accessories

tampon - forms

4 tampon basic forms

All tampons have a curved (convex) surface.
This is necessary to guarantee a rolling movement (see rolling characteristics) during the ink pick up and subsequent application which ensures a good printing image and prevents the inclusion of air bubbles.
The shape of the tampon is usually determined by the shape of the print image and the geometry characteristics of the printing part.

The various tampon shapes can be classified into four groups:

Round tampons
Oval tampons
Square tampons
Elongated tampons

The shape of the pad also determines the orientation of the print image in regard to the tampon (see tampon contact point) depends on the tampon shape. Round, oval and square tampon shapes have a contact point (see print image centre).

Elongated tampon shapes have a contact line (see print image centre).

As a rule, the tampon should not make the initaial contact in the middle of the print image because the biggest compression occurs in this area.

Generally the following rules apply
when choosing a tampon:

Selection of the tampon shape

TIP:

The steeper or pointed the shape of the tampon, the harder and bigger the volume, the better the printing result.

When printing uneven parts, the selection of the right tampon shape and tampon hardness (see Shore-A) determines the quality of the print image and the print speed.

Certain cliché types require the use of steeper tampon shapes in higher Shore-A areas depending on the etching depth and / or the halftone.

A = mm printing area B = mm tampon installation height C = mm holding plate	tampon basic shape	tampon rolling up area	primary use
	rectangle	top roof	+ long printing images
	rectangle	top roof ridge	+ long printing images + precise tampon contact point
	rectangle	undercut	+ concave surfaces + printing image near to angle
	rectangle	saddle shape	+ precise tampon contact point + small rolling up radius
	rectangle	spherical shape	+all purpose all-rounder
	rectangle	sharp	+ structured surfaces
	rectangle	fish belly shape	+ surface printings with contact point in the printing image
	rectangle	shoulder
	rectangle	concave tampon	+ low printing pressure for big tampon shapes + concave surface
	rectangle	longitudinal borehole	+ low printing pressure for big tampon shapes + cylindrical printing parts
	rectangle	cross hole	+ low printing pressure for big tampon shapes + cylindrical printing parts
	round	spherical shape	+ all purpose all-rounder
	round	steep	+ low rolling up radius
	round	shoulder	+ concave surfaces + printing image near to angle
	round	flat	+ low printing pressure + all purpose all rounder
	round	pointed	+ structured surfaces
	round	undercut	+ concave surfaces + printing image near to angle
	round	asymmetrical
	round	ring form
	round	concave tampon	+ low printing pressure – big rolling up area + concave surfaces
	square	spherical shape	+ all purpose all-rounder
	square	pointed	+ structured surfaces
	square	flat	+ low printing pressure + all purpose all-rounder
	square	concave tampon	+ low printing pressure – big rolling up area + concave surfaces
	oval	spherical shape	+ long printing images
	oval	top roof	+ all-rounder
	oval	saddle shape
	oval	fish belly shape
	special	ring form	+ lateral part printing (contactor)