*INTRODUCTION*
Beauty is driven by aesthetic appearance and anything which is reproduced should stand by this word. The appearance can be improved by the aid of color but there are some fields where this seems to be undefined. Printer takes utmost care for his class and quality of work, but the customer is also worried about its life. So there arises a need for fulfillment of the same into a boon. We live in a three-dimensional world, which may explain why we often consider two-dimensional objects to be plain and uninteresting. Sometimes even the most vibrant, colorful decals, nameplates, tags, promotional items, and labels go without a second glance because they lack that certain something. The missing link between nice and noteworthy can be filled by a three-dimensional look to these types of products.
Doming is a finishing process that not only enhances the appearance of printed items by producing a three-dimensional look, but it also makes them more durable. And most importantly, doming creates an impression of value and quality in the products that quickly translates to greater profits for a business.
The doming process relies primarily on three components: a dispensing system, a resin from which the dome or lens is formed, and a product with surface tension sufficient enough to accept and control the liquid resin during and after application. Essentially, the dispensing equipment draws or receives the doming resin from dedicated containers and then deposits the resin on the surface of a receptive product, usually a tag, decal, label, or nameplate that has previously been printed and die cut or knife cut. Provided that the surface energy of the material is high enough to allow the resin to wet its surface, the resin spreads until it reaches the cut edges of the part, forming a dome that encompasses the entire part. As straightforward as this process may sound, successful doming hinges on one's ability to control several key variables in the process.
Perhaps the greatest challenge in doming is figuring out how much resin to deposit onto a product's surface. If you dispense too much, the volume of the resin will overcome the product's surface tension and the liquid will flow over the edges of the label or tag. If you dispense too little, the resin may not reach the edges of the product's surface as it flows out.
So how much is enough? Experience and experimentation are the answer. It is said that 0.15-0.20 g/sq cm, or the 1 g/sq in. equation used by some domers, are good starting points for estimating how much resin is needed for any given application. It is also noted that substrate composition and cutting method can affect the flow rate of the resins. If it's metallised Mylar, it might flow differently than a vinyl-coated Mylar, and a plotter-cut label works better than a vertical-die cut label. The plotter-cut process creates more consistent edges.
Steel-rule diecuts or vertical diecuts, may "fracture" the coating on the substrate. If you fracture this coating, the hygroscopic-moisture-seeking-nature of the t catalyst component of polyurethane resin materials may actually sap the moisture from the substrate under the coating and bring that moisture into the resin. If that happens, you could be faced with clouding of the lens. However, domers have worked
successfully with diecut materials for quite some time, so if you already have a die-cutting system in place, testing materials and cutting processes and consulting with dispensing-equipment and resin manufacturers should help make your existing tools
D:\Domino Printing Sciences - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.htmDoming can be done by two types:
1. Epoxy Doming- It composes basically of Epoxy and Hardener.
2. Polyurethane Doming- It compose basically of Polyol and Isocyanate.
What is Epoxy Doming?
Epoxy doming is the addition of a glass like shell to a decorated item. This could be anything from labels printed on an ink jet printer to lapel pins made from metal. The doming process depends on surface tension to form a bubble of epoxy on item being decorated without going off the edge of the item. The epoxy is then exposed to low intensity ultra violet light which initiates a chemical reaction that causes the epoxy to harden.
What's it used for?
Epoxy doming is commonly used for items like label pins, name badges and key chains. Epoxy domed labels are also widely used on appliances, automobiles, computers, stereo equipment and such
Polyurethane Doming:
The polyurethane dome is applied in resin form. Our process allows many labels to be domed at once, allowing fast batch production. Machines are computer controlled to ensure accurate resin coverage.
Once the resin has been applied they are placed in special custom ovens to insure the dome dries quickly, reducing the risk of imperfection
What's it used for?
It is used for logos on cars, bikes, pen clips, suit cases, wallets, belts, tattoos,
Dispensing Equipments
Dispensing equipment is available in numerous configurations and can accommodate products of varying shapes and sizes and job orders large and small. If doming is your desire, you have quite a few systems from which to choose. Before you begin, however, it might be helpful to review some basic features and terms associated with doming equipment. These descriptions apply primarily to machines that dispense two-part polyurethane resins, the most common type used today.
Meter-mix
Also referred to as meter-mix-dispense, this means the dispensing machine meters (measures) the doming materials by volume and then mixes the components before depositing the resin onto the products.
Static mixer
This refers to the dispensing machine's mixing unit, which is responsible for blending doming materials. A static mixer is often a simple, rigid, plastic tube that houses a series of helical elements. As both components of a two-part polyurethane resin enter the static mixer, they're sheared and blended together when they pass over each element. The result is a homogenous mixture ready for deposit. Static mixers are common
Dynamic mixer
The dynamic mixer is similar to the static version in that it relies on the helical elements, but it also consists of a pneumatic motor that is integral to the dispensing head. This motor complements the static mixer's shearing and blending effect with rotary motion, which provides additional mixing.
Piston-metering systems
Some dispensing machines rely on pistons to measure the resin and catalyst. The pistons' cylindrical housings are sized to conform to the volumetric ratio of the doming materials, 1:1 and 2:1 being the most common configurations. Upon actuation, the pistons push the precise amount of each component toward the mixer.
Gear-metering systems
These are another means used to deliver predetermined amounts of doming components to the dispensing machine's mixer. The gears, controlled by a servo motor, are machined with precise volumetric spaces between each tooth, which makes them the metering system. Controlled amounts of doming materials are metered as they're captured by the teeth of the gears.
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