|
Echocheks™
A Device Used to View the Structure of Your Microscopic Anilox Surface
 An
Echochek™ is a small piece of foil used to make an impression of an anilox roll
engraving. Echochek™ evaluations can be performed on-site, allowing us to
evaluate a customer's anilox rolls without removing them from the customer's
facility.
Echochek™ Shown Above)
The Echochek™ is placed on the anilox roll and pressed into the surface. The
foil takes the shape of the engraving and can easily be sent to Harper's
Technical Laboratory to be examined and photographed under a microscope.
Using Echocheks™ foils, we can derive useful anilox engraving information that
could not otherwise be determined without the use of highly sophisticated,
expensive instrumentation.
The Purpose of an Echochek™
The primary objective of an Echochek™ is to view the condition of the anilox
engraving and determine:
-
Quality of the anilox engraving
-
Condition of the anilox roll (Is it worn? Does it need cleaning?)
-
Appropriateness of the engraving for the work being done
This is achieved by examining photographs of the engraving magnified under a
microscope, which show:
-
Line Screen
-
Cell wall size
-
Cell shape
-
Wear or damage
-
Consistency of engraving
The picture is the most important part of the report and can show the quality of
engravings not viewable by the human eye. These photos can be very revealing,
and can reassure printers that their rolls are in proper condition for optimum
printing as shown in the following Echochek™ photo:
Or, an Echochek™ may reveal an anilox roll that is damaged or
worn as in the following example photo:
While the primary objective is to view cell engravings under a
microscope, Echocheks™ also allow us to calculate cell volume within 10%
accuracy. A technician measures the cell opening size and the cell depth using
a microscope, then using a mathematical formula, calculates the volume based on
these measurements. The formula for determining volume is accurate for a very
small range of cell shapes, therefore the accuracy of "calculated volumes" is
approximate at best.
Echochek™ Reports
Once the Echocheks™ have been analyzed in our laboratory, a Harper technical
analyst creates a report for you, consisting of:
-
A cover page
-
An objectives page
-
A page defining various terms used in the report, titled "Comments and
Recommendations"
-
A page or pages summarizing the specifications of each roll, including:
Roll number
Line screen expressed in lines per inch (unless otherwise requested)
Engraving angle
Depth of the engraved cells expressed in microns
Size of the cell opening, expressed in microns
Width of the cell walls, expressed in microns
"Calculated" volume of the roll, expressed in BCM
-
Comments and Recommendations based on the subjective opinions of our laboratory
technicians.
-
Pages that have photographs of the engravings, specifications of the rolls, and
comments on the rolls. These pages are the most important part of the
report, and show the condition and quality of the engravings.
If you would like more information on Echochek™ evaluation of the anilox
rolls at your facility, please see
Lab-in-a-Box product by HarperScientific,
or e-mail tech service,
or give us a call at 800-438-3111 (U.S./Can) or 704-588-3371.
Back to Top
|
WalkingSeminar™
