Experience has proven that the use of proper screen tension will dramatically improve screen printing  performance, which in turn means it will provide high resistance, firm adhesion of the stencil, suitable elasticity for off-contact printing and proper ink flow. It is important to have proper screen tension, but it is just as important to have consistent tension levels throughout a job. Screen tension is one of the most critical factors in producing screens mainly because screen tension directly influences printing results. This fact is all to often overlooked as a primary concern in most shops due to the difficulty most shops have in both understanding the variables, and knowing how to control them.

One fact is clear, the use of retentionable frames such as Newman Roller Frames, or the new Sefar STF Frames will offer your shop the ability to bring these variables into the realm where you can control them. Plus with the use of new rapid tension stretching techniques and screen building tables to quickly build high tension screens without the use of "work hardening" there really is no reason why a shop that is looking to improve all around efficiency should not take a hard look at implementing an inventory of properly built, and maintained high tension screens.

Printing parameters improved by proper screen tension include:

• Improved registration accuracy
  

• Line sharpness due to improved performance of stencil system
  

• Proper “snap-off” and the use of lower off-contact distances 
  

• More uniform and consistent ink deposits
  

• Improved ink color consistency
  

• Less ink penetration resulting in higher opacity on dark substrates
  

• Less ink build-up on backs of screens
  

• Less squeegee pressure required
  

• No "crimping" or wave formation of mesh, which causes smudged prints
  

• Vastly improved screen life—stencil life and mesh life
  

• Superior ink flow—due to clean shear from screen mesh
  

• Improved print quality and consistency throughout production run

As these print parameters are improved, overall productivity is vastly improved. Specific areas of improvement include faster set-up time for multi-color work, faster printing speeds and higher number of quality prints. With this evidence indicating the importance of proper screen tension,screen stretching or tensioning methods need to be considered.

To help you with understanding the variables of mesh, thread diameter, theoretical ink volumes and proper mesh tensioning we have compiled a spreadsheet below of those variables. 

TW= Twill Weave
PW= Plain Weave
HC= Half Calandared