Masking
- Objective
- Dedicated grilles
The purpose of masking is to cover selected surfaces so that they are not covered with varnish. Below are a few reasons why customers choose this process:
Two-color varnishing - covering an element (consisting of one part) with two different varnish coatings.
Covering the interior of the detail - sometimes the interior of the detail has direct contact with the product (for example, lids for cosmetic creams). In this case, such surfaces should be completely protected against even the smallest paint dust.
Dimensional tolerances - the paint coating usually has a thickness of several microns. Sometimes, however, the elements are so fitted that even this small thickness of the coating can cause problems with assembling a detail or smooth operation of mechanisms based on, for example, threaded surfaces. In this case, masking is essential.
Bending strength - with very flexible materials (e.g. elastomers in the two-component injection process - rubber plus ABS), the paint coating may degrade over time. The customer's requirement may be to cover the ABS plastic itself with varnish, with the rubber surface intact.
Masking can be implemented in various ways:
- dedicated masking panels ordered strictly to the shape of the surface to be covered, made of various types of materials,
- end caps from the injection process,
- varnishing handles (slings), which also mask given surfaces (e.g. the inside of the caps),
- tapes selected for temperature resistance and appropriate adhesive strength, often manufactured to individual dimensions.