What is Cure Temp?Updated 4 days ago

Water-based inks like Green Galaxy typically cure between 300°F–320°F, while some plastisol inks cure at 320°F. Low-cure plastisol inks, like FN-INK™, cure at 260°F. It’s important to know the recommended cure temperature for the specific inks you’re using and understand the variables that can affect how quickly the ink reaches that temperature, such as the thickness of the ink deposit and any additives being used.

When an ink has a specified cure temperature, the entire ink layer needs to reach that temperature, from the top of the print all the way through to the bottom. The thicker the ink deposit, the longer it will take for the heat to reach the entire ink layer. Water-based inks have an additional step, the moisture needs to evaporate before the ink can properly cure.

The best way to measure the temperature inside your ink deposit is with a Donut Probe, which allows you to measure the temperature within the ink layer rather than just at the surface. A more affordable and commonly used option is a Laser Thermometer Gun. However, a laser thermometer measures the surface temperature of the ink, so it may not accurately represent the temperature deeper within the ink deposit. This can make it less reliable for confirming that the entire ink layer has reached the recommended cure temperature.

If you are not reaching full cure in your ink, you're likely to see wash out. That's why it's always important to do a Wash test.