When a heat transfer roll is being engraved or textured, make sure that the outer shell is made from a seamless tube, either by using a seamless pipe tube or a seamless forging for rolls that are larger then 24 in. diameter. The reason for this requirement is because if the outside shell of the roll is made from a rolled and welded plate or tube, the weld area will not etch or engrave at the same texture as the base metal of the shell.

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Tim Womer is a recognized authority in plastics processing and machinery with a career spanning more than 35 years. He has designed thousands of screws for all types of single-screw plasticating. He now runs his own consulting company, TWWomer & Associates LLC. Contact: (724) 355-3311; tim@twwomer.com; twwomer.com.