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Dynamic Finishes, L.L.C. |
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Water Transfer Printing Process |
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Parts before and after wood grain ink transfer |
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Step 1: Preparation- Depending on the substrate some or all of the following steps may be necessary. Chemical pretreatment, fill and sanding, masking, application of spray chemical adhesion promoters, plasma treatment or corona flame treating.
Step 2: Tooling & Fixtures- Parts are attached to a specific fixture which holds the parts during the dip process. We own 1,000's of generic fixtures which host many different parts. Occasionally our engineers have to design custom fixtures to host unique parts. |
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Step 3: Primer Painting- A coat of primer paint is applied to the part. This paint serves as a bonding agent between the part and the transferred inks. The paint color typically becomes part of the background contrast color too.
Step 4: Ink Transfer or Dipping- The fixtured part is now dipped through the inks which are floated on water in a specialized processing tank. As the parts are immersed through the inks into the water, displacement of the water carries the inks around the three dimensional shape of the part. Step 5: Wash and Rinse Process- Parts travel through a conveyorized hot water wash line to remove excess processing chemicals. The last stage of the wash line dries the part. Step 6: QC Inspection- A detailed inspection of the ink transfer and adhesion is completed. On occasion parts with extremely complex geometry may require manual touch up using the transfer inks. Step 7: Sealing Top Coat- Based on the customers specifications either a high gloss, satin or flat top coat of clear Urethane finish is applied to seal the inks. One or more coats may be applied and in some cases buffing and polishing is required between coats. Step 8: Final QC and Packing- A thorough inspection is conducted by a trained professional. Once complete the parts are then packed according to the customers specifications and prepared for shipment. |
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