Key Features Of Rotogravure Printing Cylinder
The process of making a rotogravure printing cylinder is subject to a lot of consideration. Primarily, the purpose of the cylinder and the intended outcome must be considered. The main idea here is to customize the cylinder in a manner that the final product aligns with the intended purpose and goals. If you are looking for a rotogravure cylinder for your laser engraving machine, here are among the prime features that you should be on the lookout for:
Material
Apparently, any material can be used in making rotogravure printing cylinders. However, not all materials produce the best cylinders. Therefore, it is important to consider if the rotogravure cylinder is made of the best material. Ideally, steel is the most used material in making rotogravure printing cylinders. This is because steel is strong and customizable. Aside from that, steel is durable and can endure long mechanical processes. It would be best if you considered rotogravure printing cylinders made of steel.
Weight
The weight of the cylinder largely depends on the material used. In this case, copper and steel are mostly used in making such cylinders. The idea here is to ensure that the cylinder runs smoothly and at a significant speed during the printing process. Therefore, the weight of the cylinder should not be too much or too small. Copper cylinders are usually weightier than steel cylinders. In the interest of achieving precision weight, the manufacturing process of rotogravure cylinder includes grinding. That way, it is possible to achieve a specific weight accurately.
Length
Another feature to consider in a rotogravure printing cylinder is the length. In this case, the length of the cylinder may range from 400 to 600 mm, depending on the purpose and size of the laser engraving machine. Selecting the right size of the engraving cylinder is important in determining the final output.
Versatility in Engraving
The other important factor you need to check is the versatility in engraving for laser engraving. You need to ensure that the rotogravure printing cylinder can be engraved by a range of machines or engraving powers. This will also help increase the versatility of your printing.