PRODPP106 – Make gravure cylinders

Overview

This standard is for printers preparing and transferring images to cylinders.

This standard covers:

  • preparing gravure cylinders
  • transferring images to gravure cylinders

This standard includes:

  • identifying what work you have to do
  • preparing equipment and materials for the job
  • operating equipment to transfer the image to the cylinder
  • dealing with problems which can arise when making gravure cylinders

It is important to prepare the right masks for the job to ensure that the correct images are transferred to cylinders and to ensure that transferred images are complete, sharp and clean and at the required resolution.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

Prepare cylinders

  1. check that job details are complete
  2. check that you have sufficient materials to complete each job
  3. check that cylinders are clean and suitable for each job
  4. check and adjust equipment so that it is ready to operate in an efficient and safe manner in accordance with organisational procedures
  5. select and prepare the right masks in line with job requirements
  6. minimise waste materials in accordance with organisational requirements

Transfer images to cylinders

  1. check equipment is ready for image transfer
  2. set and operate equipment so that complete images are transferred to cylinders, and finished cylinders are free from faults and suitable for production
  3. set and operate equipment so that images are sharp and clean and at the required resolution
  4. identify and correct faults within your area of responsibility in accordance with organisational procedures
  5. report faults and problems which it is not your job to correct in accordance with organisational procedures
  6. keep waste to a minimum and dispose of it in accordance with organisational procedures
  7. report when the plate is ready for production in accordance with organisational procedures

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand

  1. what details you need for the job
  2. the types of cylinders in use in your company, and the types of job for which they are used
  3. why it is important to check that the cylinder is clean and suitable for the job
  4. the range, use and limitations of processing materials and equipment
  5. your company's procedures for minimising waste
  6. the types of mask in use in your company
  7. the cylinder making methods and equipment in use in your company
  8. the safe light conditions for inspecting cylinders
  9. the risks associated with operating the equipment
  10. how to set up and operate the equipment
  11. your company's waste disposal procedures
  12. the common faults which can occur when making gravure cylinders, what causes them and how to correct them
  13. when you should correct faults yourself and when you should ask for help
  14. to whom you must report when there are faults, and when the plate is ready for production

Scope/range

  1. Prepare the cylinder

Operators are expected to prepare gravure cylinders consistently over a

  • period of time for:
  • single colour work
  • coarse register spot colour work
  • four colour process work

and for the following types of image:

  • line
  • line and half tone

Operators identify what is required from:

  • job instructions
  • the layout
  1. Transfer the image to the cylinder

Operators can transfer the following image types:

  • line
  • line and half tone
  • mono and multicolour

Keywords: digital, print, pre-press, pre press, gravure, cylinders