Newman Floodbars
We decided to review a somewhat radical approach to the traditional automatic floodbar - the Newman floodbar.
All automatic screenprinting machines employ the same general floodbar principle, which is basically a flat, straight piece of aluminum bracketed behind the squeegee. There have been no significant changes in the floodbar since its inception — that is, until recently. Actually, the Newman floodbars by Stretch Devices have been around for a few years, but with the recent advancements in squeegee design, also spearheaded by Stretch Devices, they are now beginning to catch on.
|
Higlights: Anodized aluminum Considerations: Manufacture: Floodbars tested the week of June 15, 1998 |
And because of the radical shape of these bars, once nicked they are of little use.
Stretch Devices will re-flatten the edge at the factory for a service charge. The floodbars are anodized aluminum, so uneven wear and nicks are a cinch to spot, and cleanup is no problem.
According to the manufacturer, all Newman floodbars rotate ink in a tight circle at high speed. This redirects and injects the ink directly downward into the millions of small mesh openings. The ink's own velocity then fills those openings with less pressure from the floodbar. This may be accomplished with a standard floodbar, but with much greater flood pressure and unpredictable flood angle, which can wreak havoc on your mesh. The Newman floodbars can move two to three times faster than traditional floodbar speed as well, resulting in greater yields.
Not only is there less flood pressure, but also less squeegee pressure is needed to transfer the ink onto the substrate. Pallet deflection and resulting mis-registration are greatly reduced.
We had very good results from the Vector floodbar on process-type printing and with lower-viscosity inks through finer mesh. For thinner deposits, this floodbar works the best of the three because it rolls the ink the tightest and has a very sharp edge.
We found the Vector 'R' to be the most versatile of the three floodbars tested. While it didn't work as well as the Vector and Hydra on thinner inks, it adequately filled the stencil for all-purpose inks with medium to high viscosities.
The Hydra may be the most radical floodbar of the three, and the most specific in its application. It is designed for medium- and high-viscosity inks and is best suited for very heavy ink deposits such as puff ink and some white printers.
Overall, we found the Newman floodbars to be very interesting in their approach; as well as applicable to specific needs~Each of these bars has its place, but there is not one that fits all of the screenprinter's floodbar needs.
The Press Magazine - PRESS REPORTS - August 1998
PRINTWARE MAGAZINE
Spotlight On: Don Newman - October 1993
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part I - Tuning Up Tension, November 1993
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part II - Spaghetti with Rubber Bands, December 1993
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part III - The Cheese Grater, January 1994
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part IV - The Double-Cantilevered, Feburary 1994
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part V - Like a Rolling Stone, April, 1994
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part VI - Controlling the Stone, June 1994
Elevating Production Efficiency, Part VII - Out of the Stone Age, August 1994
THE PRESS reports
Newman Squeegees - June, 1998
Stretch Devices, L.O.C. Gauge - July, 1998
Newman Floodbars - August, 1998
Newman Roller Master 7700 Screen Stretcher - November, 1998
Screen Printing