FabDigitFabDigit

Screen Printing

Marking & decoration · Printing

Screen printing pushes ink through a patterned mesh onto a part.

Injection moldingSheet metalCNC machiningUrethane castingBudget cost $Unchanged
Quote a part with Screen printCompare marking & decoration
Screen Printing on a machined part

What is Screen print?

It is used for durable logos, legends, scales, and regulatory text on broad flat or cylindrical surfaces.

How it works

A stencil blocks selected openings in a tensioned mesh. A squeegee drives a controlled ink deposit through the open image area onto a cleaned substrate, after which the ink air-dries, heat-cures, or UV-cures. Each colour normally requires its own screen and registration pass. Ink chemistry and surface preparation determine adhesion; production approval commonly includes a cross-cut tape test and solvent-rub test on the actual substrate and finish.

Why specify it

  • Deposits an opaque 10–25 µm ink film
  • Economical for repeated medium-to-large graphics
  • Supports spot colours and high-opacity white ink
  • Can print a practical line width near 0.2 mm

Where it falls short

  • Each colour adds a screen and registration operation
  • Deep recesses and abrupt compound curvature prevent even squeegee contact
  • Ink can wear through on frequently handled surfaces
  • Adhesion varies with polymer grade and surface energy

Screen print at a glance

Screen print is strongest on cosmetic quality (75 of 100), at a budget cost. It adds little corrosion protection or lubricity. Surface hardness is not rated: the finish leaves the part's own surface.

Corrosion protectionMinimal0 / 100
Surface hardnessNot rated—
Cosmetic qualityVery good75 / 100
LubricityMinimal10 / 100
Relative costBudget15 / 100
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy

Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion comes from salt-spray life (ASTM B117, log scale) and hardness from the finish layer's Vickers or pencil hardness; cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Economy on the radar is the inverse of cost.

Screen print key numbers

Typical values from the governing specifications and shop practice; bars are this finish against the highest value among marking & decoration finishes.

Thickness10–25 µm0.39–0.98 mil
Thickness
10–25 µm cured ink film; thickness describes deposited ink, not mark depth.
Electrical
Unchanged
Colours
  • black
  • white
  • spot colours
  • custom colour
Appearance
Opaque flat graphics; gloss and texture depend on ink system and substrate.

Specifications for Screen print

The documents a drawing cites to define this finish, with the Type / Class rows that apply. Each links to a page explaining the standard.

StandardType / ClassThicknessRequirement / testStatus
ISO 2409
Paints and Varnishes — Cross-Cut Test · ISO · alternative
Classification 0—Cut edges completely smooth; no lattice squares detached · Visual comparison after cross-cut procedureActive
Classification 1—Small flakes detached at intersections; affected area not significantly greater than 5% · Visual comparison after cross-cut procedure
Classification 2—Flaking along edges or intersections affecting more than 5% but not significantly more than 15% · Visual comparison after cross-cut procedure
Classification 3—Flaking in ribbons or parts of squares affecting more than 15% but not significantly more than 35% · Visual comparison after cross-cut procedure
Classification 4—Large ribbons or squares detached, affecting more than 35% but not significantly more than 65% · Visual comparison after cross-cut procedure
Classification 5—Flaking greater than classification 4 · Visual comparison after cross-cut procedure

Test and related methods: ASTM D3359 (Standard Test Methods for Rating Adhesion by Tape Test).

Drawing call-out

SCREEN PRINT LOGO AND LEGENDS, WHITE, 0.20 MM MIN LINE WIDTH; ADHESION PER ASTM D3359, CLASS 4B MIN

Pattern: CROSS-CUT ADHESION PER ISO 2409, MAXIMUM CLASSIFICATION <0–5>

Which materials take Screen print?

Verdict per material family, with the grades that behave differently. Each family links to its datasheets in the material library.

Material familyVerdictNotes
Aluminum
YesCommon over anodize, paint, or conversion coating.
Polymer
YesCommon for molded housings after resin-specific adhesion validation.
  • Low-surface-energy polymers may require flame, plasma, or corona treatment
Stainless Steel
YesCommon over paint, powder, or passivated stainless with a qualified ink.
Steel
YesUsually printed over a cleaned coating or paint.
Brass
With careNeeds a clean, often primed, surface and a metal-compatible ink.
Copper Alloy
With careNeeds a clean, often primed, surface and a metal-compatible ink.
Glass
With careRequires glass-compatible ink and cure schedule.
Magnesium Alloy
With carePrint over conversion coating or primer; bare magnesium rejects most inks.
Zinc Alloy
With carePrint over a clean painted or conversion-coated zinc surface.
Titanium
LimitedPrint over a qualified coating rather than bare titanium.

How Screen print is applied, and what it does to the part

  1. 1Clean and prepare surface
  2. 2Fixture part
  3. 3Align screen
  4. 4Print each colour
  5. 5Cure ink
  6. 6Inspect registration and adhesion
DimensionsAllow 10–25 µm local buildup where ink crosses a close-fitting interface.
Build-up per side10–25 µm — Ink builds above the local surface.
MaskingUsually needed. Keep ink off seals, electrical contacts, bonding areas, threads, and precision fits.
ElectricalUnchanged
AppearanceOpaque flat graphics; gloss and texture depend on ink system and substrate.
Added lead time3–7 working days on top of the bare part

Design rules for Screen print

What to decide on the drawing before the part goes to the finisher.

  1. Use 0.20 mm minimum line width and gap.Finer openings are vulnerable to mesh bridging and ink gain.
  2. Keep the image on a flat or developable cylindrical area.The screen and squeegee must contact the image uniformly.
  3. Provide registration tolerance between colours.Each colour is printed in a separate pass.
  4. Specify ink colour and substrate finish.Opacity and adhesion depend on both.
  5. Reserve a fixture datum outside the artwork.Repeatable location requires mechanical registration.

Screen print versus the alternatives

Finishes engineers weigh against Screen print, and when each wins.

FinishCorrosionHardnessCosmeticCostThicknessChoose it when
Screen print
this page
0—75$10–25 µm—
Pad Printing
Screen print vs Pad Printing →
0—72$5–10 µmfor small compound-curved surfaces
Laser Marking
Screen print vs Laser Marking →
0—70$0–50 µmfor variable permanent serial data
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy
Screen printPad Printing

The radar overlays Screen print with Pad Printing, its most common alternative — chosen for small compound-curved surfaces. Scores in the table are 0–100 across every finish in the catalog.

Cost, lead time and compliance

Relative cost

Screen Printing is a budget-cost finish ($): cheaper than about 85 % of the finishes FabDigit quotes.

Finishing is priced per part with a lot minimum, from FabDigit's own China-side rates. The exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.

Lead time and compliance

Added lead time3–7 working days
RoHSCompliant
NotesCompliance depends on the selected ink and curing system; require supplier declaration for the specified colour.

What Screen print is used for

  • Control-panel legends
  • Appliance graphics
  • Container scales
  • Regulatory labels
  • Product logos

Screen print — frequently asked

What is the minimum line width for screen printing on parts?

Use about 0.20 mm as a practical starting minimum for a robust production image. Confirm finer text with the printer because mesh count, ink rheology, and substrate texture can increase line gain.

Is screen printing durable on plastic?

It can be durable when the ink matches the resin and the surface is prepared correctly. Qualify the actual part with ASTM D3359 or ISO 2409 adhesion plus a defined alcohol-rub test, because low-surface-energy polymers may need treatment.

Pad printing vs screen printing: which should I choose?

Screen printing is usually better for broad flat graphics and can deposit roughly 10–25 µm of opaque ink. Pad printing reaches smaller curved or recessed areas and commonly uses a thinner 5–10 µm film.

Can screen printing print multiple colours?

Yes, but each spot colour normally requires a separate screen and pass. Include registration tolerance and expect setup cost and cycle time to increase with every colour.

How do you test screen-print ink permanence?

Use a cross-cut tape adhesion test such as ASTM D3359 or ISO 2409, followed by a project-defined alcohol-rub and abrasion test. State the solvent, load, stroke length, and required cycle count because an unspecified rub test is not reproducible.