Why printer cooling solutions are essential

The process of printing is absolutely essential – not only does it cater to our newspapers, cards, and magazines, it can produce just about anything in today’s world.

There are a massive number of printers in use all over the world. There is also a large different variety of printers, which is increasing every day. Check out printer cooling solutions here: https://northslopechillers.com/process-cooling/printing/

Printers now come with so many different capabilities; traditional printing, and now 3D printing. Printers are changing and advancing all of the time alongside the world of technology. However, one thing in printing that hasn’t changed is the fact that they need to always operate at the correct temperature. If your printer were to overheat, even just for example a consumer-grade printer, it would eventually shut down and not be able to print properly.

In this article, we are going to take a look at how essential printer cooling is, why it’s necessary, as well as the various reasons that printers produce heat.

Some heat is good

Not all heat is bad – due to the very nature of the printing process, some heat is essential to the process. When printing ink onto paper, the ink will not properly bond with the paper unless there is a certain amount of heat present. This small amount of heat that’s needed is obtained from a UV light that is installed within every printer. However, do you do the fact that this UV light is installed within a relatively small amount of space that isn’t particularly well ventilated, a large amount of heat can be produced in a very short time.

In addition to the UV light that is necessary to the printing process, heat is also generated by the constant movement that takes place in the process of printing. When printing, ink cartridges and rollers are constantly run over the top of the paper, or whatever is being printed on. This friction creates a considerable amount of heat that doesn’t really have anywhere to go.

An excessive amount of heat during the printing process can cause damage to the printer itself, as well as affecting the quality of the prints obtained at the end of the process. In order to make sure that good prints are obtained and that the printing equipment is kept in good condition, an efficient cooling system must be put in place. An efficient and effective printing chiller will make sure that your equipment is kept in the correct condition, and that prints are obtained effectively and in high quality.

What are the main reasons for printing operating at a low temperature?

The main reason for printing having to take place at a low/the correct temperature is to do with how an excessive amount of heat will affect the print results as a result of the paper becoming too hot.

Something that a lot of people do not know is that paper contains a fair amount of moisture. This moisture helps to maintain the properties of the paper and keep it in the most aesthetically pleasing and prime condition for printing or writing on.

Whilst you might have previously thought that paper was bone-dry, you should know that as much as 5% of the total mass of a piece of paper can be taken up by moisture. As a result of this moisture, the paper stays flat, well bound and in good condition. It is therefore essential that this moisture is retained for the best possible results.

However, retaining this moisture in an extremely warm environment is very difficult. For a more relatable example, think of a clothes drying line or tumble dryer. As soon as the clothes and garments enter the dryer, they are damp and a certain percentage of their weight can be attributed to moisture. However, when they come out they are dry as they have been in a hot environment for a period of time. This is exactly the process that we do not want to take place in terms of the paper’s moisture content.

As you may or may not know, printers have a dedicated storage area for paper. Should this area become warm and cause the paper to lose a little moisture, it’s no big deal. However, temperature control during the actual printing process in the part of the printer that the printing takes place is what is an absolute essential. This is where the most heat is generated due to friction and lights.

The paper which is being printed on is not the only thing that must be kept at a good temperature during printing, though. The ink must be kept at the right temperature too – ink that is too warm will run far too fast, and ink that is too cold won’t run quickly enough – this is known as a change in how viscose the ink is. 

In terms of cooling processes, there are quite a few options available. Dependent on the scale of the printing taking place, one certain cooling option may be more or less suited to the situation than another. 

There are a number of different types of cooling available. Some cooling solutions depend on the air surrounding the printer at the time, whilst others use air conditioning or another type of air cooling. The most advanced form of printer cooling available, however, comes in the form of water and liquid cooling.

Air vs liquid cooling

Dependent on the amount of heat being produced in the scale of the printing operation that is to be cooled, an air or water-cooled system may be most suitable.

Air cooled

Air-cooled systems are generally speaking, not as advanced or efficient as liquid cooling. Air cooling systems rely on fans and the surrounding air to absorb heat from the printers and disperse it elsewhere.

Water/liquid cooled

Liquid-cooled systems, on the other hand, are more advanced and more efficient. Liquid-cooled systems have closing or tubes running through what has to be cooled. The liquid in these tubes then absorbs the heat energy from whatever is too hot, and that moves it through a radiator/chilling point to be removed. The liquid is then pushed back through the other side and the cooling process continues.

There are a number of different printing chillers available to suit all needs.