Pad Printing Best Practices: Why the Correct Printing Ink Matters

When it comes to medical pad printing and 3d printing, the use of medical grade inks is important not just so that brands are correctly displayed but it is also important because failing to meet this standard may put patients at risk. Therefore several things must be considered before purchasing ink for a pad printing project.

What the substrate is made of: Not knowing what the substrate is made of can result in a failed print or in the ink not adhering properly to the object in question which can have tragic results. Therefore, you should know this and ask for adhesion testing.

Type of abrasion or chemical resistance: Knowing this matters because the substrate will have to be cleaned eventually and the kind of ink that is chosen will determine whether or not the print can withstand certain cleaning agents such as alcohol, detergent, alkali, hot water, etc.

Gloss level desired: You should know that inks can be glossy or have a matte quality.

Drying speed: This matters mainly if the product needs to be shipped or if it will be stacked.

Specialized applications – Silicone: Inks that are to be printed on silicone substrates may need to be cured first as this is a particularly difficult surface upon which to print.

Medical Grade: Inks that enter the body in some form must be medical grade and not contain heavy metals or toxins that are injurious to health.

Below, are a number of major components that use pad printing, including:

• Micro-catheters
• Shafts
• Cannula (A cannula is a tube that can be inserted into the body, often for the delivery or removal of fluid or for the gathering of samples.)
• Catheters
• Various tubes and hypotubes
• Trocars (These are surgical instruments with a three-sided cutting point enclosed in a tube, used for withdrawing fluid from a body cavity.)
• Heat Shrinks Guide Wires
• Handles
• Housing
• Connectors and Components
• Marker bans and depth markers.

Finally, it is very important to us that the pad printing process be based on each customer’s needs. This is why we familiarize ourselves with each customer and the nature of the project for which they require 3D pad printing. We have the tools and experience to give our patients the finest results possible (while meeting or exceeding FDA and Class VI standards). These are some of the reasons we feel that we are worthy of your business.