The ISIMAT EC/4 automatic screen printing machine had its entire control system replaced by Production Technology (UK) Ltd which has led to a more reliable machine using standard industrial components. The machine is used to print plastic memo holders and memo note pads.

Flexibility, short setup times and printing precision are the key to the machine and this has been achieved using Parker Compax3 servo drives, Parker servomotors, Siemens S7-200 PLC and a Siemens TP170A touch screen.

The horizontal, vertical and rotational axes drive the jig carriage, which holds the item to be printed. The servo drives achieve an accuracy and repeatability of better than 1/100mm and achieve speeds of 1000mm/s, limited by the linear actuators. As the rotational axes can be positioned to any angle required almost any shape of item can be printed. The ability to program and store recipes for different items leads to a highly flexible system with short setup times. This not only leads to a reduction of production costs but also a high and consistent printing quality.

The various printing parameters such as box dimensions, sides and colours to be printed and print positions and offsets are entered through the HMI and saved to a specific recipe. This can then be backed up onto a compact flash card for added data security.