Maincer presents in its stand of Cevisama 2012 the customized decoration on fired piece by means of inkjet technology.

This technology is presented as the ideal solution to make decorations on ceramic fired pieces of any size, in decorative use or in the production of complementary pieces, with minimum batches of output.
Its main advantages are the simplicity which obtains amazing designs, photo quality and its adaptability.
These advantages, joined to the flexibility of the process, minimum batches of output and customized designs, offer the benefit of a reduced stock for the producer and also for the final customer. This set of advantages makes possible the production of wide range products, for textured or smooth surfaces.

SURFACE PREPARATION

Before applying the decoration, we must apply glaze on clean and dry piece in order to prepare the surface to get the colour and integrate with ceramic surface that we are using.
For this, previously we have to prepare the ceramic piece or base.
To glaze a fired surface requires heating the piece up to 50ºC, which will ensure optimum and homogeneous drying of the glaze that we are going to apply.
The glazing technique we use is by “airless”, “bell shaped hood” or by “waterfall”. These techniques can be adapted to the specific features of each company.
The glazes are the getting support of colour in decoration and its features of fusibility and opacity can be chosen according to the type of product to be produce and the desired output.

AIRLESS APPLICATION

Depending on the size of the piece which is going to be glazed, this technique makes possible to apply with one, two or more nozzles to get most desired finish results.
It will apply with approximate densities between 145 to 165gr/cc and viscosities between 11 to 18 seconds.

WATERFALL APPLICATION

By means of this technique we can glaze with an homogeneous and smooth layer. It is recommended for some formats.
The densities range between 140 to 145 gr/cc, with an approximate viscosity between 30 to 45 seconds, depending on the type of glaze.

Similarly, we heat the piece in furnace, with an approximate temperature of 50ºC to ensure correct and uniform drying of the surface that is going to be glazed.

BELL SHAPED HOOD APPLICATION

This technique is similar to the previous. It is advisable when it is necessary a higher quantity of glaze.
The densities range between 175 to 185 gr/cc and the viscosity will be between 35 to 60 seconds.
As in previous cases, we need to get a suitable temperature to obtain a correct application.

DECORATION

When the piece is prepared, we can decorate in it any motif that we desire (we have to consider the colour variation and its development in the firing process).
The working of the plotter is similar to a printer, and so we have to consider some peculiarities before the printing process.
Therefore, we must adapt the design in terms of tone and quantity of colour.
It need a previous work of designing that be carried out with the chosen software (normally PhotoShop).
It is important to know the machine has tools for a final adjustment, although normally we do not use, these tools are helpful for fine tuning of intensity, colour channel, etc.
Equally, we must ensure that the print heads are in good condition, clean and do a correct and uniform discharge.

FIRING OF THE PIECE

Depending on the technique chosen for enamelling, we must adapt the temperature and firing time, adjusting temperature curve to obtain the best efficiency of used colours by the plotter.
The firing process of the piece is adapted according to the features of the company and its mechanism used for it (continuous furnace, muffle furnace, etc.)

SUMMARY

To screen on glazed and fired surface now it is a fact that opens an unlimited range of options, being a reliable, easy and convenient way, offering an high flexibility, quickness and reliability to the producer.

For optimal results:
 Firstly we prepare the surface with previous glaze. Before the piece must have been heated.
 Secondly, we dry the piece.
 Thirdly, we adjust the design according to the result that we want obtain.
 We adjust the plotter and then we print the decoration.
 Fire the product to make the glaze maturation and obtaining the optimal colour.

All this process can be seen at Cevisama 2012 as a demo of machinery in our stand N2-P6 – J134.