Expose
- Contact expose the PrecisionMask stencil film to
the light source through the artwork transparency
for the appropriate time (see How to Calibrate
PrecisionMasks) with the right reading (emulsion or
toner) side of the transparency in contact with the
gloss side of the PrecisionMask film.
Washout
- Pre-soak the film in water for a few minutes in cold
water and then wash out with a cold water spray
(mains water pressure should be enough).
Dry off the water
- Force dry the washed out film at a temperature of
40°C for half an hour or so (if the film is left with a
high water content within it, the Carrier Film will not
adher properly).
- N.B. If the film is left in a damp or humid atmosphere
for more than a few minutes after drying and before
coating, it will re-absorb moisture from the air and
will need to be dried again.
Coat With Carrier Film
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Dry the Carrier Film
- Dry the Carrier Film at a temperature of 50 - 60°C
for a minimum of an hour and a half, or until the
Carrier Film is dried right through. If this is not done
properly, detail may be left behind when the
PrecisionMask is removed from its polyester film
base. Good extraction ventilation is essential during
this part of the process - to aid drying, to keep
excessive fumes away from operators in the work
area and to keep the concentration of fumes within
the drying cabinet to a safe low level (see the safety
data sheets). A specially designed, self extracting
oven, such as the PrecisionMask Drying Cabinet,
should be used.
Peel
- Immediately after removal from the drying cabinet,
peel the completed sheet of PrecisionMasks off the
polyester film base and lay on a sheet of clean, dry
paper. The peeling process is easy and reliable with
properly cured PrecisionMasks straight out of the
drying cabinet.
To peel, put the sheet of masks, polyester side down,
on a flat surface. Pick one of the furthest corners
apart and put a weight on the near corner, opposite
to that, to weigh it down ( this is to stop the static
electricity lifting that last corner up and sticking it to
the rest of the mask as it is peeled apart). Holding
the far corner of the polyester, peel the masks off
toward yourself, at a low angle, in a smooth single
action.
Store
- After peeling, PrecisionMasks may be stored
indefinitely, with paper between. Cut up the sheet of
masks and the paper underneath (which provides a
useful support whilst it is being cut). For in-house
purposes, the paper will suffice to separate the masks
from each other when stacked awaiting use. For
storing in envelopes or for dispatching to another
user, however, we recommend that the stack be
closely wrapped - if they are allowed to come into
contact with each other, they can easily stick together.
Use
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