Ultra-fine electronic engraving technology (below)

Hell Gravure Systems' newly introduced Xtreme Engraving technology (abbreviated as Xtreme or XT) breaks the limitations of electromechanical engraving technology for a long time. This technology has made considerable progress in the resolution of engraving, and has also changed in the basic way of carving. Only the characteristics of this ultra-fine engraving technique will be described.

1. Improves overall engraving resolution, high-resolution engraving of text and fine graphics

Under the premise of unchanged engraving head, the engraving resolution of the conventional electronic engraving machine (such as K-500) is increased to 200 lines/cm (508 lines/inch); while in the field of security, the electronic engraving machine SP-500 On the other hand, thanks to the specially developed HelioSprin SP engraving head, the engraving resolution can reach 2000 cm (5080 lines/inch).
In the principle of engraving, each cell is no longer carved once, but is composed of multiple lines of engraving. This method is similar to the laser recording of one dot in offset printing, and the number of lines and the engraving resolution of the engraving net hole may be different.
Using high-resolution engraving for text and fine graphic elements, you can create a contour around it at the edges. As shown in Figure 4, the inverted text is carved with 508 lines/inch, and the number of surrounding cell lines is 84 lines/inch. Each cell site is composed of approximately 6 lines of engraving. The smallest text that can be engraved with Xtreme Engraving technology is reduced from 5 pounds to 2 pounds. Figure 5 shows the 2 pound text printed on the PF film with 508 lines/inch engraving. Figure 6 is on the SP-500 type special electronic engraving machine. , using a 25-pound/inch engraving of 1 pound text. For comparison, FIG. 7 shows symbols carved using conventional engraving techniques and ultra-fine engraving techniques, respectively. Among them, conventional engraving settings are: engraving effective resolution 100 lines / cm (254 lines / inch); XtremeEngraving's settings are: engraving resolution 200 lines / cm (508 lines / inch), printed on PE film.

2. Screening and engraving changes

Each cell of a conventional electronic engraving machine is carved once, and the engraving data used is a “grayscale” mode. Without adding a net, the process of forming a net hole is completely implemented by an electronic engraving machine. The movement of the carving knife is jointly controlled by the combined signal of the engraving gray signal and the engraving vibration signal. The opening area and depth of the engraving net hole are determined by the engraving gray data, and the arrangement angle and shape of the engraving net hole are determined by the vibration frequency of the carving knife. The rotation speed of the drum, and the step and speed of the infeed of the engraving head are determined jointly.
One cell of the ultra-fine carving technique is composed of multiple rows of engravings. Each line of high-resolution engraving signals must be responsible for the formation of concave contours inside the cells. The shape of the opening of the cell openings formed by the multi-row engraving combination also needs to be carved. Data decision. Of course, high-resolution engraving of text and fine graphics must also be controlled by engraving data. Under the control of the processed gray data, because the shape and the angle of the cell are freed from the constraint of the “one hole at a time” mode, it is possible to more freely generate the cells of different screening angles and opening shapes, and even perform FM addition. The processing of the net eventually achieves FM screen gravure replication.
Prospects for Ultra-Fine Engraving Techniques Ultra-fine engraving technology achieves high resolution similar to offset laser recording. In general engraving applications up to 508dpi, in the special engraving field can reach ultra-high resolution of 5080dpi. The excellent performance lays a solid foundation for improving the quality of gravure printing, graphics, and image reproduction. It can generate more flexible screen lines, mesh openings, and inner wall shapes. It can achieve common network points and achieve FM screening copy. At the same time, the extremely high resolution provided by this technology has also broadened the application of gravure in special fields such as security and securities. At high resolution, the engraving data and even the engraving work methods have changed. All of these "craftsmanship techniques" set new high standards for the future gravure carving technology, opening up broad prospects for the continued development of gravure printing.