Teca-Print:What We Do: Padmaking!

Pad Making

Teca-Print uses only the highest quality silicone in the manufacturing of pads. We are here to help in the selection of your pad so that your image can conform to the component's shape without causing any distortion during transfer.

Silicone pads from Teca-Print come in an almost unlimited range of shapes, sizes and hardness (durometers). This variety is necessary so that the user can print a large range of image sizes onto products with an equally wide variety of sizes, shapes and textures.

Mixing Stage 1

The liquid silicone is mixed with different percentages of diluting fluid to yield either a harder or softer pad. More fluid equals a softer pad.

Mixing Stage 2

Catalyst is added to the combination from Stage 1 and mixed for several minutes with a high speed mixer.

Vacuum

The silicon mixture
with catalyst is then transferred to the vacuum to extract all
air pockets.

Pad Pouring

The silicon is then carefully poured into
the desired mold.

Molds and Bases

The bases are then primed to allow the silicone to adhere to them. Waxing the reverse side allows for easy removal of excess silicone.

Weighted

Upon affixing the base a weight is added to insure it is firmly seated in the mold and level. The pad is then left to cure overnight.

Pad from Mold

After 24 hours the pad is removed from the mold, inspected for imperfections, and measured
for proper durometer.