The newest generation of STOP cylinder screen printing machines is the ASTRON QX range

The ASTRON QX is a fully automatic 4-post servo- / linear-driven and extremely accurate STOP cylinder screen printing press for automotive, flexible electronics, plastic card, security and transfer printing.

The Astron QX comes in combination with a SPS servo-driven single sheet front-pick-up feeder. This feeder is perfect to handle high static loaded materials and transport scratch free from pile to print position. The sheet separation is smooth and very reliable with additional anti-static air blow between sheets. A “just-in-time” sheet cleaning system is integrated on the feed-board of this screen printing press.

Due to the unique direct drive systems of this screen printing press, the ASTRON QX series can process the most difficult materials in a precise and reliable way. The image to print can be manipulated in running direction to grow or shrink from and to and in any percentage at any given position on the sheet. When sheet edge registration is not possible, the ASTRON QX can be equipped with 2 CCD cameras that can align the screen position to any individual sheet or image position. Each sheet is measured by the cameras and the screen system is aligned accordingly. The fully new squeegee system is driven up/down by servo motors. The movement is not only extremely smooth but can also be activated / deactivated at any position during the forward moving of the sheet. The squeegee pressure is controlled by 2 hydraulic cylinders. From the additional HMI positioned at the squeegee bridge of the screen printing machine, all squeegee or flood coater related parameters can be set and stored.

Since high-end screen printing applications very often use solvent based inks, the benefit of “slide in / slide out” of the screen frame without loosing registration is an enormous plus.

Also, the quick and easy set-up of the camera registration system is of great benefit for the screen printing process. The mirror system on the feed-board in combination with the cameras positioned outside of the feed-board make the system less sensitive for dust and dirt contamination. The individual monitor showing camera registration is easy to understand and shows registration of each individual sheet.