Commercial Screen Printing Exposure Units & CTS Imaging Systems
A high-precision screen printing exposure unit is critical for burning sharp stencils, maintaining fine line detail, and achieving high-resolution halftone prints. Proper emulsion exposure creates durable screens capable of withstanding long production runs across plastisol, water-based, and discharge ink systems.
Choosing the Right Exposure System for Your Shop
Selecting the ideal stencil exposure equipment depends on your screen volume, frame sizes, stencil resolution demands, and workflow setup:
- LED Screen Exposure Units: Energy-efficient UV LED light sources deliver fast exposure times and instant-on operation. Versatile tabletop and standalone models like the Expo-NV LED and Expo-LED provide pinpoint vacuum contact for standard screen frames.
- High-Production Stencil Burners: Industrial systems such as the LED-5000 Exposure Unit incorporate heavy-duty vacuum draw and deep UV spectrum output for photopolymer and dual-cure emulsions.
- Computer-to-Screen (CTS) Imaging: Eliminates film positive output entirely. Direct laser and vertical slide CTS systems like the LED-5000 Vertical Slide CTS and SAATI LTS E70B Direct Laser streamline workflow from digital art files directly to exposed mesh.
All Lawson Workhorse Group (LWG) exposure systems are manufactured in the USA and backed by flexible equipment financing, direct technical support, and hands-on training out of primary facilities in St. Louis, MO, and Atlanta, GA.
Exposure Units: FAQ
What is a screen printing exposure unit used for?
An exposure unit uses UV light to harden light-sensitive emulsion on a screen printing mesh frame around a film positive or direct laser image, creating a durable stencil for printing.
Why are UV LED exposure units better than traditional metal halide lamps?
UV LED exposure units offer instant-on capabilities without warm-up time, operate at significantly lower electrical draw, generate minimal heat, and feature long-lasting LED light strips that eliminate frequent bulb replacements.
What is the benefit of a vacuum frame exposure unit?
A rubber vacuum blanket removes trapped air between the glass, film positive, and emulsion. This perfect contact eliminates light undercut, preserving fine-line artwork, small text, and detailed halftone dots.
What is Computer-to-Screen (CTS) imaging?
Computer-to-Screen (CTS) technology prints or burns digital artwork files directly onto emulsion-coated screens using laser imaging or CTS wax/ink printing, eliminating film positive consumable costs and registration setup errors.
Can Lawson exposure units expose all types of screen emulsions?
Yes. Lawson LED, metal halide, and CTS systems are engineered to output optimal light spectrum wavelengths to expose photopolymer, dual-cure, and diazo screen emulsions.
