Processing
Development Procedure After Imaging Screen
Place the exposed screen in spray booth or sink with circuit (substrate) side up. Use filtered tap water 60° to 75° F to develop entire screen. Spray water with the development nozzle at a distance of 15 to 20 inches perpendicular to the screen. Use a side-to-side motion and scan the image up and down with spray to fully develop the entire imaged screen. When the image begins to break through the open areas, flip the screen over and lightly spray to wet emulsion uniformly on squeegee side with spray nozzle. Continue to spray, developing the screen (print side) in this manner until the entire image is fully developed. Development should be made primarily from the print side. After screen is completely developed, lightly rinse screen on both sides with final rinse being on the print side. This development operation should take about three to seven minutes. (Remember this screen is still light sensitive. If close inspection reveals undeveloped open areas, the screen can be redeveloped.)
Use clean dry compressed air at 30 PSI and blow off the excess water. Be careful to keep the air nozzle distance far enough not to lift or delaminate the soft emulsion.
Drying the screen should take place in a well ventilated location or in an oven at 110°F if accelerated drying is needed. Always place screen horizontally to dry. Once the screen is dry, microscope inspection can qualify the screen development for sharp corners and edges of the pattern. If inspection reveals emulsion remaining in required open areas, redevelop the screen in the manner described above.
After the screen has been accepted for image quality, a re-exposure at twice the initial Exposure setting is recommended prior to utilizing the screen on the printer.
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