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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. Inspect screen
   • Screen frames are identified to determine colour sequence
   • Each screen frame is examined for defects and appropriate action taken
   • Each screen is taped as necessary
   • Screens are inspected against film positives, variations in centring, registration and alignment are noted, and appropriate action is taken
   • Screen frame, mesh and stencil are appropriately handled according to manufacturer or supplier specifications to prevent damage and hazards to personnel
2. Maintain and adjust machine
   • Machine is inspected and routine user maintenance is carried out according to manufacturer or supplier specifications and enterprise procedures
   • Required periodic adjustments and user maintenance items are made at correct times according to manufacturer or supplier specifications and enterprise procedures
3. Install screen frames and dry run machine
   • Laysheet is positioned in grippers and side-lay according to manufacturer or supplier specifications
   • Image position is established on laysheet
   • Screen frame is positioned in screen frame holder
   • Registration, alignment and centring are confirmed and screen clamps tightened to ensure no movement of the frame according to manufacturer or supplier specifications
   • Machine is run through printing cycle at same time, ensuring that substrate registers in lays and appropriate action is taken
4. Prepare and position flood bar and squeegees
   • Flood bar (for semi-automatic and automatic machines) and correct squeegee are assembled according to manufacturer or supplier specifications, ensuring that flood bar is free of nicks and burrs
   • Squeegee blade is sharpened according to manufacturer or supplier specifications and considering ink system to be used
   • Flood bar (for semi-automatic and automatic machines) and squeegee are positioned according to job specifications with squeegee at correct pre-determined angle
   • On and off contact (and peel-off if available) is adjusted to suit ink system and printing speed according to manufacturer or supplier specifications
   • Squeegee is correctly adjusted and brought into contact with substrate
5. Set up drying or curing unit
   • Belt speed and energy required are set to achieve desired properties and then printing speeds are adjusted accordingly
   • Stock is properly stacked at end of dryer

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

correctly prepare a machine for printing TWO different jobs by installing the screen frame and squeegee or flood coater and setting up a drying or curing unit to achieve the desired properties, according to manufacturer, job, enterprise and health and safety requirements.

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 the colour sequence of screens and defects identified when examining the screen and stencil

name the variation between the positive and stencil

outline the health and safety concerns when using drying or curing units

outline the maintenance that is required on this equipment, including the periodic adjustments that are made to the drying or curing units

identify different machine capabilities and characteristics

describe the function of the printing base

describe the position of the lay sheet on the printing base and the image position on the lay sheet

name the type of lay sheet being used

describe the position of the frame in the frame holder, and registering and alignment of the stencil with the image on the lay sheet

outline the checks that are required to maintain register

describe the characteristics of a good squeegee blade or flood coater

discuss the significance of shore hardness of squeegee material and the length of squeegee or flood coater

outline the positioning, fixing and adjustment of the squeegee or flood coater and the relationship of the squeegee to the flood coater

describe the adjustment of on and off contact distance and peel-off requirements of the screen frame

identify the relationship of the machine stroke to off contact or peel-off requirements

outline the adjustments that are required to the unit for and during drying or curing

discuss the effects of temperature on the substrate

identify required manuals, safety and other documentation and briefly outline the relevant information in each source.

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