Viscosity and temperature are critically important in the inkjet printing process.  With that in mind, industrial printer specialists A2N, Inc. of Somerset, Wisconsin, turned to the Hydramotion Viscolite® portable viscometer with its integrated temperature correction for measuring ink viscosity in the field.

“The size of the Viscolite made it ideal for field service,” comments Allen G. Cork, owner of A2N, Inc.  “The equipment we had before was heavy and awkward.”

A2N, Inc. supplies high-speed coding markers and inkjet printers for labelling, mailing and imaging, provides a round-the-clock repair service for the printing equipment used in the coding and marking industry, and undertakes related engineering and design work.

The company needs to control the viscosity of MEK, acetone and ethanol printing inks for the inkjet printers they sell or service.  With such volatile fluids, and a working temperature of around 29°C, viscosities are low.  Moreover, the required measurement range is narrow — from 2.5 to just 6.0 centipoise (cP).  The company’s engineers needed an easy-to-use instrument that could cope with such conditions while offering long-term accuracy and reliability in the field.

The Viscolite provided an immediate solution.  Fully portable and ready for use straight out of the box, the Viscolite can detect a viscosity difference of as little as 0.1 cP with excellent repeatability even at low viscosities.  For A2N, this level of sensitivity is essential given the tight measurement requirements.

Viscolite operation is quick and easy.  The instrument is factory-calibrated to traceable international standards, so no calibration or set-up is required.  Maintenance is minimal, as the sensor is a solid, all-welded 316 stainless steel probe with no moving parts or delicate accessories.  The probe is simply dipped into the ink and the measured viscosity is immediately displayed on the read-out unit.  After use, the probe is just wiped clean.  The instrument is supplied in a robust yet lightweight carrying case for portability and ease of storage.

The benefit to the company has been immediate.  Field engineers are now equipped with a viscosity measurement tool which is both accurate and convenient.  Says Allen Cork:  “We’ve eliminated potential guesswork by introducing an easily transportable method of testing ink viscosity in the field.”