～History of printing pressure measurement～
How do you measure printing pressure? We have been developing and selling various measuring devices for over 20 years.
This time, it is the history of our company's printing pressure measurement.
This time, it is the history of our company's printing pressure measurement.
The printing pressure in screen printing is expressed by the "squeegee pushing amount" or "supplied air pressure to the air cylinder". However, this is a set value, and we do not know what kind of force is actually applied to the screen plate at the tip of the squeegee.
"I want to measure the stress at the tip of the squeegee"
We have been working on this for over 20 years now.
Then, in 1995, we developed and released the first-generation printing pressure measuring instrument, the Squeegee Balancer.
Using a resistor-type sensor whose resistance value changes with printing pressure, the change in printing pressure was displayed on an analog LED level meter.
This measuring instrument was the first in the industry to visually confirm the printing pressure distribution, but it was not possible to record the data because it was designed entirely with analog circuits. However, because it was easy to operate, it was well received for checking the balance of the squeegee at the work site.
With the spread of personal computers, the demand for data storage has increased.
However, personal computers at the time were large, heavy, and expensive, making them difficult to use at manufacturing sites. Therefore, in 1996, the year after the release of the "Squeegee Balancer," we developed and released the second-generation measuring instrument "Squeegee Scan SS-01," which applied the palmtop computers that were becoming popular at the time.
Palmtop computers at the time were much less powerful than today's computers, but they were the first to store printing pressure data, making it possible to print the data on a small printer.
However, at that time, personal computers were still in the process of development, so it was an era in which various operating systems were appearing and disappearing again. "Squeegee scan" was greatly influenced by this. Every time the OS changed, "Squeegee Scan" also changed its model to SS-01, SS-02, SS-03, SS-04 in rapid succession. There was no compatibility between each model because the OS was different.
However, personal computers at the time were large, heavy, and expensive, making them difficult to use at manufacturing sites. Therefore, in 1996, the year after the release of the "Squeegee Balancer," we developed and released the second-generation measuring instrument "Squeegee Scan SS-01," which applied the palmtop computers that were becoming popular at the time.
Palmtop computers at the time were much less powerful than today's computers, but they were the first to store printing pressure data, making it possible to print the data on a small printer.
However, at that time, personal computers were still in the process of development, so it was an era in which various operating systems were appearing and disappearing again. "Squeegee scan" was greatly influenced by this. Every time the OS changed, "Squeegee Scan" also changed its model to SS-01, SS-02, SS-03, SS-04 in rapid succession. There was no compatibility between each model because the OS was different.
Under these circumstances, the production of analog circuit parts was discontinued, making it difficult to manufacture the "Squeegee Balancer". However, compared to the "Squeegee Scan" series, it was the longest-produced model because it did not undergo a model change.
Palmtop computers also gradually disappeared due to the spread of Windows OS computers. At that time (2005), there were no smartphones in the world. As for small PCs, there are only PCs with Windows OS, and second-generation measuring instruments can no longer be sold.
During the heyday of Windows, personal computers of various sizes were released. Computers have also become smaller.
Therefore, in 2006, we developed and released the third-generation measuring instruments "SB Tester" and "SB Measure" that used Windows OS (XP at the time). In this third generation, measurement data can be automatically loaded into a personal computer, dramatically improving the performance of measurement functions. In addition, usability has been improved by using a commercially available Windows PC.
However, the evolution of personal computers progresses at a tremendous pace. The OS will also be upgraded to Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. And finally, the driver installed in the measuring instrument became incompatible with the OS (Windows 8 or higher).
Unfortunately, the third generation was no longer available for sale in 2016.
Therefore, in 2006, we developed and released the third-generation measuring instruments "SB Tester" and "SB Measure" that used Windows OS (XP at the time). In this third generation, measurement data can be automatically loaded into a personal computer, dramatically improving the performance of measurement functions. In addition, usability has been improved by using a commercially available Windows PC.
However, the evolution of personal computers progresses at a tremendous pace. The OS will also be upgraded to Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. And finally, the driver installed in the measuring instrument became incompatible with the OS (Windows 8 or higher).
Unfortunately, the third generation was no longer available for sale in 2016.
■ Printing pressure measuring instruments to the fourth generation
And finally, the printing pressure measuring instrument will enter the fourth generation.
The fourth generation will be finished as an even more user-friendly measuring instrument. One of them is going wireless. In conventional measuring instruments, the sensor unit and the main body were connected with a cable. After the secondnd generation, it was necessary to connect it to a personal computer, and the whole measuring instrument was quite bulky. Also, the computer had to be placed near the printing press.
However, by making it wireless, it is possible to measure even if the PC is about 10m away from the printer. In addition, the squeegee balance adjustment function has been made easier to use than the third generation.
Furthermore, we plan to thoroughly reduce development costs and make the price cheaper than the current product.
And finally, the printing pressure measuring instrument will enter the fourth generation.
The fourth generation will be finished as an even more user-friendly measuring instrument. One of them is going wireless. In conventional measuring instruments, the sensor unit and the main body were connected with a cable. After the secondnd generation, it was necessary to connect it to a personal computer, and the whole measuring instrument was quite bulky. Also, the computer had to be placed near the printing press.
However, by making it wireless, it is possible to measure even if the PC is about 10m away from the printer. In addition, the squeegee balance adjustment function has been made easier to use than the third generation.
Furthermore, we plan to thoroughly reduce development costs and make the price cheaper than the current product.
The fourth generation measuring instrument is "SB sensor” is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2017. Please stay tuned.
