FAQs : Solution for toys decoration

Ans. Yes, our inks/paints are compliant with various International Regulations such as American, European Union, Japan, Australian & New Zealand, etc. Our Inks/paints are tested for various non-toxic chemical compounds, which have hazardous impact on the health of children. Our inks/paints are tested by accredited laboratories (such as SGS and TUV etc.) and toxic substances such as heavy metals, phthalates, cadmium, lead, PFOS, PFOA, organotin & tin, BPA, DMF were either not found or were found under the permissible limits.

Ans. Special inks are used for printing food container/packaging that involves indirect food contact. These inks are manufactured to be fast-drying, non-toxic, and odourless.

The health risks posed by printing inks depend on the individual properties and concentration of the chemical substances. Due to this reason, the regulatory bodies across the globe put limits on the concentration of hazardous substances in inks for specific purposes.

For example:

• PAA (Primary Aromatic Amines): Several PAAs have carcinogenic and mutagenic properties.
• Phthalates: Six listed phthalates (Directive 2005/84/EC) have endocrine, carcinogenic, mutagenic and reproduction hazardous properties.
• PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons): Some PAHs listed in REACH (SVHC list) have carcinogens posing increased risk of lungs, skin, bladder, and gastrointestinal diseases in humans.
• Ethyl benzene: Carcinogenic and affects children when their organs are developing.
• Cyclohexanone (used in solvents, nylon): Extreme exposure to this chemical causes irritation in eyes, nose, throat and kidney damage, narcosis (drowsiness due to drug-dust angel).
• Bisphenol A (BPA): BPA is known to causing reproductive, immunity, and neurological problems, as well as an increased likelihood of Alzheimer, childhood asthma, metabolic disease, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in humans.

Ans. Pre-treatment: All plastics have a natural dyne level or surface tension that will determine how easy or how difficult it will be to achieve good adhesion. For the ink to stick well, the surface tension of the substrate needs to be higher than that of the ink. Normally, Polycarbonate, ABS and Styrene have surface tensions higher than the ink while polypropylene (PP), nylon (PA) and polyethylene (PE) have lower surface tensions than the ink. These substrates need to be pre-treated before printing. It is a good idea to wipe the surface with isopropyl alcohol to remove oils or residues, prior to pad printing any parts. Following are the pre-treatment techniques to raise the surface tension -

• Flamers: Low flame is passed over the printing surface.
• Corona & Plasma: Passes an electric discharge over the surface.

Post-treatment: The main purpose of treating components after the printing process is to reduce the curing time. Post-treatment, or curing, is usually used in the applications, where components will undergo additional processing within a relatively short time.

The methods used to cure a printed part are:

• Flame treatment
• Hot air treatment
• Infrared dryer
• U.V dryer

Note: The selection of the best-suited Pre/Post-treatment method will depend upon the chemical composition of the ink, surface dyne level, and other factors.

Ans. We have 3-axis and 5-axis CNC machines from the world’s best manufacturers such as Deckel Maho and DMG Mori. These machines assure machining up to 5 microns.

Jigs and fixtures made by additive manufacturing have their own advantages. Additive manufacturing saves a lot of time. We can manufacture complex design jigs & fixtures with a lot of customization. In additive manufacturing we customize material density, impart honeycomb & netted structure (so as to save material without compromising strength).

Ans. We can print on dark substrate by using highly opaque inks and sometimes, we even under-print white for opacity.

Ans. Printing can be made elastic by selecting right elastic ink as well as substrate. In fact, we even provide inks for fabrics containing elastone, which can stretch up-to 200 percent.

Ans. Following are the possible reasons of poor adhesion of INKS:

• Thick layer of Inks: For proper adhesion of inks, the ink deposition should not be too thick. For pad printing process, the etched plate should be of appropriate depth and for UV screen-printing; energy of UV lamp should be proportional to ink thickness for proper curing.
• Chemical nature of the substrate: Check the chemical nature of substrate and select the suitable inks thereafter.
• Pre-treatment of the substrate: Some substrates like polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), Polyamide (PA, Nylon) have dyne level lesser than that of inks and thus these substrates require pre-treatment to increase the dyne level of the surface for better adhesion of the inks.

Ans. For printing two, four and six colors we have world’s best printing solutions from EPIC and KAMMANN. We have an expert & experienced team in automation & machine building. We have successfully delivered dozens of project in toy industry where registration/accuracy/repeatability is the major concern in case of multiple color printing.

Ans. We at Spinks World are having 30 years of experience in printing solutions. We monitor each component of pad printing and ensure best quality in the market. To ensure best quality of pad printing, we very carefully monitor the following aspects:

• Depth of Etched Plate: Generally, the depth of plate is around 18-25 microns but it also depends on the nature of inks (such as viscosity)and pad's material (such as hardness).
• Hardness of pad
• Surface of pad
• Roll angle of pad (generally between 15-60 degrees)
• Pressure exerted on the pad by machine
• Mixture of inks & solvents
• Tip & vertex of the pad

Ans. Substrates generally used in the toys industry include wood (maple, walnut, poplar, ash, beech, birch etc.), textiles (polyester, acrylic, cotton, poly-cotton etc.), plastics (PP, PE, PA, special PVC, PET, PU etc.), metals, ceramics and glass. We have inks/paints for all kinds of substrates listed above.

Ans. Toy masking is a printing technique that involves the use of masks to create intricate designs, patterns, logos, and other unique effects on toys. Masks act as barriers that prevent paint or ink from getting onto areas of the toy that are not intended to be printed on.

Ans. To perform toy masking, you will need masks, paint or ink, and a variety of other tools such as spray guns etc.

Ans. Toy masking can produce stunning and unique results that are sure to impress toy collectors and toy manufacturers alike. It also allows for precise control over the design and results can be easily replicated. For industrial production of toys, using toy masking techniques for spray coating ensures fast and high-quality results. This method of toy coating provides an optimal solution for high-volume production, making it an ideal choice for any industrial-level operation.

Ans. Making of toy masks requires a high level of precision and attention to detail, and even the slightest mistake can ruin the entire print. It also requires specific materials and tools that may not be readily available.

Ans. Masks are essential in preventing the paint or ink from getting onto areas of the toy that you don't want it to. Without masks, it can be difficult to achieve the desired result.

Ans. With more than 10 years of experience in mask making for toy printing, Spinks World provides industrial-grade 3D toy printing masks made with special alloys and copper. Our masks are foolproof, providing a perfect seal that prevents ink from draining or spreading out when sprayed onto toys. In the toy manufacturing industry, Spinks masks have proven to be durable and reliable.