Electronic Grauvre Engraving Machine

The electronic grauvre engraving machine is printed by circular pressing and direct printing. The printing plate is directly formed on the plate cylinder, and is inked by ink or ink jet. There is no ink distribution mechanism. Since the ink layer is thick, a quick-drying ink with a strong volatility is used, and a drying device is required.
The types of gravure printing of electronic grauvre engraving machines are classified into two types according to the plate making method: engraving gravure and etching intaglio.

Engraved intaglio:
The engraving gravure is a pit that is directly engraved on the surface of the plate cylinder with a knives corresponding to the original image. According to the control method of the knives, it can be divided into a hand-engraved gravure, a mechanical engraving gravure and an electronic engraving gravure.
(1) Hand-engraved gravure
The hand-engraved gravure is made by a technician using a knife to manually engrave the surface of the plate cylinder according to the original image, and the plate material can be made of copper plate or steel plate. Manual labor is heavy, plate making costs are large, and the cycle is long. However, the hand-engraved gravure lines are clear, and the prints are highly layered and difficult to forge. Most are used in gravure printing gravure printing of high quality art.

Automatic Electronic Grauvre Engraving Machine
(1) Mechanical engraving gravure
The mechanical engraving gravure is made by mechanically controlling the knives on the surface of the plate cylinder. It reduces the heavy work of hand engraving, the plate making speed is fast, the cycle is short, and the plate making cost is also low. Mainly used to make printed gravure of securities.
Due to the high cost of the above two engraving plates and the long plate making cycle, the use range of the gravure printing press is limited. But things are divided into two. In the case of anti-counterfeiting packaging, hand-engraved intaglio may be the best method of making plates. Because the secret anti-counterfeiting is a main method of anti-counterfeiting packaging, the technicians can use the various methods to engrave some hidden notes in the process of hand-engraving the intaglio. The hidden marks on these hand-engraved intaglios are not easy to be found, and it is more difficult to distinguish in the printed matter. This forms a secret anti-counterfeiting.
(2) Electronic engraving gravure
This version is controlled by an electronic control device to engrave the surface of the plate cylinder. The electronic engraving machine is used to control the engraving knives according to the photoelectric principle, and the cells are engraved on the surface of the drum, and the area and depth of the electronic grauvre engraving machine drum are simultaneously changed.

Corrosion intaglio:
The etching intaglio is made by etching a single ink pit on the surface of the plate cylinder by chemical etching according to the original image. Corrosion intaglios can be classified into an etch intaglio, a gravure, and a dot intaglio according to the difference in the original text conversion method.
The etching intaglio is made by a plate making method in which engraving and etching are combined. That is, the shape of the original image is manually engraved, and the intaglio is produced by etching.
The gravure application is widely used, and it is the most widely used printing plate in the electronic grauvre engraving machine, and is mainly used for printing plates and the like.

Electronic grauvre engraving machine: A cut above
Gravure cylinders are created through electromechanical engraving, with each cell designed to transfer ink (usually) to a substrate. This method is regularly compared to digital printers, which, despite many advancements, can’t replicate the quality and consistency of electronic grauvre engraving machine.
The choice between using gravure cylinders and printers often comes down to the scale and complexity of the project. For large runs of the same item, gravure is unparalleled in efficiency, quality, and detail. For shorter runs, or one-off items, digital printing may be the winner.

The shape of ink: Cell geometry and its impact
The geometry of an engraved cell — Typically a 45-degree diamond shape — is critical in determining the quality of the print. Different shapes and depths accommodate various ink types and applications differently.
The determination of cell geometry is a deliberate and sophisticated decision, tailored to the ink and substrate. The best possible outcome for the product drives these choices based on several factors:
Ink transfer efficiency — Deeper cells hold more ink, resulting in richer, more saturated prints
Print quality and resolution — Cells with sharp angles and precise dimensions accurately reproduce detailed designs and fine lines
Compatibility with inks — Different ink types have varying viscosities and drying times, which can be better accommodated by specific cell geometries
Adaptation to various substrates — Rough substrates may require more ink to achieve full coverage, so deeper cells are necessary
Printing speed and efficiency — Certain cell geometries allow for faster ink transfer and drying times, increasing overall printing efficiency
Durability — Deeper cells with more ink generally result in prints that are more resistant to fading and wear over time
Aesthetic outcomes — Geometries create varying textures, gloss levels, and visual effects, allowing for creative expression and brand differentiation

Maintenance matters: A doctor blade’s importance
The lifespan of a gravure cylinder, ranging from under a year to beyond two decades, hinges on diligent maintenance. Regular roll inspection, cleaning, and evaluating the chemicals being run on the rolls (some can eat into the chrome plating) all play into longevity.
However, one factor is especially important to maintenance: The doctor blade, which not only removes excess fluid from the cylinder but also guarantees the uniform distribution of ink across the cells.
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The longevity of cylinders, capable of enduring millions of print runs without compromising quality, is significantly influenced by choosing the correct type of doctor blade — steel versus composite — and ensuring its precise alignment and installation.
An incorrect or poorly aligned blade can accelerate wear or cause damage to the cylinder. With only 1/1000th of an inch of chrome on a standard gravure roll, the soft copper underneath is susceptible to damage if the doctor blade isn’t operating properly.
Proper selection and setup are critical to preserving cylinder integrity and functionality.

Gravure creation: From concept to completion
Electro-Mechanical engraving and laser ablation are the two main methods of creating gravure print cylinders. While laser ablation offers the ability to do multiple prints and achieve greater cell depths, it’s often more expensive. The reputation of electro-Mechanical engraving’s efficiency and cost-effectiveness has built unmatched trust throughout the industry to deliver superior results.
Successful gravure cylinder creation relies on being performance-Focused and comprehensive. Beginning with pattern development, the visual goal is evaluated first. The cylinder is then engraved, chromed, and run through a proof press, ensuring that the chosen design and engraving method meet the project’s performance demands. Only then does the project move to production. Comprehensive evaluation and thinking must continue, with ongoing collaboration between teams.