SR3000™ - What Is It and How Does It Work?
SR3000 is a photopolymer sandblasting imaging stencil film specially designed for sandblasting images into many types of materials. It works by exposing black and white artwork via a UV light source and then washing the image out.
If you took a piece of SR3000 without exposing it to UV light (so no daylight or UV source lighting) and wash it in water the blue photopolymer layer would dissolve, wash away, and you would be left with a clear carrier sheet only. But if you took a piece of SR3000 and exposed it to UV light and then washed it in water it would not dissolve. So SR3000 photopolymer resist is light sensitive and goes hard when exposed to it.
To make a PhotoMask resist you start with black and white artwork on special media such as Ink Jet film or laser film. The artwork is laid on the SR3000 and then UV light is exposed through the artwork onto the SR3000 film. The black areas of the artwork prevent the light from getting through to the SR3000 and so that area does not get exposed. All the area around the artwork, the clear area, gets exposed and hardens and will not wash out (dissolve). Only the area protected by the black artwork is still water soluble and so washes away leaving you with a very sharp and clear image.
When you apply the processed SR3000 to a substrate and blast it the image’s surrounding area that did not wash out resists the abrasive blast; the abrasive simply bounces off it, so only the artwork area gets etched. SR3000 is the world’s most versatile and durable resist. There is no need for a variety of types of resist, SR300 does it all.
SR3000™ Overview
SR3000 is a repositionable, self-stick film that does not carry or require a stubborn, messy adhesive—that means no residue clean-up, no complicated handling issues, and no adhesive to apply or over-wash. There’s simply nothing else like it in the marketplace today. The film develops a slight tack after wash-out, but will never feel gummy or sticky.
SR3000 has industry-leading durability and resolution capabilities—you can trust it with half-tone images or ultra-high resolution images, for deep etches or fine details, and on flat or curved surfaces. The 3 mil thickness is designed to push the envelope in high resolution designs; you can blast finely detailed images without the worry of pinhole blast-through. Use the 5 mil to achieve a deeper etch or multi-stage carving. You will be thrilled with the results.
Processed SR3000 clings steadfastly to any polished surface, providing an ideal system for creating fine quality engravings on glass, wood, stone, ceramic, granite, marble and soft metals.
The efficiency advantage
From exposing to blasting, SR3000 helps you get it done faster, more efficiently than ever before. It saves you money because it saves you time.
Requirements to process SR3000
SR3000 can be processed easily with a UV light source, film print and pressurized washout unit, such as a ProBlast Hand Washer or Automatic Washout Unit. A plastic Burnisher is necessary to bind the processed photomask to the substrate surface and remove the photomask’s clear carrier.
Room Lighting:
You do not need a darkroom or yellow lighting to use SR3000. The film can be safely handled in white fluorescent lighting for approximately ten minutes. Avoid any room or area that has direct or indirect UV light such as open windows or doors. Sunlight will expose the film in a matter of seconds.
Mils:
SR3000™ comes in 3 & 5 mil thicknesses.
- 3 mil is recommended for fine detailed artwork and halftoned photos.
- 5 mil is recommended for bold artwork, moderate to deep stage carving and for paint filling jobs.
Shelf Life:
Conservatively, 12 months at room temperature.
Processing time:
- Exposure: 20 seconds using Letralite Exposure Unit
- Washout: 30-60 seconds for an A5 sized piece
Durability:
SR3000™ has unmatched blast resilient properties superior to any photoresist in the industry. Blast high resolution designs without the worry of pin- hole blast through.