Digital printing – automatically true to register PUBLISHED AT 01.12.2020 THIEME Digital Image Alignment eliminates the need to man-ually or mechanically align print substrates Digital printing – automatically true to register Normally, before printing can begin, the substrate has to be carefully aligned on the printing table – by hand or using a mechanical feeding system. THIEME Digital Image Alignment will eliminate that step entirely. This unrivaled system recognizes the substrate’s positioning from its contours and other features in an initial scan and automatically aligns the print layout so that the Thieme digital printer can print it in perfect register. “Automatic alignment takes only two to three seconds. It’s particularly helpful when substrate sizes and geometries change frequently,” explained Michael Sester, Head of Control Development Printing Systems at Thieme. “The resulting work process is faster, leaner and eliminates the risk of user error when manually aligning the workpiece.” Repeated automatic alignment is accurate to within ± 0.1 mm. One-time teach-in per product The contours and/or an angle-indicating feature of the reproduced image has to be learned in a one-time teach-in process. “When changing products, a trained operator will need no more than one extra minute per image to set up the digital alignment,” stressed Sester. “The rest of the printing process is fully automated.” Once the teach-in ends, the actual production process can begin. When the substrate is loaded and an object with the learned contours is identified on the printing table, the software aligns the assigned layout with the object in perfect register. A new print file is automatically generated containing information on the object’s positioning along with the layout placed on top of it. A raster image is then produced, and the machine immediately starts printing. Aligned with edges or other features There are essentially no limits to substrate shape or material. As soon as a substrate arrives on the printing table, it is scanned for edges and contours. Other features may be used to identify the positions of substrates that are hard to align mechanically: coins, flat injection-molded parts with irregular contours or asymmetrically shaped panes of glass. For round substrates, the contour has to be supplemented with an eccentric feature in order to clearly determine the angular position. Different substrates can also be automatically printed in parallel as long as they have been taught in. In other words, substrates with different geometries and features can all be loaded on the printing table and printed in a single print cycle. The system will flag non-taught-in substrates as defective and refuse to print them, preventing misprints caused by loading incorrect parts. “Our new alignment system is a real revolution for the printing market,” stressed Sester. “We expect it will establish itself quickly if only due to the time saved from eliminating one step.” THIEME Digital Image Alignment is now available for all Thieme digital printing solutions, which includes various combinations of inks and printheads. Pictures for download About THIEME Thieme is a self-reliant, independent family enterprise and has been internationally successful for decades in both of its business areas polyurethane and printing systems. Printing Systems: Thieme is a manufacturer of high-quality screen printing and digital printing machines. Polyurethan - Custom RIM: In this business area, Thieme is one of the leading suppliers of custom RIM parts and functional parts made of polyurethane and other plastics. Business area Printing machines Screen printing machines Digital printing machines Development supplier Polyurethane - Custom RIM Plastic enclosures Housings Functional Components System Solutions Automotive Head Impact Protection Knee Impact Protection Side Impact Protection Bumper Inserts Pedestrian Protection Infos Company News & Press Teamviewer Online-Meeting Contact THIEME GmbH & Co. KG Robert-Bosch-Straße 1 79331 Teningen Germany Phone +49 (0) 76 41 5 83-0 info@thieme.eu Contact Imprint Data Protection Terms and Conditions of Delivery and Payment Change Cookie Settings © 2021 Thieme – All rights reserved.