| bottom-link"> | | | | operation, as the build up of dust and residue will affect |
| Learn 3 different ways on how to make rubber | | | | running efficiency and the quality of the finished stamp |
| stamps. Compare vulcanized, laser engraved and | | | | die. Lasers are controlled directly from a computer, the |
| polymer stamp manufacture to start your own rubber | | | | software drivers supplied with lasers work with many |
| stamp making business. | | | | graphic programs such as CorelDraw. |
| Vulcanized Rubber Stamps | | | | Approximate cost of a 25 watt Laser suitable for |
| The traditional red rubber stamp that everybody is | | | | stamp making is $40,000 |
| familiar with will have been manufactured in a | | | | Advantages - Production is computer controlled, |
| vulcanizing press. The first rubber stamp vulcanizing | | | | custom made stamps can be made easily |
| press was patented in 1890 by Charles Schultze in | | | | Disadvantages - High capital investment, maintenance |
| New Orleans USA. Vulcanizing is today one of the | | | | costs and running will be much higher than vulcanizing |
| most cost effective methods of making rubber | | | | or polymer methods of manufacture. |
| stamps for mass produced stamps. Each batch of | | | | Liquid Polymer Rubber Stamps |
| stamps is produced using a mould. This method of | | | | Converting rubber stamp polymer from a liquid into a |
| manufacture is more suited to stamp making where | | | | solid to make stamps is quite fascinating. Polymer |
| the same moulds are used over and over again. | | | | stamps are manufactured between two sheets of |
| Making custom made stamps with a vulcanizing press | | | | glass using precision controlled UV light which passes |
| requiring 'once only' moulds will drive the cost of | | | | through a negative containing the stamp artwork |
| manufacture up significantly. | | | | solidifying the polymer. Negative production has been |
| Making the mould - before a mould can be made you | | | | simplified with the introduction of water based negative |
| must have a master plate manufactured from metal | | | | technology, photographic chemicals for producing |
| or polymer, the master plate has the necessary relief | | | | negatives are now a thing of the past. |
| (the artwork is raised) to make an impression in the | | | | The first step in making polymer rubber stamps is to |
| mould. Having a master plate made each time a mould | | | | print your images, clipart or text onto Vellum, an almost |
| is required is what drives up the cost of manufacture | | | | transparent paper like film. |
| for vulcanized stamps. Pressing the master plate into a | | | | To produce quality stamp artwork you must use a |
| Matrix board creates the mould that will accept the | | | | laser printer, inks from bubble jet printers are |
| rubber. Heat and pressure is applied to the master | | | | translucent allowing UV light to pass where it should |
| plate and matrix board inside a Vulcanizing press. The | | | | not. Water based negatives are easily washed out |
| Matrix follows the shape of the relief provided by the | | | | after being exposed for a few minutes in a UV |
| master plate, this then hardens on cooling. | | | | exposure stamp machine. |
| Making Rubber Stamps - Creating stamps is a simple | | | | Polymer contained in a sachet is now replacing the |
| process once the mould is made. Raw rubber stamp | | | | older cumbersome method of using foam tape to |
| gum is placed on top of the mould and then placed | | | | create a dam and pouring of rubber stamp polymers, |
| inside the stamp press. Hydraulic pressure is placed | | | | the sachets have also addressed the age old problem |
| upon the rubber and the mould from within the stamp | | | | of removing air bubbles from the poured polymer. |
| press causing the rubber to melt into the areas of the | | | | The negative of your artwork and polymer sachet is |
| mould that contain the images and text, curing and | | | | sandwiched between two sheets of glass spaced |
| hardening takes about 10 minutes. Once cured the | | | | 2-3mm apart which is then exposed in the machine for |
| sheet of rubber is pulled away from the mould and cut | | | | a few minutes. Once you have completed the |
| up into individual stamps to be affixed to mounts. | | | | exposure it is a simple process of cutting open the |
| Cost of a vulcanizing system is approximately $12,000 | | | | sachet and washing away the excess unexposed |
| AUD | | | | polymer before returning the stamp die back to the |
| Advantages - Low cost of production for mass | | | | machine for a 10 minute curing. Once the stamps are |
| produced stamps, good ink transfer. | | | | cured they can be cut up individually. Polymer sachets |
| Disadvantages - Cost of producing master plates and | | | | are available in a range of sizes up to A4 size. |
| moulds for custom made stamps. | | | | Processing time is about 30 minutes for a batch of |
| Laser Engraved Rubber Stamps | | | | polymer stamps. |
| The traditional raw rubber used for vulcanizing stamp | | | | Cost of polymer stamp making machines range from |
| dies is quite unacceptable for the production of laser | | | | $3,500 AUD for an Australian made unit designed |
| stamp dies, the laser process requires a very even | | | | specifically for stamp making up to high end imported |
| thickness and blemish free surface to produce an | | | | units with computer controlled washout for $15,000 |
| acceptable printed image from a stamp die. The | | | | AUD. |
| rubber must also be subjected to a specific curing | | | | Advantages - Lower capital investment, polymers |
| process before it can be exposed to the elevated | | | | make almost clear stamps making them ideal for |
| temperature of a laser beam. | | | | scrapbooking and card making. Stamp relief can be |
| The depth of the engraving is determined by the laser | | | | easily controlled during exposure. |
| speed, its wattage and the density of the rubber. For | | | | Disadvantages - Early polymers did not accept inks as |
| example, a 50 or 100W engraver will engrave the | | | | well as polymers available today, this along with being |
| rubber deeper and faster than a 25W machine, which | | | | new technology caused initial resistance to polymer |
| may require a second pass to achieve a similar result. | | | | stamps. |
| Usually supplied in an A4 size sheet form, a good | | | | Summary |
| quality laser rubber is required for engraving stamp | | | | Most large stamp businesses have a mix of the |
| dies and must also have suitable compression strength | | | | above equipment. The unmounted rubber stamp dies |
| and ink transfer properties. | | | | produced with any of these manufacturing methods |
| To assist the engraving process, it is necessary to | | | | can be cut up and affixed to simple hand stamps, |
| remove the excess dust which is constantly created | | | | dater stamps or self inking stamps. Craft stamps are |
| by the laser cutting action with an efficient exhaust | | | | usually affixed to wooden blocks or in the case of |
| filtration system. As very few, if any, CO2 laser | | | | polymer stamps affixed to clear acrylic blocks with |
| engraving machines were initially purpose built for | | | | adhesives or InstaGrip mounting mat. |
| engraving and cutting rubber, installing and maintaining | | | | Various manufactures produces stamp mounts. |
| an effective dust extraction system pays long term | | | | Astron Industries in Australia manufacturer the clear |
| dividends. Mirrors, lenses and any exposed bearing | | | | hand stamp 'Vuestamp' and also distribute the Ideal |
| surfaces should be cleaned thoroughly as part of a | | | | range of self inking mounts. Other brands of self inking |
| regular maintenance program. Any neglect in this area | | | | mounts are Trodat, Colop and Shiny. |
| will be detrimental to overall trouble free laser | | | | |