08-21-23

» Do you really know about silk screen printing mesh?

How much do you know about screen printing?

Thread Diameter:

Thread diameter refers to the thickness of the thread used to weave the fabric. The thickness of the thread can vary widely, with thicker yarns used for weaving coarse meshes, such as 24/250, which has 24 threads per inch and a thread thickness of 250 microns. For higher mesh counts, thinner yarns are required to achieve workable mesh openings as the number of threads per inch increases. For example, 305/40 has a mesh count of 305 threads per inch and a thread thickness of 40 microns.

Mesh Opening:

The mesh opening is the open area bounded on all four sides by woven threads. It is measured in microns and represents the width of one opening. While technical diagrams of mesh show the opening as perfectly square, in reality, woven threads create openings that are less regular. Mesh openings in plain weave fabrics tend to be more consistent than those in twill weaves. The size of the mesh opening is important for determining printability with certain inks, especially those with coarse pigments and metallic particles.

Open Area:

Open area is expressed as a percentage and refers to the area covered by holes versus thread mass in a given area, usually calculated per square meter. Fabrics with different thread diameters can have the same mesh count but different percentages of open area. This is an important consideration when selecting a fabric for a job with specific ink deposit requirements.

Fabric Thickness:

Fabric thickness is the measurement of a woven fabric cross-section and is used to calculate the theoretical ink volume of a screen fabric or the cubic measurement of the mesh opening. The total fabric thickness measurement is affected by weaving and finishing processes and is always smaller than the sum of two thread diameters.

Tensile Strength and Yield Point:

Tensile strength is a screen fabric’s ability to be stretched without breaking, measured in the amount of tension required to break it. Fabrics with low elongation typically have higher tensile strength. The yield point is where the polyester fabric becomes deformed under tension, occurring before the breaking point. This plastic deformation causes the fabric to lose its ability to retain tension. The goal in tensioning mesh is to reach an optimal level below the yield point.

Mesh Color:

The color of the fabric is an important factor affecting image reproduction and exposure time. Yellow mesh is naturally UV absorbent and provides the best stencil resolution. While exposure time may be longer than with white mesh, using white mesh for fine details can lead to issues such as undercutting, sawtoothing, and loss of detail due to light reflection. Exposure time for yellow mesh is approximately 10% less than conventionally dyed screen fabrics.

Do you know enough about screen printing?

Threads in a screen support the stencil, with open areas allowing ink passage. Understanding the significance of each mesh count can simplify fabric selection and lead to consistently high-quality printing.

Mesh Count:

The mesh count refers to the number of threads per linear inch in a screen fabric. Fabrics are typically woven in threads per centimeter and converted to English measurements for global distribution.

For example, a fabric woven at 120 threads/cm equals 305 threads/inch. This is calculated by multiplying 120 by 2.54, resulting in 304.8, which is rounded up to 305.

Warp Threads:

These threads run along the entire length of a fabric bolt, providing stability and structure.

Weft Threads:

Weft threads are woven through the warp threads, running from one selvage edge to the other, completing the fabric structure.

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