Product Description
The first stencil moisture meter, the TQM™Aqua-Check™ determines when the stencil is dry enough to expose. Our exclusive TQM Aqua-Check meter detects hidden moisture instantly. It is a fast and accurate measurement that prevents you from having to take chances with your stencil. The battery-operated contact meter provides direct readings of the residual moisture content in coated (and dried) screens to ultimately prevent pinholes and premature stencil breakdown. A screen that is not dried thoroughly before exposure will not harden effectively, and is vulnerable to these deficiencies. The Aqua-Check’s modest cost can save you big outlays in press downtime and stencil remakes. For use on polyester and nylon screen mesh. There’s no guesswork. Simply hold it against the emulsion or film surface and press the “Read” button for 2 seconds. Red for trouble ahead. Orange for risky. Green for go!
Instructions For Use
The TQM Aqua-Check meter is placed directly on the surface of the emulsion. With a press of the button, the percentage of retained moisture content is displayed on an easy-to-read dial.The dial’s color-coded fields simultaneously translate the reading quickly and effortlessly, indicating whether the screen has reached optimum dryness or requires further drying before exposure. A reading in the green field (less than 4%) indicates optimum dryness and assures a very durable stencil, assuming the exposure time is correct. Yellow (4-6%) indicates margina dryness; a deterioration of the wet stencilRoute strength is noticeable during washout and pinholes are more plentiful. This is most critical for fastexposing emulsions, which use a low diazo level in order to produce shorter exposure times. Red (greater than 6%) indicates insufficient drying where improved drying is required. With above a 6% moisture content, most emulsions will produce soft stencils regardless of exposure time, threatening breakdown on press. This may not be a problem when printing plastisol or solvent-based inks, depending on the run length, but will be when printing water-based inks.