Last updated on January 29th, 2024 at 10:11 am
If you’re looking to enhance an enclosure, panel, or part, take advantage of Approved Sheet Metal’s silk-screening services. With our in-house capabilities, we can make your prototype from start to finish, owning the entire process to guarantee high quality and a quick turnaround.
Table of Contents
- 1 What Is Silk-Screening?
- 2 Approved Sheet Metal’s Silk-Screening Process
- 3 6 Tips for Designing Powder Coated Sheet Metal Parts
- 4 Get Your Part Silk-Screened at Approved Sheet Metal
- 5 Sheet Metal Silk Screening FAQ
- 5.0.1 What is silk-screening?
- 5.0.2 How does Approved Sheet Metal's silk-screening process work?
- 5.0.3 What are the advantages of silk-screening over engraving or painting?
- 5.0.4 Can Approved Sheet Metal silk-screen multi-colored designs?
- 5.0.5 How can I get my part silk-screened by Approved Sheet Metal?
What Is Silk-Screening? 
Also known as screen-printing, silk-screening is a stenciling method that uses a porous mesh screen to press ink onto a material. Traditionally, the screen fabric was made of silk—hence the name silk-screening. Silk-screening dates back to the Neolithic period, when ancient Greeks used this stenciling method to embellish buildings, artwork, and tombs.
Today, mesh screens are made from artificial materials like polyester, nylon, or even steel. Silk-screening remains an easy, cost-effective way to add custom designs to materials like glass, wood, fabric—and yes, even sheet metal!
Approved Sheet Metal’s Silk-Screening Process
Silk-screening is simple at our sheet metal shop in NH. We ask our customers to submit artwork via .JPEG, .EPS, or CAD files. We take over from there. Here’s how our silk-screening process works:
Step 1: Burn the negative. Just like in old-fashioned photography, we burn the design onto a negative and transfer it to a larger acetate screen.
Step 2: Make the mesh screen. We lay the acetate screen on top of an emulsion-coated mesh screen. When exposed to bright light, the acetate burns an imprint of the design onto the mesh.
Step 3: Layer it on! Finally, we set the mesh screen onto our press and layer ink onto the part. Voila! Most customers choose black and white, but we can also silk-screen multi-colored designs.
6 Tips for Designing Powder Coated Sheet Metal Parts
POWDER COATING
With over two decades of experience in powder coating, we’ve learned that a little bit of foresight yields superior outcomes. Here are our top tips for powder coated sheet metal parts.
Get Your Part Silk-Screened at Approved Sheet Metal
Silk-screening is a quick and cost-effective alternative to engraving or painting. With no size or color restrictions, it’s perfect for large-batch applications like company logos, nameplates, part labels, and safety instructions. It’s durable, it won’t wash out, and once we’ve created a screen for you, we can store it to use again for repeat orders.
Do you need a design printed on your part? If you can dream it, Approved Sheet Metal can make it happen. Request a quote from us today!
Sheet Metal Silk Screening FAQ
Silk-screening, also known as screen-printing, is a stenciling method that uses a porous mesh screen to press ink onto a material. It is a cost-effective way to add custom designs to various materials like glass, wood, fabric, and even sheet metal.
At Approved Sheet Metal, the silk-screening process begins by customers submitting artwork in formats like .JPEG, .EPS, or CAD files. The process involves burning the design onto a negative and transferring it to a larger acetate screen. Then, an emulsion-coated mesh screen is created, and the design is burned onto it using bright light. Finally, the mesh screen is set onto a press, and ink is layered onto the part.
Silk-screening offers several advantages over engraving or painting. It is a quick and cost-effective alternative that allows for custom designs without size or color restrictions. It is perfect for large-batch applications such as company logos, nameplates, part labels, and safety instructions. Silk-screening is durable, resistant to washing out, and screens can be stored for future use in repeat orders.
Yes, Approved Sheet Metal has the capability to silk-screen multi-colored designs. While many customers choose black and white, the process allows for the application of various colors to create vibrant and visually appealing designs.
If you need a design printed on your part, simply reach out to Approved Sheet Metal and request a quote. They have the expertise and capabilities to bring your design to life using the silk-screening process.
