifications
7. Conduct proof run
   • Material to be used for proof is organised correctly
   • Machine is operated according to manufacturer’s and enterprise procedures to produce a specified proof
   • Proof is visually inspected and/or tested or laboratory testing 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 to determine adjustment requirements

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

set up a machine for complex pad printing on TWO occasions (if possible, on different substrates) according to manufacturer’s and job specifications, enterprise procedures and the performance criteria.

set up pad printing machines for non-routine print jobs, including for manual pre- and post-treatment processes

conduct a proof run and adjust settings to ensure production speeds are attained

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:

identify different substrate groups and suggest correct ink type for each group

identify plastic subgroups for purpose of ink selection

explain how adjustments are made to process colour inks for correct colour balance

describe methods of improving opacity of a light coloured ink on a dark substrate

determine correct pad shape for (given) applications

describe the effect pad shape and hardness have on print quality

describe the effect commonly seen at the contact point of the nipple of a pad in a large solid print, and how can it be avoided

explain how to prepare a new pad for its first printing

determine the correct plate type for (given) applications

outline the difference between steel and photopolymer plates for process printing

provide reasons for mis-registered images and how can they be corrected

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

describe adjustments made to the machine so the doctor blade operates correctly

outline consequences of a damaged doctor blade

identify different types of doctor blades and explain their applications

identify WHS concerns of pre- and post-treating substrates

describe common pre- and post-treatment methods for different substrates and their importance

identify causes of, and solutions for, common print problems (e.g. hairlines around image, loss of density in the centre of a solid image, fine lines of ink running through image, distortion of image, picking up ink from substrate by subsequent pads, washed out images, loss of fine lines in images, inconsistent colour)

locate machine manuals, safety and other documentation relevant to this task and outline the information included in them.

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